The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-22

they were going. to hang him. They had
found the EngliShman. But to die thus,
unknown, like a dogl Life was very
sweet.
By . violent effort, that seemed to burst
the roof of his mouth, he cried out:
.sJustice! Justice, if you're not devils.
A fair trial; not this-this
'Stop squealin', Or" Heath enforced
his threat by jerk Of the rope. LET
ledge Higginson speak.
"Now. don't be unreasonable, Parades
This'll be sech lesson ter you about
steal another. But Betty" Higginson
spat emotionaliy. "Of all the horses
ever he'd"
The rope was thrown over limb of the
tree. The moon was veiled by q cloud.
The dogs banked.
"Horsesp' cried Sirani "Before God
I'm not the man you think-not Parades; !"
Theydragged him forward to the light
from the window.
His judges stood revealed Heath, gi-
gantic, with brutal, swollen features, held
the rope. Ynez, small and delicate, with
gold hoops in his ears, looked pitiful. The
other two were Indifferent.
faint Parades, sure enough, but some
other greaaer. But yer he'd the horse. The
property was IN yer possession" said Hig-
ginson. running his fingers through his
before God / bought it from man
paid for it. I'm stranger. Ny names
"Sirani or not" said Heath, che had the
horse. They're all the same. Come on an
have it over" His small red eyes blinked
in the light. "YnezIl say prayers. He's
always snivelin' an sayin' beads. Come
on. boys, want supper"
There was moment of hesitation.
Unnoticed till he stood in their midst, q
horse galloped up. From it q man stag
It was the Englishman, Radcliffe, pale,
bloody. "Just in time for the llangin' !"
called McGinnis. We've caught the
horse thief"
II know that man.. cried Radcliffe.
name is Sirani. Hang him. -
mo hurry, gentlemen" drawled Hig-
ginson. "This here Mr.. Sirani's bin tellin'
us the truth eff tibet is his name. Ez ter
tryin' to kill tibet man. this here's q free
country. It amt none er my funeral.
Yer mought be right and yer mought be
wrong. We don't purtend ter jedge our
neighbors. What we air talkin' about is
horse stealin'. Thet's different, an hez
got to be put a stop to. Now, stranger, eff
yer did steal that mare We mought as we'll
perceed with the hangin', but if yer
didn't"
ssSee, I swear it! met him and changed
clothes. have money. Unite my hands
T snd pay you more than the mare was
Ynez quietly slipped to him and united
his hands.
"Give Heath money" ne whispered.
The sight Of the channels skin bag and
the glitter of its contents were the strong
est arguments in 6irani's favor. How
much ?'' he asked.
Radcliffe was leaning on his horse, sway
ing to and fro.
II wouldn'thev sold that mare for I'M
told gold" said Higginson. "But ez long
ez she is dead, and the aspecks of the case
bein' agin yer-takin' it all in all--say
$9O."
"He'. gettin' off too easy" grumbled
Heath. sIf he didn't steal this horse he's
like the rest and will steal some other.
String him up, say.
II guess it's all right now, stranger,"
said Higginson.
81 am Italian, gentlemen" said sirani
as Ynez united the rope: That man
around here I'd like to stand treat for
drinks and have little game of poker"
Radcliffe lifted up his hands and jumped
forward.
"You-you-" he gasped, and fell, the
blood gashing from his wound.
They went into the house. Ynez and
McGinnis CARRYING the Englishman be-
tween them. Higginson's wife, gaunt and
sallow, in brown calico dress. met them
at the door.
"Well. if it amt the Englishman! Been
IN q fight an most killed, pore feilar!"
He was laid on a bunk, and they sat
down to supper of corn bread. fat bacon
and beans. Sirani began to feel stronger
after he had eaten. Heath was as sullen
as an animal deltldad of it's prey
Mrs. Higginson attended to the wounded
man. After supper the others began to
play poker at the bare table, where stood a
lamp and bottle of whiskey. Every now
and then Radcliffe gave moan of pain.
About II O'Clock Sirani rose. He had
lost heavily to Heath, besides having
bought his horse. He was to leave for
Delano at daybreak. Ynez sat by the
Englishman, who breathed hard. Mrs.
Higginson was asleep. Her husband and
McGinnis were absorbed in the. game.
Heath sat with his head on the table.
Sirani went out of the cabin and leaned
on the fence. The moon had set. Massed
in shadow. the hills broke against the
starry vault The events of the day passed
before him. He seemed TO have been
pushed on by some unseen hand. Now
there weIled in his heart great sense of
happiness that the Englishman was not
killed
tloSStu Dy uO udik i'dst. hc souit -
back to Elinor Again he felt that warm
atmosphere Of love. Her face seemed near
him, with its changing eyes and rosy
mouth. He laid his hand on the wooden
rail and pressed his lips to it, long and
tenderly. From the hills above the cry of
an animal, coyote or wildcat, Glove
through the dusk and died again into the
stiffness Of the darkened waste.
1t was late in June afternoon IN New
York when Sirani walked up the stone
steps of Miss Verneys sisters home, and
heard that she was within. with only few
walls between them.
He told the servant to announce "a gen.
tleman." simply.
When he sank intoa chair and waited,
his whole soul on the alert for her footsteps
he remembered with a sense OF incon-
gruity of the comparison another moment
of passionate expectation in the bare
shanty on Gopher Gulch. His life seemed
always the pursuit of an elusive goal.
'.Addio, bella Nappoli. Addio," she SANG
softly, coming down the stairs.
ssSoe Ned I have hrou0hS the book,