The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-14

@u,iy Hen Was the Toughest Man In the
Canp, but Re Had = Heart After All.

trail from Rod Dog Digglnes came winding
down to cross the creek. stood three fir trees.
They were close together. with the largest in
the centre. In those days we had name for
everything. and as those trees were sort
OF landmark we named them Mother and
Children"
No doubt every minsr looked rough, and no
doubt we fell into evil ways. In our camp
somebody was shot every week or two. and Mt
least once a month we had to hang some one
In the interests OF public safety. For all that.
however we had all como from the East. most
OF us had wives and children waiting our re- I
turn, and the roughness did not reach down
to tho heart Many time have seen n miner
who'd shoot you ofIhand on the slightest
provocation sit down OF an evening with tears
on his checks as he thought OF homo and his
loved ones.
The toughest man In tho lot was chap we
all called Bully Bon. lie seemed to go about
seeking IuarIels. and he had no C fear Of any
White Horse Creek or pay the penalty with his
life, but no did not go Once the Vigilance
SSns hiH. THEW They found him lie had his back
to a boulder and gun in each hhni. and ne
AFRAID Of Bully Ben, but It was d iact That we
him had the whole crowd made ca a move. PVT
when every one Of us realized that. 1t would
cost four or five lives there was a lack OF on
thusiasm to begin operations.
had been~if he had heart, ike other men.if
there was better nature deep down which
q MS n eyer sFeadg into ss esp
for him, Then the, hard lines of his face would
bully Ben would appear to be stranger to
our camp, Ono day no go, caught in 2 caySe-in
the TN h ises Sas Every
joiccd over 1t. 1t was at first expected that ne
GeSa rp th"a Ss wss H
that 1t was only question OF hours when the
end would come.
miner got hurt or fell sick the one whose
claim was next to him on the right should at
sesd To Nurse WIS Kim ss 70 Gould From the
first no had no complaints to max. and no
questions to ask 1t was almost snndown one
plainly stamped on his face. when he quietly
said to me: =, -,
nss ths% n sy ana e
and they kissed "s me before died. Poor Mary
flooked down into his face and there was
such a change that could hardly credit it II
had grown soft and gentle and the eyes might
thing to touch the heart In his voice as he
turned his eyes to the open door and con-
Yes. Mary and the children. She was lead
you think they will be here in timer"
soon he seemed to fall asleep. Darkness had
hardly. come beforethe great full moon lifted
OF light down upon our camp that 1t was like
day again. sat at the door looking out upon
the squ sg1t when Bully Ben
Trail ii must watch for them ~ they come
mo lie the first to see them
moved his eotinto tho d9oryay ,, and prSH|ped
nm o ne had already S rs 'a
| but after minute or two his vision scene ed to
grow clearer and he pointed to tho fir trees
tho children. and they will kiss me before I
~ looked, up at tho three tress,:" Mother and
| Children - and for time l believed them to
be beings penang s sn
| the moonlight bring them out in such way
Mary -children--I knew!"--
l had turned my head away; / heard him
| easping. and when l looked down upon his
| in the moonlight for the men to look upon AS
they filed past They wondered at tho smile
bis and W tod them Of Mary and
Then he had q heart after all, and to- NOR
row We will lay him away in grave under the
| fir trees
Pleasure In Being Hanged a- n Horse Thief
| From ,h> $. lou, G'o,-- Democrat.
II was hanged for horse thief once" said
| f.
| Sunflower state.
1T was Just after the war; stock thieves
| were pretty thick. and when caught were not
allowed to waste much time rer,snt;nc Of their
Michigan l bought a horse. II regular old
| plough plug. from y"unsster who nppcare
! to be ali right. and the NEXT day mounted him
and started to Fort Scott to transact some
business. I had ridden perhaps u dozen
miles when ! was overhnued by n posse OF
armed men who were hunting stock thieves.
| The horse was riding had been stolen from a
| MON Der OF the party, and was swung up to
the limb OF q tree by he roa si'is without be-
ing given n chance to sNulain. There was q
| sharp. momcntary pain. chok ing sensation,
succeeded by one thnt can only compare to
| the delightful ntoXicHtion Of the opium
smoker. and then unconsri"usncss | would
| like to experience that sensation again. but do
| not car" to undergo the necessary I.relimina
ries. The party concluded that might have
| coniederates. and let NJ" down. hoping that
| would peach. The coming back to lie was II
good deal more painful than taking leave of IT,
| When got so could talk told my story. bu;
it wa, not believed. and they were about to
| swing me up again when II neghbor return
| Ing from Fort scott CHANGED along and con
WINGED them that they had the wrong man."