Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-19

been often urged to move nearer the camp
for protection from thieves. But the old
man only laughed and said that he wanted
10 see the color of the thief who could rob
him and remained in his dugout. Strangely
enough, Lawton was the only man in the
camp with whom Hardy was on anything
ike intimate terms, and IL was a common
thing for them TO spend the evening to-
gether.
'On the day following the night in ques-
tion Lawton did not make his appearance,
and towards evening half a dozen of us
walked down to his abode 10 see If he was
sick. Rumaldo Joined the party and in five
minutes we had reached the dugout. The
door was open and the meagre furniture of
tho apartment was scattered in every direc-
ton. / was the first to cross the threshold
and was startled to see Lawton lying at full
length on the floor. Icalled his name, but
he gave no answer. We all rushed in IN
alarm and one of the men bent over the
miners PROSTATE figure. Suddenly he stood
erect and uttered a terrible oath. He has
been murdered he added, and a glance
showed that he was right.
Lawton's throat had been slit to the bone
and, not content with this, the murderer had
plunged his knife Il dozen times into the
dead body. Rumaldo entered with the rest.
crafty triumph lit up his swarthy face. The
knife still renamed in the body of the miner.
Rumaldo snatched it and held it up before
his eyes. That is Silent Jim's knife he
Kissed. and we ali saw that it was true.
'By this time the news had reached the
camp and nearly 100 miners were gathered
around the dugout. They came for but a
single purpose, and that was TO ovenge the
death of their comrade. Lawlessnes had
run IL course and it was time for stern
measures The hollow under the threshold
where Lawton had concealed his little hoard
of gold was empty. The murderer was the
thief who had eluded US SO long. We could
hardly believe that Jim Hardy was a thief.
Still less that he would murder his only
friend. But the evidence was conclusive.
Rumaldo sand that he had seen him leave
Lawton's shanty at u late hour the night be.
fore. A dozen others corroDorated his state
ment. There could be no mistake. Silent
jim was the murderer, and without a
thought of mercy the miners prepared TO
bring him to his doom. A rope was pro-
cured and IN five minutes we were at his
cabin. His face paled as the rope was
thrown around his neck and he was led away
before the senorlta should learn of his in
tended fate. Even In that moment of unre.
lenting vengeance we did not wish TO wit
ness the distress OF her whom we all knew
loved him faithfully.
Hardy was game and never,said,a word as
we led him down the Gulch to where a single
barren pine stood in a mass Of thirk alfalfa.
| Then, for the first time, we told him of what
he was accused. He started with horror
and attempted To explain, but we checked him
| impatiently. Our blood was up aud we had
| no time for explanations. The rope tight
ened under the impulse of a score OF brawny
| arms and in n moment he was swinging in
midair. A quick, ~conyulsiye struggle, an
upward movement of the hands. and then
Silent Jim would speak 10 more forever.
In spite of our determination we shuddered
as we cut down the still warm body aud pre-
pared TO bury il. Suddenly we fell back
before a figure which came running toward
Us. Ii was the senorita. She had heard
the story and we all stood in silent sympathy
with her bereavement. Husband or lover, il
was the same. He was all she had and we
had taken him from her. She did not utter
a word, but the expression of her face will
haunt me as long as l live. She gazed for d
moment on the white set face, then fell upor
the body. kissing the unresponsiye lips and
murmuring soft Spanish words Of endear
ment.
''Rumaldo alone seemed TO take a iendist
satisfaction in her grief. He moved forwarC
as IL 10 taunt her with her misery. wheI
something fell from the pocket of his blousl
and struck the ground like a stone. None o
US noticed IL, but the senorita sprung 10 he
feet ard bounded forward as IL by instinct
She snatched the object which had fallel
from Rumaldo's pocket aud held 4. up in tn
moonlight. IL was the bag Of gold for whicl
John Lawton had been murdered. We wer
speechless WITH horror as we penetrated tn
secret of the crime. We had hung an innC
cent man, while the real criminal was With
our grasp. The ~senorita still held the bag c
gold. She silently raised her hand an
pointed her finger at Rumaldo. She slowl.