The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-02-16
o GIVE THE BABY .


! coLI1ER-GooDALE Co., 5osroN, MASS.
it. he could have spoken-would have
been to these Infatuated men like the
screech of wild bird borne OH the wind
in bowling storm.
"Ye hev no proof O. yer innicence, {"
said Paymaster Bill holly, IAN we hev
this proof O. yer guilt. Wat dye say
now?"
Parson Tom saw that all hope was
lost, but with dying hope his speech re-
! turned, and he said with much evident
effclt:
Gentlemen, | see no hone of estab-
fishing my innocence, but still main
tain it. That nugget of gold must have
been dropped by the robbel III our strug-
gle IN the cabin. If / 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 | cannot tell his name. He
cannot live far away-perhaps at one of
the idle mines or in some deserted tun-
mel. He went toward the gulch, for
had he come this way he would have
had to cross my body as | 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 pro-
duction of the man he claimed had
robbed him would destroy their belief
in his guilt. The crowd grew angrier
as the minutes passed.
The parson has lied" coolly re-
marked Big Frank, whose faith in the
preacher sort had never been strong.
Hes an ungrateful robber,'' Pay
master Bill added
Hang him" yelled a man in the
crowd.
The excitement increased like the
roar of the wind through the gulches in
the coming of storm. A minute more
and the Infatuated mob who. i'll the abb
sence of court, had tried, convicted
and sentenced the accused was eager to
execute the sentence of death.
Like wild men they flew to the upper
end of the camp, dragging the parson
with them. Convinced of his guilt and
maddened by thoughts of his ingrati-
tude, no hand could stay them.
Quickly the preparations for the exc
cution were made. Two barrels, each
of which supported an end of broad
plank, placed under the stout limb of
great tree, formed the scatfold. One
end of the rope was fastened to the limb,
the other formed into moose and placed
over the head and around the neck of
the trembling parson.
Air ye ready?" cried the leader of
the mob to the two men who were sta
toned at the ends of the plank ready to
lift it out from under the feet of the
doomed man.
Give him one more chance to tell |
who robbed him." demanded Paymas-
ter 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 breathless-
ly.
"QuickV' shouted Big Frank, who
was leader.
Saddle - Horse - Pete!" almost
shouted the parson.
The crowd broke out in jeers.
"Oh, mol" they said; THAT cant be.
He was drove out, an he's not likely to
show his head anywheres roun this
camp. That won't do. Guess ag'in."
"Once ag in. Air ye readyP" shouted
Big Frank.
YES" came the calm but deter
mined voices of the two men at the
ends of the plank.
Give him time ter pray" begged
an unwilling participant.
Pray, thenp' shouted the leader.
Parson Tom stood erect, with bowed
head. Slowly and with frmness he
lifted his voice. Suddenly he faltered,
turning his face toward the mountain.
Hark! Lookl The excited group of
men stood there riveted to the ground.
The hands of those who held the plank
were frozen as if in deaths clutch. The
tongue Of him whose word was law was
The sound which filed their
ears carried more terror to their souls
than the awful roar Of battle, the rush
ing of the mighty waters in storm at