Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-04-25
tn, time ccmes," answered. the first

speaker. -.
hand. Says he, when withthe rest of
t. beaks he sentenced Tin and JET,
The pouching rascals shallPe stopped,
if | have to do it single-hanaed.'"
well, he'll be single-hanied tonight
! anyways, for he's no groom Vi him. So
he can try what he's good ff wi three
ov us. ell, Jack?"
He'll find it tough job, I'm think
ing"
is t wire right, Bob?"
"Surely! His mare steps high; but
I've lowed for it, and she'll catch beau
tiful!y. It's past - now; he oughtn'tto
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 hestole down
to the gate, out of mere curiosity, to
watch what their game a In a few
minutes the ring Of hoofs grew louder,
and q high-wheeled dog-cart spinning
round q 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 plugc 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 we're upon him:
but somehow he managed to shake them
clear and struggle to his feet. He faced
them boldly, and met their rush with a
right handler which sent one to the
ground, but the othertw closedin upon
him.
Jim looked on with languid interest.
Evidently it was some magistrate way
laid by three men who had a 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
t%erfere. The gentleman fought well,
whoever he was, and again sent an as
sailant backward with a well-got-in
blow. But the odds We're too heavy
and the cudgels told. He began to
stagger and give ground and a 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 ND
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 a 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. Fol
a few seconds he held up doggedIy
against the shower of blows; then, feel
ing he was done for, stopped suddenly
flung his arms round the senseles:
Squire, and with one last effort man
aged to roll into the deep ditch, Keep
ing himself uppermost. The brute
jumped down and strove to make hin
loose his hold of their victim; but
stunned and blinded with blood, h;
chung fiercely to Hugh Boynton, shell
tering his body with his own.
The world began to spin round-an
other and another heavy blow-a chin
ing of far.otf bells-a hollow buzzing-
and then-black night forever!
Next morning they We're found TO
gether in the trampied, blood-smearei
ditch-one living, the other dead.
Hugh Boynton often wonders, as h
looks at the white cross which he pu
up oven q nameless grave, who his pre-
server was. But the recording ange
will one day tell how Jim the Tramp
the "out-and-ort bad lot gave his lii
for the man who once spoke kindly t
him.-Chdmhers' Journal.