The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-16
HIS HEAD IN A HALTER.
BUT THE MOOSE NEVER TIGHT
ENED ROUND THE THROAT.

A distinguished looking man was sitting
In cafe in this city the other evening.
The waiter had just brought him n sample
of Washington's favorite drink, u "rickey."
Before he had taken sip Of it another,
who had Just entered the cafe, walked over
to him, and extending his hand said;
"How do you do, major9 | haven't seen
you for Il long time"
The man addressed rs major, who, by the
way, is Major McMichael, of the war de.
partment, looked at tie newcomer doubt
fully and said politely:
81 fear, sir, that you have the advantage
of me-"
well, major the first time you ever saw
me was at one end of n rope and you at
the other Now do you recall meY"
by all that's holy" cried the major, ex-
citedly seizing the other by the hand, 'if it
isn't Blank"
Yes it is Blank, sure enough-the man
whose life You saved that night"
The two men shook hands heartily, and
after few minutes excited conversation
passed through the swinging doors into a
rear room.
Later, Major McNIchael yielded to the
requests of some friends and told curious
story. In fact he yielded up first class
novel in less chan a column.
TIE MAJOR TELLS A STORY.
1T occurred year or so before ! came
here, " promised the major. 81 was engaged
in cotton planting near Nicksburc. There
were number Of plantations about beside
mine, and in the neighborho0d was the
usual store, which made practice of ad-
vancinG goods provisions and money on
crops Among those who were engaged in
planting in the neighborhood was Mr..
Blank, who just renewed his acquaintance
with me. He was "a northern man who had
married girl Of good family in the
neghbOrhood. The proprietor of the gen
eral store had made advances to Blank on
his crop, but the crop had failed"
zone day Blank went over and shot the
storekeeper, killing him. lie was arrested
and lodged in jail The next day a party
Of Nicksburgers came over to my house
and asked me TO join them in lynchin,
Blank. | demurred saying that before
went into an affair of that kind | wanted
to know just what the man had been
guilty Of They then told me the story Of
the killing saying that Blank had killed
the storekeeper simply because he had re
fused to advance him on this years crop,
he having failed TO settle for the last years
advances, and that it was a cold bloodci
murder, for which he should hang. con
sented to accompany the party.
That night We went to Jail, where we
secured possession Of our victim without
difficulty We took him to a railroad
bridge. There we fastened one end of a
rope about his neck aad the other TO %
bridge beam, intending TO throw him oT
and let him straugc to death. When all
the pre!iminarias We're arranged one of our
own party suggested that the unfortunate
man be given an opportunity o. pray He
then spoke for the first time. He was the
most remarkably cool man | ever saw.
Notwithstanding his desperate situation
he was rs cool as though he were I'm a de-
batting society Instead Of the principal in
al impending tragedy
THE VICTIMS STATEMENT.
"'Geut!or0cu, be said, and there was not
aquayer iu hi, voice, gentlemen, before
pray would like tomake a statement tell.
Ing you how | came to hrl. that man.
"'fou can make a statement II It is not
long one replied our leader
"'lt will not be long be answered us.
'Gent.emc1, / did Kill that old Shylock. II
Is true that was In his debt Tor last Years
advances. IL Is true that went 10 him
for advances on this years crops, because
believed that | could make more than
enough 70 pGy me out both years. Il is
true that he refused me then went home
and told my wife that we had better pack
up and 90 baCNnorth, rs we could do moth.
ing here without advances and the store
keeper had refused 10 make any. She dis
liked tile idea Of moving away from her
childhood home and suggested that she
would 90 20 See the stOrekecper herself
that be had known her all his life and She
would make personal appeal 10 him. /
consented to her going, under the circum.
stances, hoping she might snccecd where
had failed. She went, she saw him, and
made her ptilul plea.
My God, gentlemen, what do you think
that wretched old Sayiock didf He said
he would make the advances provided nv
wife would surrender her honor 10 him.
She spurned bis degrading proposition
and returned home 10 tears. / demanded
their cause She reluctantly told me
Ny first impulse was 10 take my gun and
go and Kill the scoundrcl But persuaded
by her entreaties gave over the thought
and slept upon the insult The next dav
brought letter from the villain in which
he repeated his proposition. hesitgtpd
no longer but took my gun and went over
to his store and shot him dead.
SAVED FROM THE GALLONS.
You don't hang this night ! shouted,
throwing the rope from of his neck.
Have you got that letter. inquired
dozen eager voices.
1T is at my house. was the calm replv
"'We will 90 to your house with YOU
said, and If you can produce that letter
and it is genuine, you don't hang at allb
"Well, we went 10 his house with him
He produced the letter. Il was examined
and pronounced probably genuine It was
determined TO compare it the next day
with letter known to be genuine. In the
meantime Blank waI informed that IL
would be necessary TO return him to Jail
while we conducted the examination. We
assured him that rs soon rs we became alb
solutely convinced Of the truth Of his story
we would 90 in body TO the judge and
arrange to bail him ont. A comparison Of
the letter with others known 10 be written
by the dead man convinced us of the genu
ineness Of the one Blank had.
We then got him out on bail and he was
never even indicted for the killing. It was
perfectly justiiioble in Mississippi eyes
On yes, Blank made good crop that year
and has since DrOguprnl thouob I ba1 logt |
sight of him and even forgotten his fea.
lures But Of all the cool men ever saw
he was the coolest and | have seen some
pretty cool fellows under fire in my time
too"
And then the major relit his cigar and
strolled thoughtfully homeward.
ington Cor. Brooklyn Eagle.
Didn't Want to Ride After That.
Comn nf tha women in tha car rpid tho