The Globe-republican., 1891-02-18

Caught red-handed," said Big Ben,
his hand tightening ominously on his
heavy stock-whip.
The camp was soon ablaze with the
news, and from every side there focked
angry, fierce-eyed men. They made
short work of such sinners in those
days. A few yards of rope and the
nearest tree used to settle the business
effectually. A man might gamble or
swear or use his pistol as freely as he
pleased, but in such community theft
was necessarily the unpardonable crime.
Ito the right about said Big Ben,
sternly.
Jim scowled at him. He did not ask
for mercy, knowing that it would be
useless. He would have been the last
| to offer it in such case himself.
| Suddenly, attracted by the tumult,
appeared Dolly, looking out at the
world from her great sun-bonnet.
Run away said the Judge, sharply:
this ere amt no place for little gels. .
Dolly was an obedient little soul, and
in an ordinary case would have obeyed.
! But, baby as she was, something of the
| significance of the scene came home to
her: Jim standing alone amidst that
ring of cruel faces.
She gazed pitifully at him.
go away. Dolly" said Big Ben;
you've nothing to do with him. He's
| thief"
Dolly's eyes sought Jim's for denial.
AS he met them with his own reck-
less. defiant ones something else
| flashed into them. and then and there
he uttered downright lie: Don't you
believe 'em, Dolly: amt nothing of
the sort" And half involuntarily he
| threw wistful glance at Big Ben.
Spite of his roughness, Big Ben must
have had soft spot somewhere, for,
bending down to Dolly, he said. gently:
There, you see, Dolly, 1 must have
been mistook. This ere fellow. in
| stead of being thief. is a wirtuous
youth, innicent angel, in fact. Now,
| run away"
So Dolly departed, salts fed.
| After she left, silence and hesitation
fell upon the men. The little scene had
touched them. After a whispered con-
sultation the judge, stepping forward,
cut the cord round Jims wrist, saying.
CURLY: Here, you young scOundrel,
| We'll let you off this time! But clear
| out of this; we don't want no thieves
here"
Without word Jim turned on his
heel. Some men would have left the
place at once; Jim was made of diff
ferent stuff. Expelled from the camp.
he built himself cabin on the out
| skirts, not trying to live the disgrace
down, but enduring it with the logged
obstinacy which was part of his nature.
The miners, even Big Ben. ignored him
completely: for Ben, for all that instant
of softness, had certain rugged fbers of
pride about him which led him to treat
thief with nerciless justice.
But there came n time when Jim and
Red Mustang between them were to do
a fine work-a time when a sudden
danger doomed out. and Jim rose to it
like the brave man that he was-when
with clenched teeth he subdued the
demon within him, and proved that on
occasion he was ready-not for all he
could get, but to give up all that he
had. For savage ''whoop" rang out
one night on the unsuspecting camp
Men knew what it was. and sprang to
their feet with snarl of rage. Rifle
in hand they rushed out.
''Injin," said the judge. coolly load
ing lis rifle; and in the moonlight
cleaned the dusky painted figures
There was little love lost between In
jun and white man. The '.man-and-a-
brother" theory had not been PROFOUND
ed on either side. 1t was war to the
kniie on both. STEADY. boys. steady"
said the judge. to whom such scenes
were by no means new. Ready there?
Now-at EN-
Anc lat EN- it was Down swung
the mnskets, out flashed the shot. and
with look that was not good to see
upon their faces, the boys began their
work-sharp work butchery. The saw
ages swa-med into the camp only to be
cut down. 1t was soon over. But the
Indians had fought bravely, and. old
tried hand as he was. an uneasy light
had leapt to the judges eye. 1T was
a close shave" he muttered. wiping the
he watched the fleeing banda
close shave. A little more and The
pause was suggestive.
The day was already breaking when
the judge turned in home. Hope the
little lass hasn't been scared he
thought: and involuntarily a queer.
tender CLEAN passed over the weather.
beaten face as he thought of his little
lass
Dolly" he said, opening the cabin
door. There was no answer Dolly
and then again little quicker: Dolly
Again that night the men were
aroused by cry-an awful cry.
wrung from strong man in pain: and
when they hurried forward it was to
find the judge with the fashion of his
face all changed, pointing to the empty
cabin. on whose floor shone the CLEAN
of tomahawk. That and the con-
fusion of the place told its tale all too
plainly: Dolly had been carried off by
the Indians!