Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-01

.etNueih w "h oiu Aluue hut, tho roof
locking strange 20 the mon accustomed
t. seeing shingle aud board roofs. IA
the party came nearer 10 this desorted
homo OF cowboys Ia other days they saw
Elliott sitting on an empty pork barrel.
leaning mp against the side Of the house.
his horse quietly grazing near at hand.
When near enough to recognize him
tho party qulchened their mace. and
laughed grimly when they saw him wave
his hand at thgm. For bis part he was
wondering what hal brought them 10
this ont OF the way place, but glad Of tho
company on his way should 1t also prove
theirs. When they came nearer he won.
dorod what made them oye him 10 in.
tenlly and kept thom all 40 silent. A. a
given signal each man Of tho porty GOV.
cred him with weapon, and the leader.
acting ~ tpob@mnn, commanded him
20 hold up his hsnd-
"What In hell has got into you fel.
lowsY asked Elliott.
shut mp" answered tho leader. "Ti.
lott, we'rc dead onto you, and we don't
want any talk from you at all. Hank
Green lived long enough night before
last To tell who killed him. and you've
got to swing for II. Come on. boys.r
Elliott'd protcstatious Of his innocence
were not even listened 10. His weapons
were taken from him. his hands tied DO.
hind him, md quicker than 1t takes 10
tell II one Of the party had Skinned 90 a
tree which stood handily near and fas.
tened lasso 10 limb. The empty porl.
barrel was rollci ont under It, turned
up on end. aud Elliott was stood on IT..
while one Of the men with no gentle
hand knotted tho rope about hs neck.
leaning over his saddle to complete tho
operation.
His captors gathered about him and he
was commanded to speak ont II he had
anything to say. Only slight push
would have sent the barrel from beneath
his feet. He could feel tho cold sweat
upon his brow, hear tho beating Of his
heart. II sounded clear and distinct In
his cars NJ he began hia farewell speech
to his merciless judges.
"Boys." said he, "you nrc dead wrong.
l did not kin Hank Green. That ravol.
yer you have there was mine. and did
fire those empty chambers, but at no
man. fired them In the air 10 make
tho confusion greaier after the row TO
give ma all n chance 10 escapo before the
sheriff or any other outsider. would dare
TO come IN upon ~. swear that did
not kill that man aud do not know who
killed him."
A burst OF hoaso laughter was his
only Response.
"As God Is my judge. men. am In.
noccnt. DO you think would lie about
It, standing here on the brink Of cter.
nityi n justice will not free me. will
money! have plenty Of It hero with
me now What do you sayy'
"Push the barrel. Bill, !" cried ono Of
his prosecutors. "Linc him out. Wen
take the money home TO Hank Green's
woman; that's what wen do"
The old man who acted as leader had
been quietly watching tho condemned
mans face. A conviction that somehow
or other Hank was mistaken forced itself
upon him.
"Parlnors." said he. "thoro may be
something In this mans proposition NJ.
ter all. We followed him hero to hang
him. but d-n mo n don't believe we
have freed tho wrong toad. I mover
heard OF this mans doing anything that
want square. Dldany OF your
Hang him anyway spoke mp ono Of
the men.
mo. that's not right. boys. whcrois
that money, Elliotty'
Taking of the belt ~ directed. no led
the way TO one side TO try and save his
life. IL was no ute 10 talk 10 tho party
howeysr. Tho best no could do was
done. Elliott saw the men mount their
horses, aud hope rose within hls breast
hs he saw them unite his marc. and
bringing her with thrm rilo slowly 10
his side.
"Elllott," fald tho leader, "thoro arc
seven Of n. -Four think yon ought to
die, three do not We hayo decided to
take your valuables and your horse back
10 Hanks widow and leave you here,
Just as you arc, alive. There ain't much
prospect OF your getting away. but We
won't murder you and We won't oct you
free. You sworo 10 God you were limo
cont Lot your God zee 10 Ii you arc
freed or have mercy on your soul. Come
on, boys, our Job Is finished"
With that ho rode away, the others
following him, and none Of them looked
back as they returned over the way they
had come. on In the distance tho men
noticed tho mare throw up her head aud
listen moment and then whnny. One
Of them soieniiously remarked, "sho
must hayo heard that whistle, boys, but
she'll mover hear II again on earth"
1--WE got my boots on to die In. any.
way" said tho man ON tho barrel. aud
BIO smiled griuily "a ho thought Of tho
brayado Of lis boyish remark years ba.
fore, that lac didn't want any lingering
sickness and death IN his" There wasn't
u cowardly bone In ms body. He really
felt relieved when the men had gone, for
he at least had his thoughts to himself
rs long as he lived. There was no one TO
iecr. no curious spectators around TO
worry him aud no calmly awaited the
end. lie conld feel the barrel oaclllate
beneath his feet, knew that thoro was
but fow inches slack Ia tho rope, and
that falsc movement aud slight
change In equilibrium meant strangula.
ton aud death.
His card playing procllyties stood
him In good stead. lie was n good
enough poker player to know that tho
game consisted pure and slmple Of rela-
tive calculation Of percentages and OPP
pOrtunities. He who takes his money