The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-06-08

.'Joe baxter, where's your father?'
''I won't tell. y
The man hesitated a moment before
he again spoke.
Perhaps it isn't fair to make you.
See here, Joe, I've got no quarrel with
you, but if you fall into Baileys hands,
and won't tell where your father is,
it'll 60 hard with you. He's mad clear
through because you carried your faith
er Off Now clear out-quick's you
can
The boy rode toward the woods
which bordered the pasture, and soon
came to the wood trail which he had
used in reaching the farm from the
village He looked back, and could
make out, here and there, a horsenan
stumbling among the bushes.
He guessed that his late captor had
told the other White Caps that Baxter
was not with his son, and must be hid
den I'M the pasture. They were max
ing search.
After a moments pause Joe and the
bay horse started on, and were lost
amid the dark shadows which over
hung the wood trail.
Clouds were flying, and the young
moon gave but little light for the
search After beating the bushes for
an hour Bailey's followers grew i'm
patient. sN%.
''You said you'd show us some fun,
captain said one, "but this is rather
slow. There's little chance Of finding
Baxter. Let's give it up
Their leader reluctantly consented,
and the men rode back toward the
farm house. The man who was in ad-
vance missed the way in the darkness,
and entered the gully several yards
from the place where they had crossed
| before Suddenly his horse plunged
forward; it had. broken through the
sandy bank. AS the animal fOundered
about, it's rider saw man half-buried
by the sliding sand. He shouted to his
! companions: ~. -"
Here's somebody, hiding under the
bank" f. o.. IT,
1t was Baxter. In moment the
other White Caps were upon him, and
held him fast. He was dragged to the
ground, bound and gagged.
"This is a good place for the tarring,
right here in the gulch," announced the
| voice of Bailey. ~
A great bonfire was lighted. The
White Caps took their time, appearing
to enjoy the grim preparations for the
act Of barbarity they proposed to COM
NIT. At last all was in readiness, and
two of the men were leading forward
their prisoner, when there was clat-
tering of hoofs. Then, a dozen armed
horesmen dashed into the ravine
| Some Of the White Caps sprang to
their horses and escaped; but most OF
them, including the captain, were
caught. A deputy sheriff ordered them
to surrender, 49,.
Joe jumped to the ground and cut
the ropes which bound his father.
1--WE didn't have any time to spare
did we?' he said, looking around al
the preparations. ''It was lucky we
saw light from the fire, or we shouldn't
have found you so quickly"
After leaving the pasture, Joe had
ridden to the next neighbors, got q
! fresh horse, alarmed the neighborhood
and then ridden on to the village and
notified the deputy sheriff The officer
hastily gathered posse as the two rode
back. -
Farmer Baxter preferred to let, the
matter drop. But the people were
tired of the behavior ct the roughs call
ing themselves White Caps, and the
district attorney decided to put an END
to their Outrages. The next grand Jury
indicted the White Caps; they were
duly tried, and received the longes1
terms in prison that the law allowed
the court to give them. The judge, il
pronouncing sentence, declared that the
charges against Mr.. Baxter were sc
absurd that no unprecedented person
could have believed them.
Since then Northern New York has
not been troubled by White Caps
Francis S. Palmer in Youths Com
panion.