The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-31

ez has ben a-robbin' NV us f~ellers, fur the
past two weeks"
For a couple of weeks past some one
had been engaged in pilfering gcld-dust
out of the tents of the miners, though the
robberies had been much more frequent
during the last few days than at any other
time.
"Who is my accuser7"
Morgan Mortimer stepped forward.
az am" he said; 81 have had my suspi-
cions OF you for several days, and last
night / watched and saw you enter my
tent and take a sack OF dust which l had
left out in sight, purposely to tempt you
Morgan Mortimer, you are an infer
nal liar, and a coward" cried the accused
man. Listen, men OF Runners Bend
this man is a VOL"
drag him away TO the gallows tree,
yelled Mortimer angrily; "this man i,
Blonde Burke, the road agept-see, ther
is his disguise on the floor; but he Is o
mooth as silk, and II you listen to hin
five minutes he will make you think he il
as innocent as a cherub. Away with him
to the gallows treel"
Yes! yesl away with himl" cried one
"KeTrecti the boss is r4ghtl" from 49,
other.
"String i'm upl"
Don't listen ter the varmint!"
"Away we gol"
The man tried to protest again, as tm
wildly excited miners started to drag hin
away, but could not make himself hearo
above the tumult, and desistcd.
They'll certainly give me a chance tc
have my little say before they hang me-,
ne thought, and, thinking thus, he al
lowed himself to be hustled toward a
tree at the centre OF the camp without
making any resistance. He could have
done nothing, though, even had he tried.
But when he attempted, at the foot OF
The gallows tree, to have his say, as h
aad expressed 1t, he met with bitter dis
appointment. The miners showed nc
disposition to hear him, and even if they
bad, Mortimer would not have let them
listen.
"Now, then, Blonde Burk," said the
mayor, taking charge of affairs, 81 will
rive you just ive minutes in which t.
cray. At the end of that time, up you
90"
Standing there with the rope around
ais neck, the man made a splendid how
ing. He had an honest, pleasant face, his
unwavering blue eyes gazing at the clam
Jrous mob un1inchingly. Evidently
Mcrtimer's statement that il the miner
listened 10 the handsome stranger five
minutes, he would make them think he
was a cherub, was not without founda-
lion. Mortimer himself, thought so,
anyway for he was afraid to risk it.
"Men of Runners Bend, hear me-" be-
gan the imperiled man, but Mortinel
stopped him.
"Pray, or shut up he cried.
az will not" Hercely; "Ill have my
say and expose you you scoundrel, in
spite OF you. Men, this man, Morgan
Mortimer, is the person who has beeA
robbing you. He is"
Cup with him." shrieked the mayor.
And the miners obeyed. They gave 6
strong pull on the rope and the next mo-
ment the form OF the accused man hot
INTO the air at the end of the rope.
"Stop, men, would you commit muir
der?" screamed a woman's voice, and the
owner Of the voice, n woman dressed in
mems clothes, leaped forward and cut the
rope above the mans head, dropping him
70 the ground.
Listen, men!" the woman cried
"this man whom you were about TO hang
ia my husband, and that man" pointing
at Morgan Mortimer, ais a villain, ana
our most deadly enemy. He stole my
darling daughter, Edna, and has hidden
her away, and I know not where, though
/ nave travelled many weary miles to find
her. Moro than q month ago he came 10
my home and told me that my husband
was dead, that he saw him killed by the
caying of a ledge OF rock under which he
had been working. He then tried TO get
me to promise that / would marry him in
six months, and because / refused 10 nave
anything to say to him, he stole my child,
hoping I suppose, to force me to come to
his terms"
EVERY word that my wife has given
utterance to is true" said the man, who
had struggled to bis feet and removed
the rope from his neck. "My name is
Howard Bancroft. / reached this camp
one evening, about Ave weeks ago.
Knowing no one i applied for shelter at
the first cabin ] came to. II was Morgan
Mortimer's. He knew me, though ! did
not know him, not having been very well
acquainted with him, anyway. He had
been a sutton for my wife's hand before I
came upon the scene, and, never having for
given me for winning the prize away from
him, and desiring 10 be revenged upon me
he invited mo in; and then, when / wasn't
looking, shot me from behind, makirg
the wound that | carried when 1 first APP
pearcd in your camp. Thinking that he
had killed me, he carried mo and tossed me
into the creek, the cool waters OF which
revived me sufficiently 10 enable me 10
crawl out on the shore. That night the
villain departed for the East with his tale
for my wife; but IL seems his scheme
didn't work, except that he was success
ful In stealing and bringing away our
daughter Edna, whe IL here in the camp.
And, now, men, ! ask you, what ought to
be the penalty OF such wicksdness as this
wretch has been guilty OF? Speak, and
whatever you say shall be done"
Tho answer, in q roar was:
Death"
"Down With the villain"
"No-no. Up with him"
"Swing IN from the same limb as Mister
Bancroft was s-swingin' from"
BORDER Justice " swift and sure. shilful