New-York tribune., 1893-12-31

Might hoping against hope. - q
1t was broad MONDAY when he awcke stt1,p>
by the dying embers the hearth. The -
shone brighter than II had shone for wee16.
Its hot rays melted the snow on the roofs OF ~
houses. and the day was like day In sprinS
But II brought no JOY to the heart OF ParsoS
Tom. ~
The habitufs Of Big Franks saloon haA
hardly settled themselves down 10 the pleasures &
or pastimcs Of the day-their morning hour being
the noon -time--when they were startled by the
ghost-Iike appearance Of Parson Tom In 4
trembling voice he told his story.
"He plays II WE'LL. snecred Big Frank; "thara
n purity good makeup ye've got on yer facs
Ye'd ought ter be "A performer. There'll be
chance fer ye when the variety show opens up In
ther spring
This speech was greeted with laughter by the
crowd and the porr parson was dumb-but not
dcaf-wih modification. How could he face,
tn. So men who disbccved his very first utter.
ance? He turned Ia go.
Hold on ther'" cried Paymaster Bill: this 10
twIcet yer say yer bin robsrd in this camp.
Both times IL was our money AZ yc was robbed
of-mon"y at We give ~. Now y"Vr got ter
prove IT, fer We don't low no man Z accuse
non" o MS % r"bbin' him the second time 'thout
he produces thrr proof -
"Ther proofs wat We wants. shouted the
crowd
Parson Tom rtood az still "a death. He could
not speak.
An Tiers another thing yc'vc got ter prove"
continued 'ill. ds b" san IN" parson would not
reply: 'yr'vr got ter prov" thct y" didn't rob
som" other parties besides ycrs"lf. Moren one
cabin was burglarz"d last night. an cf yc ain't
thcr burglar then PROV" IT,
But larson Tom could utter no sound. save
n groan of anguish Could h. but recall that
voice. Huf. no Iiis m 'mory failed.
There he stood dumb AZ though he had
been born without spe"'h wnilc raymas,er bill
demanded that he prov" his innocence. and the
crowd. led on by Big Frank. sn""rei AT and re.
vilr'i tn" accused
During this trying ordeal for the parson. three
mon. scl.ctel by big Frank. had gon" 10 the
parsons cabin and there. upon the floor, had
found "A nugget - gold belonging g. Big Frank.
tn. trembling victim We'll he knew how II
had come there" but II was idle to assert or
protest His wor'is-if he could hay" sp.ken-.
the scrocch ~ wild yiri borne On The wind In
"a bowling storm.
we hev no proof % yer inniccncc." said Pay
master Hill. hoty. 'at "" hey this proof . yer
guilt. wat dye say now''
Parson Tom saw hat AL hope was lSs'. hut
with dying hop" hit speech returned. and he
said with evident EFFORT:
r;ent"n"ii | go" b. hrI" ~ establishing my
inn"cenc". but still maintain II. That nugget
u gold must ha,e lt"n dr"pp"L hy the robber
Ia our sirueg" IN tn" cabin. II could r"cali
the voice should ionvinre YOU II was none
81 you who did the decd but on" who has once
lived her. among you. though I can not tell hts
naT" II" cannot liv" far away perhaps at
on. - The Idle mines ar In some deserted trn.
mel lie went toward IN" guch. for had hi como
this way ~ would hay" had to cross my body.
IA lay there In tho SNOW That IL all have
e. say. Do with M. a. You must.
II useless to search n" gulch- the heavy
sn,w wI"i "2' p"f'n,'' an, ,''n - IT. ams.y
only n. production ~ IN" man he "l.drn"d had
ro"n'' ',. r h.,'' VIII w"'I' r',, t. a. mo mnes
nassea
The parson has lied" co,lv remarked Bik
Frank. who's" faith in III" preacher sort hat
"'.uI p'm ~ ,,,,,,,l r,h.r" p,vu,s,.r nil
added
Hang him yelled man in tn crowd.
Tn. excitement increased lila" III" roar y the
.fpI thr T. ID n u
storm. \ minute NOR. and rhr infirlat"i mob
Wn' III ~ 49,, -, 3D. ,.,,s,.i v,s eager IN
.r.,u,. ,hn sentence or ,.cath
Like wild men they flew T. ~" upper end ~ the
camp "rise"s t''' i'' , ,' 10 ,h,,h.s -, hi.
f., ,',.r,,,,.,,,. ~, ~ t,nS r,ilI -,,y th.m
"'e, ' w., ni " ,. ,,i,,s fr M. .x.,u,ion were
mad. i"' nt'i,, ~ .I "ni'r M, s,or,
~ i,,,,h -, ,r,,, -, formed n. Sc.ffoi one
.nI -, the r,,. wls fastened - ,hr 'rb. the
~ ~ w ,,,'.s.,. ,,J ,,ac.i over the
"'"', i''' ~ ,,, ~, IN. ,r.rntlicR
n"ai anu "''''
Va. ,p ~ go, ,.o., .,ial the leader II the mob
ar n,''' ~ .,, ,'.. Stationed AZ tn. ends
T., t'" W. n',' W.. n,. 3, ',n, f-nm under the
re.t II IN. J ,,ulrl man. -
,,,,, l..I p,vins .,.r Il.
..,r ,,r,, ,h.r.. ,,n inst plank. with the Death.
ro,,. arounI ~ n-ch. iars"n Toms memory re-
turned TAs ug,y IA" -; his ass tl'hh'' ~hi'h ne
'',,,J ~. sa ilc righ, before in IN" darkness.
", ~, r',t.r appeared a. plain on ihe day he
h,J Smoked IN, If camp a, ~. COMMAND OK
,h.s. sam. -,i.n
TN. crowd waited almost hr"athlessiy
.,Ouick"' Shouted Zig Franh. who was 'santr.
"Sa,iil..-fIprsc Pete almost III """ '''e
,,,s,n
Tho crowd hrok" out in l'"rs .
..ph no. they said. 'that AN L "'. h' ""s
drove nut. an he's not NN'N |" si'" ~" ~
.rvwb.r.s 'r,un' this camp That Won 90.
':u.ss ,,'in"
..onc. ayin Airr " ready? shouted 1913
VI 80 "
VS. cam. III. calm but determined voices
, ,ha ,w, mon M III. ends -. ,he plank.
CIV. him time ter pray. begged an uh"is''hs
pray then" shouted IN" l'airr
pnrs"n Tom stood erect. Win bowed h',an-
Slowly AMI with nrnin"ss u" ni''n "'S 80