Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-05-10
tn time comes,' answered the flrsi

tn time comes" answered The firsi
speaker.
@Ay, he'd best not have taken us.f
hand. Says he, when with the rest Of
t beaks he sentenced Tim and JEFF,
The pouching rascals shall be stopped,
if / have to do it single-handed.
We'll, he'll be single-handedt tonight
anyways, for he's no groom WI him. So
he can try what he's good for WI three
ov Us. eh, Jack ?"
He'll find it tough job, I'm think
ing"
us t wire right, Bob?"
Surely! His mare steps high; but
I've lowed for it, and she'll catch beau
tifully. It's past II now; he oughtn't to
be long"
@Hist, mate; there's wheels. Now
fort! Come on"
The three men went out quickly, and
Jim, following to the door, saw them
leap into the road and hide in the hedge
on the opposite side; then he stole down
to the gate, out of mere curiosity, to
watch what their game was. In few
minutes the ring of hoofs grew louder,
and high-wheeled dog-cart spinning
round corner came rapidly down the
lane. 1t was occupied by one figure
only, the red glow of whose cigar
cleaned in the frosty air; and just as
the scent of it reached Jim he saw the
horse suddenly pluge and stagger for
ward. The wire-snare had done its
work, the animal fell heavily, and the
driver thrown off his balance by the
shock, shot out into the snow. Before
he could rise the men were upon him;
but somehow he managed to shake them
clear and struggle to his feet. He faced
them boldly, and met their rush with
right handler which sent one to the
ground, but the other two closed in upon
him.
Jim looked on with languid interest.
Evidently it was some magistrate way
laid by three men who had score to
settle against him. 1t was no business
of his anyway, and though three to one
was hardly fair he was not going to in
terfere. The gentleman fought well,
whoever he was, and again sent an as
sailant backward with a well-got-in
blow. But the odds were too heavy
and the cudgels told He began to
stagger and give ground and blow on
the head beat him down. Give it
him, lads, if we swing FORT" cried the
tallest of the three villains, Jump
ing upon him, mad and blind with
rage.
A ray of moonlight fell upon the up
turned face Of the fallen man; it was
that of the gentleman who five years
ago had talked with Jim in the lane.
In an instant he was over the gate and
at the men like tiger-cat, and so sud-
den was his onset that they gave ground,
then seeing he was alone they rushed
at him with oaths and threats. Weak
from want of food and half dead with
cold, poor Jim had never a chance. For
few seconds he held up doggedly
against the shower of blows; then, feel
ing he was done for, stopped suddenly,
flung his arms round the senseless
Squire, and with one last effort man
aged to roll into the deep ditch, keep
ing himself uppermost. The brutes
jumped down and strove to make him
loose his hold of their victim; but,
stunned and blinded with blood, he
chung fercely to Hugh Boynton, shell
tering his body with his own.
The world began to spin round-an-
other and another heavy blow-a CHM
ing of rolf bells-a hollow buzzing-
and then-black night forever!
Next morning they were found to-
gether in the trampled, blood-smeared
ditch-one living, the other dead.
Hugh Boynton often wonders, as he
looks at the white cross which he put
up over nameless grave, who his pre-
server was. But the recording angel
will one day tell how Jim the Tramp,
the "out-and-out bad lot" gave his life
for the man who once spoke kindly to
him. Chambers Journal.