The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-28

/ was ldlu upon MS NnFOdt anu d hOaASo
voice demanded: "Give me that money!
/ Qnick!"
| The parson was by no means a coward.
! He struggled with his assailant, and to-
/ gether they fell into the cabin and rolled
| out into the light cover of fresh snow
which had fallen on the frozen crust.
! Muttered curses and tighter grip upon
| his throat met his resistance.
| Damn this snow If this job could
have been done an hour earlier I'd bin
| all right" muttered the voice as the form
/ moved away in the darkness!
That was the last the parson heard.
! The light snow fell straight from the
| sky. There was no wind to disturb its
! course, and the soft, fine fakes were
hardly plentiful enough to furnish bed
! for footprints.
Parson Tom knew not how long he had
| lain there, and. despite the warmer tenn
| perature, he was numb with cold when
| he crawled into his cabin. He was so
| completely overcome by the struggle
with his assailant and the cold that he
| lay upon his bed in stupor far into the
| night.
When he aroused the snow was falling
in great sheets, like drifts, from the
| gulch above. He opened the door and
| looked out. He could see nothing but the
| binding storm and the darkness, which
was scarcely subdued by the CHASTITY
| Wilderness of the snow. He dared not
! venture out. No man could live an hour
in that terrible storm.
Rebuilding the fire, the parsonsat down
and tried to think-tried to think where
| he had heard that voice before it de-
manded his money If he could only re-
call that. he would be able to identify the
man who had robbed him. Without that
| recollection, his claim that he had been
| robbed the second time would be only
| laughed at by the men who were so gen
! erous in their gifts.
But it was impossible to recall it, though
! he knew he had heard it, and remarked
! it peculiar tone. And there he sat
| through the long, black night, hoping
| against hope.
1t was broad monday when he awoke,
| sitting by the dying embers on the hearth.
| The sun shone brighter than it had shone
for weeks. Its hot rays melted the snow
| on the roofs of the houses, and the day
was like day in spring. But it brought
| no JOY to the heart of Parson Tom.
The habitues of Big Franks saloon had
hardly settled themselves down for the
| pleasures or pastimes of the day-their
morning hour being noontime-when they
were startled by the ghost-like appear
| ance of Parson Tim. In trembling voice
| he told his story.
He plays it well, y sneered Big Frank;
that's purity good makeup you've got
on yer face. Ye'd ought ter be per-
former There'u be chance fer We when
the variety show opens up in Their
| spring"
This speech was greeted with laughter
| by the crowd, and the poor parson was
| dumb-but not deaf-with modification.
How could he face these men who disbe-
lieved his very first utterance! He
! turned to go.
Z
| This IS twice yer say yer bin robbed In
this camp. Both times it was our money
| as We was robbed of-mOney at we give
| We. Now we've got ter prove it; fer we
| don't low no man T. accuse none o. us o.
robbin' him the second time 'thout he
| perduces Their proof"
| "Ther proofs wat we wants." shouted
| the crowd
| Parson Tom stood as still as death. He
| could not speak.
AN theirs another thing we've got ter
! prove" continued Bill. as e'saw the par
! son would not reply; "ye've got ter prove
| tibet We didn't rob some other parties be-
! sides yerself. More'n one cabinwas bur-
! glarized last night; an es We amt ther
| burglar, then-prove It'll"
But Parson Tom could utter no sound,
save groan of anguish, Could he but
recall that voice. But, no! His memory
| failed.
| There he stood, as dumb as though he
had been born without speech, while Pay
| master Bill demanded that he prove his
innocence, and the crowd, led on by Big
| Frank, sneered at and reviled the ac-
] cused.
During this trying ordeal for the par
| son three men, selected by Big Frank,
had gone to the parsons cabin, and there
upon the floor had found a nugget of gold
| belonging to Big Frank
This they brought and houted in the
| face of the trembling victim. Well he
knew how it had come there, but il was
idle to assert or protest. His words--if
| he could have spoken-would have been
to these Infatuated men like the screech
of a wild bird borne on the wind in a
bowling storm.
''Ye hev no proof O. yer innocence, " said
/ PayEaster Bill, holly, IAN we hev this
proof o. yer guilt. Wat dye say nowln
Parson Tom saw that all hope was lost,
but with diving hope his speech returned,
and he said with evident effort:
Gentlemen, l see no hope of establish
ing my innocence; but still maintain it.
| That nugget of gold must have been
dropped by the robber in our struggle in
the cabin. If l could recall the voice |
should convince you. 1t was none of YOU
who did the deed but one who has once
! lived here among you, though l cannot
tell his name. He cannot live far away
| perhaps at one of the idle mines or in
some deserted tunnels He went toward
the gulch. for had he come this way he
would have had to cross my body, as l
lay there in the snow. That is all have
to say. Do with me as you must"
1t was useless to search the gulch-the
heavy snow would not permit. And then,
these angry men had no doubt of the guilt
of the parson. Only the production of
the man he claimed had robbed him
/ would destroy their belief in his guilt.
The crowd grew angrier as the minutes
! passed.
Air We readyl" cried the leader of the
mob to the two men who were stationed
at the ends of the plank ready to lift it
out from under the feet of the doomed
i man.
Give him one more chance ter tell who
robbed him." demanded Paymaster Bill
Standing there upon that plank, with
! the death rope around his neck, Parson
! Toms memory returned. The ugly face of
! his assailant, which he could not see the
! night before in the darkness, was now
! plainly visible, and the crouched form of
the robber appeared as plain as on the
| day he had sneaked out of camp at the
| command of these same men,
| The crowd waited almost breathlessly.
"Quickp' shouted Big Frank, who was
! leader.
"Saddle-Horse-Pet almost shouted