Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-22


hour with Hittv and she learned the story
of his and Dicks arrest and how they came
to be charged with the crime of murder.
They had not, as Hitty supposed, been
residents of Tarantula Bar, but had for
several months been at a point farther east
and had only come to the Bar on the night
OF their arrest, intending to go home in a
few days.
1t happened they did not arrive at the
Bar until late at night. Just as they ap-
preached the camp, going up the road
that curved in a half-mile to avoid a
ridge of rocks, they heard shouts and pis-
tol shots. Thinking something unusual
was happening they hurried on. Just
then two men came running toward them
at full speed. On discovering Luke and
Dick, probably supposing them to be pur-
suers heading them off, they threw a
package into little bush and darted past
them into the bushes.
| Dick ran to see what had been thus
thrown away, and to his surprise found a
sack of gold, as he believed from Its great
weight. He had hardly picked it up, how
ever: when several men burst upon them,
shouting: "Shoot them down Kill them
in their tracks p and being afraid of their
lives thought it best to get away from the
crowd as quickly as possible.
| Dick threw the sack back into the bush
again, but not before the act was seen hy
two or three of the crowd. They darted,
very foolishly, for the wood, and were
] quickly surrounded and taken prisoners
before they knew what had happened, or
why they had been pursued and taken so
uneeremoniously. They soon discovered a
robbery and perhaps murder had been
committed at the Bar Just before their ar
rival, and thatthey were supposed to have
done the deed.
They realized the evidence against them
was very strong. Dick was seen to throw
away the buckskin sack of gold-dust, and
they were trying to escape They ex-
planned how it was but it would not do.
They were taken before the injured man,
who, the doctor said, would probably die
| within twenty-four hours, and Luke was
instantly recognized as the man who had
dealt the blow. The accomplice had not
been seen in sufficient light to identify.
| 1t was not long before Luke and Dick
began to realize the very dangerous posi-
tion in which they were placed. What to
do they knew not. 1t would be of no use
to send word home, they thought, for no
one there could help them. They decided
if the worst came they would not divulge
their names, and at least would not bring
seeming disgrace upon their families
There were those at the Bar who recog-
nlzed them, having seen them often at the
Flat, so their only hope was in something
Transporting that would bring to light the
truth.
Their story was listened to and pro-
nounced ingenious but the proof against
them was too direct, too positive, to be
overthrown by such statement as they
made. They were tried before twelve
jurors selected from the miners of the Bar
and the verdict was guilty" There were
some, however, who were impressed with
the truth of their statement; not sufii-
cieut number to exert much influence, but
enough to stay the execution one day
when, if the truth of their version was not
forthcoming, they must swing from the
branch of the most convenient oak.
| Even this concession of day was a res
pite seldom granted. Usually the execu.
tion dogged the heels of the verdict very
closely. Luke's resemblance to the real
murderer was fatal to them, even had they
not been caught with the sack in their pos
session, or in hastily disposing of it. They
did all in their power to overcome this ter
rible evidence, but realized before the day
had passed that they had failed They
had no proof at the trial but their own un.
supported word, which did not weigh
much against the positive testimony pro-
duced against them. In dazed way they
both understood that their doom was
sealed
| Their last appeal was made, and while
they were trying to realize the terrible
truth, they were led forth to execution.
All hope gone, surrounded by relentless
mob, despair had seized them when that
'dear little angel of mercy" changed the
whole scene to one of unspeakable Joy.
As soon as Luke had gone Hitty, unable
to sit up another moment, retired to her
bed, but the great excitement through
which she had passed rendered sleep i'm
possible for the time.
| She still felt anxious for Luke and Dick,
and the thought kept constantly recurring
to her mind-what would be the result if
the party sent out to arrest Bill Badler
should fail to find him. But sleep came at
last. She was young and healthy, and
neither bodily fatigue nor mental strain
could long Danish that "sweet restorer."
In the morning when she awoke it re-
| qulred several moments to collect her
| senses. Then she sprang out of bed, but
lnvoluntarily uttered a scream as her feet
| touched the floor. Both were in fearful
| condition, and she found il impossible then
| to put on her shoes, and she was so lame
| and stiff she could scarcely hobble across
| the room
Her first thought was of Luke. 'Poor
fellows, they slept under guard No news
| from Dragons Gulch yet, or should have
heard. Last night felt they were saved,
but they are still in custody, and who
knows what may yet happen ?" Just then
knock came at the door. Her heart gave
a great thump. She hobbled to the door.
1t was the landlady, who inquired if she
would have breakfast.
"But what is the news?" said Hitty,
her heart tiuttering, in spite of her efforts
to appear calm.
There is nothing new, l believe" an
swered the landlady.
"Then | fear the worst" said Hitty.
"Oh, Luke! will you ever be free again?"
Just then came quick, heavy step on
the stair, and in another moment Luke
himself appeared at the door. With
oSiSaui l1iIlJ uuHS her arms ABOUT MS
neck. "You are free, now, Luke! Oh,
you are freep
"Yes," said Luke, suppressing the ex-
citement it was very evident he was labor
ing under. "We are free to go or come,
now; they found the guilty ones, and
brought them in half an hour ago. One
has confessed ALL
"Thank Godr' said Hitty.
"And thousand thanks to you as WELL"
said Luke
"But where is Dick ?" said Hitty, blush
ing.
"He refused to Gomez Luke replied.
He thinks you do not care particularly
to see him, and he is going to start for the
Flat at once. He has no love for this
place. You know, Hitty, you sent him
away once, much against his will. He
will not be likely to call on you again
without you invite him back. He spoke
of you very often during the dark moments
when we both thought even our hours were
numbered. When you came so suddenly |
on the scene last night and were talking
to the crowd he trembled like leaf |
although he seemed calm before, even in |
the face of death. And he whispered: |
She is an angel, Luke! An angel sent to |