The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-06-09
SUMMARY JUSTICE.
The Close Gall of a Supposed
Horse-Thief

Prominently placed in the center Of
n fcstoon of rifles, knives and cartridge
belts in the smoking-room of my friend
Lawrence, there is light walking
boot, with which is connected story
worth relating. The boot of itself
would never attract more than passing
attention, and that only because Of its
peculiar position. OF the worth of the
incident connected with it will let
you judge for yourself. Here is the
way Lawrence told it to me:
you'll remember | took walking
trip along the western border of Texas
last year. l know you characterized
it as one of my outlandish fads 1.-THE
time. Maybe it was; but | had a
splendid trip and could only look back
tons had it not been for one occur
renee which ended in my nearly losing
my life.
at was just after had finished sup
per one night and was sitting before a
big fire with my briar-root between
my teeth, that there was trampling
in the underbrush on the trail below
me and man of about my own size
rode up on the back of magnificent
black horse. lie was leading another
horse by COW rope;' but it was an
animal very inferior to the one he be-
strobe. The latter had made me envi-
Gus as soon as clapped eyes on it 1t
was coal black, as | have said, and l
set il. down as an exceptional animal
The rider pulled up just in front OF
the fire and then | saw that the black
horse had been cruelty ridden. The
blood was still dripping from his sides,
where the long rowels of the Mexican
spurs had worn through the skin. The
mau in the saddle didn't seem to notice
it, however, and coolly swung himself
off his horsc's back and stalked up to
the fire.
Evening stranger he said, any
'jections to my stopping bit and takin'
bite?'
Il hadn't any. l was glad to see
anyone He tied the horses heads to-
gether and fastened them with lariat
to pin. BY and by his eye caught
the CLINT on the lock Of fine Winches-
ter which belonged to me.
+" Nice gun, that o yourn,' he re-
marked. Want to trade
"riXell. ] hadn't thought of it, l
said, somewhat taken aback by the
suddcnness of the proposition. What
for?'
Black horse, there he replied,
Jerking his thumb toward that animal.
Give him to you for the rife. Trifie
used up, but'll come round all right.
Been ridin' him hard. Couldn't stop.
Had TO make the roundup in time,
and'll have to push on now with other
one. What do you SAYS it go?'
ut didn't take me long to decide,
thought should have hesitatcd, 'having
tramped through the country for quite
while and knowing the people and
their character and ways SO we'll But
my mad desire to get possession of the
black horse stilled whatever misgiv.
ings may have had; and five minutes
later was standing BY the fire holding
the picket rope of my new acquisition
and my late companion had ridder
away, carrying the rife with him. Al
The next morning ! made an early
start hadn't anything to carry be
You'd light haversaclS and my Colts,
and the way the black horse got ovel
the ground delighted my heart I'm
something of Ia horseman, as yor
know, and pride myself that know {
piece Of flesh when ] see it. Well, the
black more than fulfilled my expecta
tions. He was an easy rider and carried
him elf in grand style.
II ran down into aslittle hollow to
ward noon, and seeing level stgetcl
of turf ahead OF ne--that is, ltvel TO
that gopher-bolcd countrr-I put TIL
black at it and made him fairly dane
down the level.
.He was getting heated to his worl
and, in spite of his previous har'
usage. was making the grodag ny from
under his hoofs, when scddcnly ther
was a YELL to stop from cluinp o
bushes at one side. Then bali wills
tied over my. head ara 1, &C horsemen
one after another, burst prom the un
dcrgrowth and made for me at full
speed.
! S.""Whether It was that the black wa
frightened at the report, on whether n
merely .wartcd to try conclusions wit
his pNrsueys, I don't kne> y; but p
stretsnel out and we trs aderod o
harder t,laa ever. ! didn't try to sto
him at firs:. and before could collec
my ser4es, even withEthe wind rushin
in NJ e.s, heard q swish above m
head and the next instoi.t felt inysel
torn from my horses back by some
thing over my shoulders. Thee was
/. y terrific crash, q hundrcdl lights dance
before my eyes and the black horse
the men and everything disappeare
F. from view and well, ] knew nothinl