The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-02-14

led on by Big Frank, sneered at and
reviled the accused.
During this trying ordeal for the
psrson, 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 fouted in the
face of the trembling victim. Well he
knew how it had come there, but it
was idle to assert or protest. His
words--if he could have spoken
would have been, to these infuriated
men, like the screech of wild bird
borne on the wind in bowling storm.
eye hev no proof O. yer innocence, "
said Paymaster Bill, hotly, can 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
returned, and he said with evident eff
fort
"Gentlemen, see no hope of estab-
fishing my innocence but still main
tain it. That nugget of gold must have
been dropped by the robber in our
struggle in the cabin. If l could re-
call the voice l should convince you.
1t was none of you who did the deed,
but one who has once lived here among
you, though 1 can not tell his name.
He can not live far away-perhaps at
one of the idle mines or in some de-
serted tunnel. He went toward the
gulch, for had he come this way he
would have had to cross my body, as I
lay there in the snow. That is all 1
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.
"The parson has lied," coolly re-
marked Big Frank, whose faith in the
preacher sort had never been strong.
''He's an ungrateful robber," Pay
master Bill added.
Chang him'' yelled 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 infuriated mob who, in
the absence of court, had tried, con-
victed, and sentenced the accused, was
eager to execute the sentence of death.
Like wild men they few to the
upper end of the camp, dragging the
parson with them. Convinced of his
guilt, and maddened by thoughts OF
his ingratitude, no hand could stay
them.
Quickly the preparations for the ex-
ecution were made. Two barrels, eacl
of which supported an end of broad
plank, placed under the stout limb o.
a great tree, formed the scaffold. One
end of the rope was fastened to the
limb, the other formed into a moose
and placed over the head and around
the neck of the trembling parson.
"Alre we ready?" cried the leader
of the mob to the two men who were
stationed at the ends of the planl
ready to lift it out from under tn,
feet of the doomed man.
"Give him one more chance ter tell
who robbed him." demanded Paymas
ter Bill.
Standing there upon that plank
with the death rope around his neck
Parson Toms memory returned. Th'
ugly face of his assailant, which h,
could not see the night before in th
darkness, was now plainly visible, ant
the couched form of the robber ap
peared as plain as on the day he hat
sneaked ont of camp at the commant
of these same men.
The crowd waited almost breath
lessly.
"Quick!" shouted Big Frank, VIII,
was leader.
''Saddle - Horse - Petel" almos
shouted the parson.
The crowd broke out in jeers
"Oh, mol" they said. "that can't be
He was drove out, an he's not likel,
to show his head anywheres 'roun' thi
camp. That won't do. Guess agin.
'Ye'll hev to perduce ther body o
Saddle-H -Hoss Pete afore the courtl
admit ther evidence" said Bill.
"Once agin. Aire ye ready? ?
shouted Big Frank.
eyes, ," came the calm but determ
ined voices of the two men at the end
of the plank.
"Give him time ter pray" begge,
an unwilling participant.
''Pray then !" shouted the leader.
Parson Tom stood erect with bowet
head. Slowly and with firmness h
lifted his voice Suddenly he faltered
turning his face toward the mountain
) Hark Look The excited groul
of men stood there riveted to th
p ground. The hands of those who he'll
the plank were frozen as if in death
= clutch. The tongue of him who's
4 word was law was paralyzel. Th
sound which filed their ears carrie,
more terror to their souls than tn
r awful roar of battle, the rushing of tn
a mighty waters in storm at sea, an
t the rumbling of an earthquake, al
- combined, could have inspired.
t On, on it came, tearing from thei
a roots great trees that had withstoo
G the storms of generations; hurlin
7 heavy branches, logs, timbers an
rocks hundred feet above the head
- of the frightened witnesses.
Graat clouda of snow filed the nj