Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-06-12

INV both men and
"H horses rs they
halted where the
trail left the open mesa and climbed
the little divide.
The animals had been gathered in,
head to head, and all the brides were
held by one of the party; the prisoner,
still handcuffed, had been allowed to
dismount, and now stood silent, look
ing down the rolling plain toward tho
sunset, watched by a single guard.
The Others, seven in number, in n
group half a dozen rods away, were
casting votes.
The leader of the posse, christenod
hfty years ago in some quaint English
village John Robinson, but far better
known in his New Mexican home as
"Sheriff Jack" held the ballot-box, a
worn sombrero
"Now, gentlemen, let us understand
this question, SO that no trouble arise
hereafter" said he, glanc!ng about at
his companions. eve have, at the
call of our city, made successful eff
fort to capture James Brownell, other
wise known as Red Jim, who to-day
stands indicted for more than half the
crimes that have been committed in
Usage County during the past five
years. Time was, and not SO far in the
past either, as several of you can bear
me witness, when such a capture meant
prompt trial and short shrift for the
prisoner but customs have changed.
Our duty, it seems to me, is to return
to Mesa City with Brownell, and sub
NIT him to the disposition of the reg
ularly organized authorities. The
road, however, is long, our
horses tired and the man des-
perate, and some of you believe
it better to conclude the matter
here and at once, all things being
seemingly convenient" and rs he
paused, his eye unconsciously turned
toward the single stunted pine that
with sturdy, outstretched limbs stood
near. '1n order, therefore, as it were,
to poll the jury on the question of what
to do with our prisoner, have pro-
posed the casting of ballots. Draw up,
gentlemen, and make your wills
known: pistol cartridge means Judge
Lynch, II Winchester, the court at
home, and the majority shall rule.
Prepare your ballots.
There was a certain grim humor
about both the speaker and his adj
dress, but the others did not notice it.
They busted themselves in selecting,
each according to his choice, the re-
quired cartridge, and then, with all
the solemn decorum of New England
school meeting, one by one they ad-
vanced and dropped the leaden mes
sengers of their desires into the hat.
There was no discussion, no seeking
to influence each other, and when
Sheriff Jack had passed his sombrero
to the two who watched the prisoner
and held the horses, with the same
official dignity he declared the polls
closed, and turning the cartridges out
upon the ground, separated them, large
and small, into two tiny piles, counting
them as he did so.
A mans life hung in the balance,
but no sign of excitement showed itself
upon the bronzed faces of the posse,
nor was there an expression of satisfac-
ton or disappointment when, rising,
the Sheriff said:
Boot and saddle! We ride home
The verdict is five for town law to four
against it-and much good may it do
him, he added, with half-regretful
fling of his head toward the silent pris-
oner, who had watched all these pro-
ceedingR, even to the final announce
ment, with the stoicism of an Indian.
The vote had meant death to him within
an hour or days of opportunity yet
not shadow had crossed his hardened
face. Now, at a sign from his guard,
he mounted the horse led to him,
placed himself in the center of the lit
tie cavalcade, and at brisk trot all
proceeded northward through the rap
idly deepening cleaning of the even
lag.
Two months later Mesa City lay
ccorched and lrowning beneath the
blaZe OF July sun.
The wide streets, fanked by rows Of
painfully new brick stores and wooden
dwellings, the court house, city hall,
graded school and churches, the dia-
mond shaped plaza, boasting dry
urned Niobe, and even the discouraged
trees that had been planted near the
doors of the tempting saloons were one
and all white beneath the alkali dust,
and qdivered and shivered in the
burning glare like the unstable city of
q mirage.
Few inhabitants ventured forth, for
the heat was unusual, even for New
Mexico, and while it lasted work must
wait. But in one building there had
gathered quite u concourse, notwith-
standing the temperature, and Judge
Gary looked from the bench across