Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-09-12

your keys an 60 back ter bed, we'll do
the rest"
'Boys," exclaimed the jailer, ''this
amt right The prisoner amt been
proved guilty. Go of an let me dc
nv duty"
Murray was trembling SO violently
that the rattling of the chain on the
door could be heard. Ladd coolly
cooked his revolver. A dozen other
weapons clicked.
'.Hold onl Give i'm a minute!" ex.
claimed Ladd. The jailer's hand sud.
denly came out into the moonlight
A bunch Of keys ratified in his fingers
and fell jingling upon the stone step.
II wash my hands Nv ye," the jailer
faltered.
Ladd unlocked the door, and the
men entered. They gathered around
! large cage of iron in the middle of
the room, in which they saw, by the
light Of the lantern, a handsome man
about twenty-five years old.
Il see what you want" said the
prisoner, shut I'll swar I'm not
yuiltyI I didn't kill that man
don't know anything about it."
Tell that to some other gang O.
white caps" said Ladd, coolly un-
locking the cage and leading the man
out. "You needn't bother to spend
your wind-youll need it after
awhile. Tie lis hands. Ike, and put
the rope round is neck"
Most of the band were awed by the
prisoners cool department. A sud-
den look of angry fearlessness seemed
to sweep over his young face.
"All right" he said in a tone OF
resignation, mixed with contempt.
"I'll show yer how an honest man kin
die when he's overpowered by mob
Of towards. Lead the way"
Ladd preceded the prisoner and
Ike down the stairs; the Others
brought up in the rear. Silently they
crossed the shaded courtyard, passed
out into the open moonlight in the
street, and entered the woods.
Presently Ike stopped the prisoner
beneath large oak, and looked round
with a question in his cleaning
eyes.
This on'll do" said Ladd, in an
uneven voice. Then, at his COM
mand, Ike hung the rope over the
lowest limb of the tree.
If yer hev any prayer ter pray, say
it fore l give the order,' said Ladd.
"MY prayers are said, thank you, "
said the young man; ''but Pve got
straight request to leave behind me,
II theirs one among yer that 'ud like
to see justice done"
'.Out with it, then," said Ladd.
AS he spoke he let the rope fall slack.
"Ive done said Pm innocent, so
won't go over that But I've tramped
all the way from Texas to do some
thin for dying man, an this hangin'
will prevent it. That money $3.50,
at the sheriff took from me, an which
he intends to hand over to the dead
mans wife, don't belong ter her. and
never was in the possession OF the
man that was killed.
'.Ye all low I'm guilty, case 1 had
that money, an couldn't tell the
mans name l was fetchin' it to. Now
| went away out on the prairie in
North Texas, twenty miles from a
white mans house, when run acroSt
a young man by 'isse'f in cabin, jest
about TO die with fever. Thar
wasn't nobody in reach, so couldn't
get hep. Jest fore he died he give
me that money an made me promise
to take it to his father.
HE said he owed it to i'm fer a
horse he drownded, and he'd promise q
to pay for. He had just told me that
his father lived in this county, an
started to tell his name. when he TUX
q fit O. coughing, and died 'thOut
maxim it known.
II buried i'm thar, an tramped all
the way here, 'ca'se l had no money
o. my own. But so many young fel-
lows has gone West at couldn't find
the father O. this one. All want tC
ak is that some o you will try to sec
that justice is done, in case anything
turns up ter prove me innocent after
I'm gone. Now I'm ready"
Every eve in the group was directed
towards Jacob Ladd. He was lean.
ing against young tree, as pale "a
death.
s.What was the boys name?" h
gasped, staring the prisoner in th,
face.
II tol' yer l didn't KNOW" replied
the other.
"Did he have red hair an blue
eyes?"
"Yes, an a red birth-mark on hi
check"
Ladd was quivering in every limt
and feature. The men had dropped
the rope as il it had stung theil
hands. The whole forest seemed
hushed in suspense. The prisonei
began to look round him in astonisf-
ment but he could meet nobody's eyes.
.Oh. nv bow" burst from Ladd
nps, ana he staggered towards thS
bound man. "ls he dead?"
"Who?"
"Ihe boy that give you the money. ="
Eyes, an under the ground. !
buried i'm the best 1 could. Do you
snown anything about him?"
''He was my son."
Almost without word the young
man was released. The mob gradually
dispersed, and Ladd was left alone
with him.
Come along with me-" said Ladd.
"Ill see you clear with the sheriff. ]
want you to tell the boys mother
about it"
By-andby they reached Ladd's cot
tage. The light from Kitchen fire
,hone through the window.
''She's up Already" said Ladd-
"You wait here till 1 go and sorter
break 1t to her."
He leaned wearily against the
fence, and Ladd staggered across the
potato patch and entered the door.
The stranger listened, expecting to
hear some sound Of grief from the
house, but it did net come. In few
moments Ladd emerged from the
house and came slowly toward him.
''She takes it mighty quiet" he
said, 'san' hain't a word to say bout