Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-28

Higginson's major domo, a big man named
Heath. held the end OF the rope. His horses
| gait was uneven and he seemed to delight in
abrupt pauses and starts, causing Sirani much
pain.
When they we're on the road they began to
talk The smallest man on horseback said, with
| Q foreign accent:
'My friends, it ees dreadful thing to take de
| life of man."
This par. Of the country ain 1T for white man
ter live In, said Heath. Down in Nevady,
tother side Of Death Valley, they'll string up
greaser for nothin'. Got q match, Mac?
He stopped his horse. got match from Mo
His horse hoofs struch fire on the read. Sirani
almost fell
II reckon We amt dom this here for fun"
said Higginson. II opins we're jest naturally
| executin' jestice, an jestice'n be done.
Heath whistled contemptuously.
Soft sawdered is what you all are. Soft!
Soft as soap. A greaser's like an Injin. Thar
amt good Injin in the world 'cept dead
one. II don't take EN- long to die: Do You
hear that. dagoY' he called back. "yest lit
| tie swing-cack goes your neck, an give my
| respects to Father Peter
Let the poor devil alone" said McGinnis.
"He amt hurtin' you.
He began to sing his favorite song, kitty Of
A red light glowe6 into Sirani's dream.
They were approaching house.
Here We are, !" said Higginson. "Git down,
boys. Now then, we'll make this short.
Greaser. guess yer know tibet air tree an I
guess yer goin' ter know il BETTER
They surrounded him. He knew why they
were going to hapg him. They had found the
Englishman. But 70 die thus, unknown, like q
dog! Life was very sweet.
By violent effort that seemed to burst the
roof of his mouth he cried out:
Justice! 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"
SNow, don't be unreasonable, Parades Thisll
be sech lesson ter you bout horse steahn'
that guess yer won't ever steal another. But
Betty" Higginson spat emotionally. "Of all
the horses / ever he'd"
The rope was tkfown over a limb of the tree
The moon was yelled by cloud. The dogs
barked.
''Horsesr' cried Sirani. Before God I'm
not the man you think-not Parades''
Hold on, boys, thar seems ter be little
They dragged him forward to tho light from
His judges stood revealed Heath, gigantic,
with brutal, swollen features, held the rope.
fnez, small and delicate, with gold hoops in
his ears, looked pitiful The other two were
Indifferent.
"'Taint Parades. sure enough, but some other
greaser. But yer he'd the horse. The property
was in yer Possession" said Higginson, run
ming his fingers through his beard.
Before God bought it from a man-paid
for it. I'm stranger. My name is Sirani"
''Srani or not" said Heath, she had the
horse. They're all the same. Come on an
have it over" His small red eyes blinked in
the light. ''Ynez.n say prayers. He's always
snivelin an sayin' beads. Come on, boys,
want supper
There was q m oyoant ~ bas;tot;or
Unnotlced till he stood in their midst horse
galloped up. From it man staggered.
n was the Englishman. Ratcliffe, pale
bloody. "Jist in time fur the hangin'," called
81 know that man." cried Radcliffe. HE
tried to kill me this morning His name il
Sirani. Hang himr'
mo hurry gentlemen" drawled Higginson
This here Mr.. Sirani's bin tellin' us the truth
eft tibet is his name. Ez ter tryin' ter kill tibet
man, this here's free country. 1t amt none
er my funeral. Yer mought be right an yer
mought be wrong. We don't pur tend to jedge
our neighbors. What air talkin about is
horse stealth. Thet's different, an hez got to
be put stop to. Now, stranger, of yer did
steal that mare we mought as well perceed with
the hangin but eft yer didn't"
"See, swear it 1 met him and changed
clothes. have money. Unite my hands and
l will pay you more than the mare was worth ~
Ynez quietly slipped to him and united his
hands.
Give Heath money" he whispered.
The sight Of the chamois skin bag and the
glitter OF its contents were the strongest argu-
nents in Siranis favor. How much?" he
asked.
Radcliffe was leaning on his horse. swaying to
and fro.
II wouldn't hev sold that mare fur untold
gold. said Higgins0n. But ez long ez she il
dead, and tho 4speks of the case bein' agiu
yer-takin' IL all in an-say CSC"
xaso 49,, <x,x.
IF 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:
Il am Italian, gentlemen" said Sirani as
Ynez united the rope. THAT man killed INV
brother. Now if there is a bar around here I'd
like to stand treat for drinks and have little
game of poker"
Radcliffe lifted up his hands and jumped for
ward.
"You..you-" he gasped, and fell, the blood
gushing from his wound.
They went into the house. Ynez and Nc
Ginnis carrying the Englishman between them
Higginson's wife, gaunt anG saliOw, in o brown
calico dress, met them at the door.
well. il it amt the Englishman! Been in n
fight an 'mcst killed, poor fellar!'
He was laid on bunk, and they sat down to
a supper Of corn bread. fat bacon and beans
Sirani began to feel stronger after he had eater
Heath was as sullen as an animal deludsd Of ito
prey.
Mrs Higginson attended to the wounded
man. After supper the others began to play
poker at the bare table, where stood lamp
and bottle Of whisky. Every now and then
Radcliffe gave a moan of pain.
About IL O'Clock Sirani arose. 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 un-
| seen hand How there welled in his heart q
great sense Of happiness that the Englishman
was not killed.
Clogged by no dark past he could 20 back to
Ellinor. 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 still
ness of the darkened waste.
1t was late in June afternoon in New York
when Sirani walked up the stone steps of Miss
Verney's sisters home and heard that she was
within. with only few walls between them.
He told the servant to announce "a gentle
man - aimDly