New-York tribune., 1891-12-24
WHERE MEN CAN'T HELP TREMBLING.

THE COLONEL TELLS or MAN WHOSE GOODNESS
MADE OTHERS NERVOUS.
Tile Colonel got back from Europe the other cay
lie had not been seen at his avoritc table In his chosen
restaurant in 50 long limo that when three or four
friends came in BY the next evening and noucea
his handsome face smiling there they all came np anu
greeted him warmly. OF course they sat ao"h ~ hs
table, the pleasure Of meeting again the diners dd
not get to the coffee for time. and then two or
three more bottles Of wine than ususi had been poured
and needless to say II was all drunk dinner Win
tho Colonel which did not end with story wouid DC
no dinner Mt all. and every ono knew from the hshtIn
the Colonc's eye that he wns waiting only ior 'ns
cigars "yever tell story at dinner until you are
through eatng.S is his rule This Is the way nc DO
gan his opening one Of the season:
@This is a little bit OF world and you are always
meeting some one YOU know wherever you go. ran
across man on my steamer going over whom mao
not seen in a great many years. don't know whesher
ron ever felt your heart really stop besung ou' 10 10
wonderful sensation. II all the world were meuns
away from you. That is the way fcit "hcn s""
that mans pale face and his dark and white teotn'
II wasn't that was afraid he wonld do me any hsrn'
10 wasn't that feared him an enemy but scene
which don't like 10 recall came back TO me with
rush that made dizzy. lie did not recognize mo.
and VIC never close together. but tliat n's' ns'
could not sleep to my life. don't kno" ""c,s
he came from. don't know what he does uon
know-but let me tell you story.
"we were a pretty rough lot that fall ana "n'e''
don't know Just why 1t Most OF us Wero
steady-goIng men usually but there was an clcmehs
among us that kept the whole town In ferment ana
you know that dangerous out west In thosc usss
There was too much fighting and too much aWlesshess
10 suit Of and so we got together one cay "no
talked IL over Our verdict that the next time
man named Drake a gambler lie was, got into shoot
Ing scrapc We should take him out and hang him. ior
we had come to the conclusion that Drake was al te
bottom OF every fight. We also reSoNeu " i"'''~
Drake OF decision. -
"Thls Drake was wonderfully cool fellow. when
we told him of our verdict he shrugged his shoulders
and smiled dryy.
".All right he said easily; ia better be carefni
them
"Now II happened that for several days. perhaps two
weeks the camp orderly as n church mec"hs
and our vigilance committee was congrstuia'ins ''e
on the OF its action. but one ms"u-' no.
cot we'll into the winter nowhere was Terrible hSh'
in the Diamond Saloon. spotty. cripple and two
half breeds were killed outright and half dozen men
cot bullet or two in them. one OF the wounded men
was Drake lie had been playing in the game ana mao
undoubtedly drawn his revolver and fired, Tor all qio
chambers empty.
"Wben we went TO get Drake lie made no resistance
lie was little paer than usual. but not musc'e 7"
his face twitcled remember how we marched ous
OF town up TO the hillside. light snow had iaileh
that night and the moon was out-nearly rounded we
went out in single file, leaving narrow black pain pc
hind lis on the white covered ground. NO one said
anything
"rp or the slope the first stopped and we came
I'D and closed n circle. Drake In the centre
"'Diake' said the chairman OF the committec' yoo
have made hell out Of this camp We gave you fair
warning Now have you any message which you wan'
to send 10 any one 2
".I have no message said Drake firmly
"sIs there anything that you would like to sayP
ayes answered Drake. looking the chairman
In the eye, Il want to say tms. lVe
no doubt that l deserve TO be kied.
I've made lot OF trouble here. knew what IL
would cost me to shoot tonight, and did 1t delo-
eratey But don't want you TO hang me. All
ask is that yOu shoot me. / give you my word OK
honor gentlemen and lie smiled as II he expected US
to doubt him, that the shooting tonight was not my
fault was not in that hand at ALL liad thrown
down my cards spoty caught one Of the half breeds
holding ont cards. and before he could get the yellow
DEVILS wrist tho other has his six-shooter out
saw that IL was all up with Spotty, and fired.
knocking the halfbreed ont OF his chair. But tho
other had got the drop on spotty ana he Kiiied
him Just as pulled and shot him through the head.
Then two or three turned and blazed away, ana
we settled Il there. couldn't help It, IL was two
to one against spotty-a crpple-and so fred
Every one thought that Il a lie, but we held
vhispered consultation. Then some one remembered
that he had heard after the fight that Drake did not
begin the trouble. We decided not TO hang him, bus
to shoot him.
one of the men came forward with the rope.
Just then the moon which had been hanging behind
the snow covered branches OF tree came out ana
shone full in brakes face. lie turned deathly white
when lie saw the rope, but he stood without making
motion. . - ,
you gentlemen that haven't lied about this scrape'
awe are not going to hang you,' saiC the chairman
In low tone. we only want to pnion your arms 10
this tree
Drake did not say a word. No one spoke as the
rope was twned around hun ana Ine ,e9 c:.rv anS
some of MS looking mt brakes face began TO breathe
hard Ills eyes hooked straight before him. Then
he made slight effort to move within his bonds A.,
"'Gcntlemen,' he said slowly, 'p'ease unite tno
rope: it hurts my arms
"No one answered him or moved.
"'Tm not afraid Of bullets. he said with smile
that was almost sneer; please unfasen the rope
1T was a fearful moment for MS. lie so cool
and calm that some OF us. looking into one another's
eyes, began 10 doubt IL we ought to 90 on And yet
no would say the word. Drawing our revoWers
we stood out in line. Drake did not vince lie did
not close his eyes even, but looked seadfasty at u.s.
NV arm was shaking. know that all our arms must
have tremblcd, for moment later we got the conns
when we ran up TO Drake his eyes were open and he
was breathing between clenched teeth.
"'Finsh 10 mp he said with "a gasp: YOU haVcns
killed me- but some one CRIED Cut him loose; TINS s
carried him down TO the town. lie had seven oniies
wounds .
one lifted glass to his lips and every one else fol-
"Weil. you see' said the Colonel. one doesnt
like to meet man at whom he has sllUt under such
circumstances. propose n nghtc1p"
THE B4RBERINI STILL ~ EITSrENcA
Roman letter TO The Queen.
~ st hAFn nf