Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-03-20
A Victim Of Circumstances.

uau oecu onhTp enouBu anu LUCK
enough to get off with them. Tn,
mountain people lose razor-backec
hog now and then and raise no row
but when thief has the nerve to com,
along and run of a mule the situation
assumes a serious aspect. The bul
walks of American liberty totter t.
their foundation, as it were, and it il
high time that the American eagle b,
unclaimed and encouraged to scream
his loudest. Every farmer in the
Cove was out at night and ON thu
watch, and although they may have
differed on religion or politics, all were
agreed as to what should be done with
the thief in case he returned after
more mule-mest and was captured.
The above can be imagined as scene
first. Scene second opens with your
humble servant approaching Glen
Cove at 10 o'clock of a starlight night
If l could have had my way about it,
! should have done the approaching
act several hours earlier, but tow.
headed boy. who was carving 10000
freckles on his face, gave me wrong
steer on a short cut, and was lost for
two or three hours. had heard moth
ing of the excitement at the Cove, and
felt no fear, except Of the farmers
dogs. The first building came to
locked to me like large ] G house,
and turned of the trail and ap-
preached it. I was close up before
discovering that it was a barn. Twas
about to turn away, when several men
stepped into view, and q hearty voice
sung out:
Throw up yer hands or we'll rid.
die ye!"
The man who won't throw up his
hands sooner than be riddled must
want to get out of this world by a
painful process.
Now, then, some Of ye tie him!
L,ok out fur tricks. If he makes
move, he ready to bore him"
didn't attempt any tricks, and
when they had tied my hands behind
me and fastened leading rope around
my body. the leader said:
"We'll take him down to Crocker's
and see if Jim's boy kin identify"
There were Eve sturdy mountaineers
each armed with gun, and l wasn't
saying word. I realized the situa-
ton by the help Of some remarks
dropped as We passed along, and / felt
that is was useless to protest until the
proper time came. About ten rods
below Crocker's house was fine, large
tree, and as we passed it the leader of
the band remarked:
"We'll dangle he'un from that limb
up thar"
1t was nice, large limb, growing
at convenient height, and would
no doubt present good appearance
while doing the dangling act.
What might be called scene third
took place at Crocker's. A gun was
fired as we arrived, and in the course
ofa quarter of an hour FIVE more
farmers arrived. They had been out
on watch also, and this was the signal
to rally. 1t was while waiting for
this rally that / asked one of those
who captured me
"Do you suspect me of any crime ?
Are you looking for robber or mur-
derer y
Suspect In course we suspect !"
he replied.
but isn't it possible that you have
made mistake :"
Reckon not, but we can soon find
out. Crocker's boy Jim got far
sight of he'un by daylight, and he'll
tell"
"very we'll. If the boy says he
ever saw me in these parts before you
may 60 ahead and hang me-"
Great was the rejoicing when the
other party arrived. Not man Of
them had the least doubt that | was
the party wanted, and two of them in
sisted that valuable time could be
saved by hanging nee at once.
"Yes, that's So" said the leader,
"but we'd cut the fun too short. Bet.
ter save hem for an hour or two.
Bring him into the house."
Crocker's boy Jim was a lad of q,
and l no sooner laid eyes on him than
] felt n presentment of evil. de had
been routed out Of bed to identity me
US the person he had seen hiding in
the woods on the day the last mule
was stolen. He made short work Of
it. He looked at me for ten seconds
and then said {:
Hes he'unl I'll sw'ar to it on
forty Bibles!"
dead shore ?" asked the leader.
"Yes."
That's 'nuff! Up he goes !"
1t was high time for me to do some
talking. told them who l was, the
route / had come, the people had
met, and asked them to look over