Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-26
A MISTAKEN IDENTITY


and about Glen Cove, and the thief had
been sharp enough and lucky enough to
get off with them The mountain peo-
Die lose a razor backed hog now and
then and raise no row; but when thief
has the nerve to come along and run off
a mule the situation assumes a serious
aspect. The bulwarks of American lib
erty totter to their foundation, as it
were, and it is high time that the Ameri-
can eagle be unclaimed and encouraged
to scream his loudest Every farmer in
the Cove was out at night and on the
watch, and although they may have diff
fered on religion and politics, all were
agreed as to what should be done with
the thief in case he returned after more
mule meat 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 |
could have had my way about it should
have done the approaching act several
hours earlier; but towheaded boy who
was carrying 10000 freckles on his face
gave me a wrong steer on short cut,
and | was lost for two or three hours.
had heard nothing of the excitement at
the Cove, and felt no fear except of the
farmers dogs. The first building | came
to looked to me like large log house,
and l turned off the trail and approached
it. l was close up before discovering
that it was barn. VIZ about to turn
away when several men stepped into
view and hearty voice sung out:
Throw up yer hands or We'll riddle
vel"
The man who won't throw up his
hands sooner than be riddled must want
to get out of this world by painful pro-
cess.
Nov, then. some of ye tie him! Look
out fur tricks. If he'un makes a move,
be ready to bore himY'
didn't attempt any tricks, and when
they had tied my hands behind me and
fastened a leading rope around my body,
the leader said:
well take him down to Crocker's
and see if Jims boy kin Identify"
There were five sturdy mountaineers.
each armed with a gun, and | wasn't
saying word | realized the situation
by the help of some remarks dropped as
we passed along, and | felt that it was
useless to protest until the proper mo-
ment came. About ten rods below
Crockers house was a fine, large tree,
and as we passed it the leader of the
band remarked:
well bangle he'un from that ar limb
up thar"
1t was nice, large limb, growing at a
convenient height, and would no doubt
present good appearance while doing
the dangling act
What may be called scene third took
place at Crocker's. A gun was fired as
we arrived, and in the course of a quar-
ter 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 VINO had captured me:
"Do you suspect me of any crime? Are
you looking for a rohber or murderer"
Suspect! In course we suspectr' he
replied
"But isn't it possible that you have
made mistaken"
"Reckon not; but we can soon find out.
Crockers boy Jim got far sight of
he'un by daylight, and he'll tell"
Every well If the boy says he ever
saw me in these parts before you may go
ahead and hang"
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 insisted that
valuable time could be saved by hanging
me at once.
Eyes, that's So" replied the leader,
but we'd cut the fun too short. Better
save he'un for an hour or two. Bring
him into the house."
Crockers boy Jim was lad of ~, and
no sooner laid eyes on him than felt
presentiment of evil He had been
routed out of bed to identify me as 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 huff! Up he goes!'
1t was high time for me to do some
talking. | told them who | was, the
route had come, the people | had met,
and asked them to look over my papers.
They said it would be throwing time
away, and that it was selfish in me to
want to delay matters, and l guess they
would have had their way about it but
Ior Mrs Croker AS they started to
lead me out doors she said:
Look yere, boys, don't make no mis-
take. Our Jim may hev mistook. He'un
tells a smooth story, and it may be right.
II halnt but TO miles back to Dobson's s,
whar he says he took supper. and one OF
ye should ride over"
The men grumbled and growled, but il
was finally decided that one of them
should go. was seated on a rude stool,
tne rope tied fast about my legs, and we
SAT there to await the return of the mes
senger. Jim was questioned again and
tAgaln, but he stuck to his first declara-
'1oh could give them my route Tor
the last three weeks, and the name OF
every town, village and cove, and had
letters to prove | had been to those
PAGES But for young Jim being SO sure
OF my identity, could have convinced
.hem- They were doing the fair thing.
however by sending a messenger back,