New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-17
LUCK.

cloudless June sky above. dusty California %ii
mountain road and young tcnderfo0t from Ohlo'
haunted on a stout brOnchO. with an outht coll
sisting of roll of blankets and SiA-shoo,er. ~.
h tIeo T lew weeks before started for California
yorey against the wishes OF my parents anu au wv,
Of my friends. i riding slowly up the lohs
mountain grade headed for the giaNei iiheS VI
he North Fork of the Yuba. and calculated 10
make the Moutan House by dark when was
Overtaken by a horseman, who role up D'Siue lit
with genial, How are You stranger ,,.
lie was a ine.!ooking man OF about thirty,
with a blond beard, and the handsome morse ne
bestrode was somewhat faded we I0"e on io oU
sether up the grade, and fell into conversation
He inquired where | was FROM ana where WIS
bound for both Of which questions l answered
frankly lie told me that he was a mine-owncr
,ver on the Middle Fork that he had Just made
business trip down the ridge ana was
n a hurry to got hack. and added 'hat
would give me job. | gratefully accepted his
,fer and when stopped TO water about nall
way up the grade he asked me to carry smau
pair OF saddlc-bagS, as his horse was pretty we"
oeat ont.
complied cheerfuy, as my beast was com
psratvely fresh. The bags were heavy, ana ne
remarked as he handed them over that they con-
tanned the coin from his last clean up win
due appreciation OF the Importance OF the trust
felt for my s The ana tao We he ooF Oh
road, remarkine that he guessed we could make
old man Browns by night. -
1 found him pleasant. entertaining fellow.
ard being no doubt conceitcd imagined that he
found me the same 1t was nearly dark when
we rode up TO low, rambling old building;
which he designated as old man Browns ana
added that il was rather a hard place, but any
port in storm. -, o,
As we rode up to the porch slender girl Of
about fourteen, with big brown eyes ana
a shock of rcd curs came running round the
corner of the house. She looked as wild "a a deer,
and my first thought was nat m1 ,rnro a SnG
asked if we could get accommodations Tor tle
night. m 49,, at.ntl,- ana
larted into the house through the barrooin. -
A moment later q porly old man in list Sip
pers made his appearance. rubbing his hands and
milling benignly How are YOU BOYS wan,
70 stop? All right. Here, Jess call Joe To
I had Just dismounted and started 10 rcmoye
the saddle bags when glance al my ,laNo ,noI
sompanion checked me. lie was sazlng nacn
down the road and listening intentN. - SAW i
grayish pallor overspread his face Ihc ne N
moment he struck spurs into his horse ana wltl-
out word galloped down the road in the oppo-
site direction into the gathering Darkness:
Surprised and alarmed, | sprang again mo
the saddle and as the sound of horses approach
ing at rapid rate came to my ears sidr"" Nh Ji
Down the road after my late companion. NY
Hrst thought was That highwaymen we're on our
CHANGING back. l saw number Of hoTSe ,acG
riding furiously down upon, me. nSnra + I"mn
5aLs and orders to halt Wlthon. neeHi .n oiv
spurred or aud drew my slX-shooIrr oc rn
to sell my life as dearly as posSlnie Inc ncN,
moment a voev of shots rang out ana my Hoise
stumbled and fell ,, h- ,b.
ronrbest- looking crowd of it has ever been
my misfortune TO encounter: him res wore %, heard
ON all sides and dozen hands sezel me VI 10
gentle grasp. Nv horse lay dead. one OF ne
men thrust his hand into the sadie o'sa anu
Here Won are. boys Here's the swag! Hang
the blanked thief" he shouted -,
Let's take him over TO Brown ana oo meal
what he's got to say said tall man who scem'o
IN no leader
10 This proposition met with general disfayor'
.epecially from one ofcious man, who took raw raw
hide lariat from his saddle and leaning the WY
\ TO a spreading oak tree that sto0u near "
n claimed. Here's good limb! Fetch him aiohs'
But the tall man demursed, and had his way:
If he can't give a straight account oi niih9e'
we'll make short work Of h i, Metal wax held
my head with the p %r@s Mes them eeey
s sonnd iP with the r' orat Was marched back 10
Browns and placed in one corner OF the narrooIl'
The crowd then demanded liquid icireshmGH ae.
which was served by Brown The girl jess
stood in the door looking at me cnrlousiy ana
thought rather pityingly. Ny 'rl1I fhen negal !;
II brief and 10 The point. Inc stase I nnu
been robbed the day before. the express MESSENGER
killed and several thousand dollars Stoen. Inc
robbers, supposed TO he two in numher, had 's-
capped, and these men had oIsani1 ,e parry t 10
and succeeded in capturing me. with parl 81 me
stolen money in my possession Brown TESTIFIED
to our riding up few minutes before they cane
and asking leave to stop over night. and added
with solemn shake of his head that they had
"let the worst one get away" ,o, had 70
They then demanded TO know what had 70
say, and | told my story in as straightforward
manner possible. II was listened TO incr"'i,
LOUSY by most of '9 1Sn Dc5 me- "d
wound up with an impromptu appeal for life and
liberty which felt must touch them. .,.o
| was doomed TO bitter disappointment when tho
iank man who had Missouri written in every
iineament, and who had been oaiciously anxious
TO hang me at once; arose and after eXIrctoia-
feller you can't come it over us hathaway
Come on, boys. Let's string him mp. A.,
seconded the motion. NV blood ran cold
realized my imminent peril These rough miners.
who certainly had strong, circumstantial evidence
me TO The nearest tree. What could ! do?
gazed from 10 the other like a hunted animal
Surely You would not hang a man on such
evidence as this" i cried If you will unite
me can show You letters that will prove who
am"
up and united me. drew out a letter from my
mother which had received while in San Fran
,sss IL cc cara f p@o'G tin oo Of my
drew out the letter. Joe picked it up.
1T is my sisters picture" cried. Here
am an honest man."
Joe was gazing earnestly at the ,pctore. Tell
you what, boys; this here's a little beauty" IN
my heart | blessed her pretty face and only
wished her there to plead for me in person
The picture was passed around, and HOPE sprana
up in INV heart, wien the old Mhsourian, who
seemed thrsting for my gore, dashed it dowr
again by eXclaming " How do yc know bu,
what he stole that letter and pictcr from some
one on the stage. or ont Of the mail bag us
all bosh Let's hang him and done with il"
Joe took the photo again and glanced from II
q me. Now, lookcc here, Mizzo. seems I, me
yer gttin' cold-blOOded in yer old age ANY
body with half an eye can see that this gal look.
like him
thanked God for the resemblance which was
flight, ard began to hope again. The girl jess
crowded in among the men and asked to see the
picture Joe handed il 10 her, loosely remark
ing that he'd marry her when she got 10 be as