The Portland daily press., 1894-05-24

garding the boy and what know of Pete
and jim and the relation in which they
stood to- him. l should recognize either
could ] see them"
The letter was written, but of It's good
results they could not tell.
One day there strolled into their town a
rough old miner, and as he passed quietly
along he was nearly paralyzed by pretty
young girl Selling his hand and exclaiming:
Aren't you Pete? Oh. know you must
be Pete"
"Rless your purity face, my dear, of course
Pm Pete"
"OhP' she said. half crying, half laugh
ing. Il never saw you but once, but I
knew you. Do you know they are going to
hang Neddy?"
Hang Neddy?" he repeated dazedly.
"Yes, oh, yes, for murder and robbery.
They found 81. 900 on him and thought he
stole it from man that was killed. He
could not prove, you know, where he did
get it, he could not find you, and we have
tried and tried to find you, papa and l."
Hang Neddy-the bravest boy that ever
worked pick? Well, just guess they'd
better not!'
But they willp' cried the excited girl
"There's papa. He will explain.n
1t took good deal of explaining, but at
last the old miner understood it all per-
fectly.
''I've s.. 900 now" he said. Reckon it'll
help me bit. I'll find the real murderer.
or I'll know the reason why. How long
did you say had2"
"Three weeks, but in case you don't dis
cover the real criminal go to the governor
A weak Later a rrh
individual forced his way into the gov.
ernor's study.
Il must see him." he said to the servant.
''It's matter of life and DEATH"
The governor looked up, ANNOYED, He
received number of visitors that were
bores, many being Office seekers, and he
was tired
If you please, your honor, you are a-goin
to hang an innocent boy"
Il am not going to hang any one, CURLY,
NO, but yer Jist a-goin ter let some one
do it fur you. I've got somethin particular
to tell you, an you've got to hear" dog
gedly.
BE careful, or I'll have you put out.''
II don't think you will. Ali want il.
your attention few minutes. come from
the mines, an I come to save an innocent
boy"
They are all innocent according to their
own tales"
WATT" said Pete. 'sBack thar 'mon9
the shadows of the Sierra Nevada a man
came to our little camp hungry an poor.
We was hungry an poor, too, but we di-
v1ded up, an when he died an left bright
lad we took him in as full partner. me an
Jim. Maybe you think it wasn't a fair
show FIR h1t ~ f,,. 81 1.
read like parson an talk like book-his
father had been an educated teller. SO we
got along amazin well. Once Jim fell sick
with the fever, an that boy took him
through, same as he did me when 1 cut
my leg an came near dyin under the shadow
OF the hills. Reckon we did not begrudgo
him the partnership, not much. We onlv
regretted it when be took his Thousand
dollars an left us, an we felt like we'd
never have stock company agin after
that"
Pete glancedelp at the governor and saw
That his face was full of suppressed excite
ment.
You are speaking OFF
Needy Niles, the boy to be hung next
Friday-the boy that is as innocent of the
crime as you be, as be-
ooACoA1HS VI Gu0 SUOfy.
have been interested in it, and want the
facts. Now answer my questions
An hour later a detective was closeted
with the governor and Pete.
y
1t was the night before he was to be hung
That Edward Niles. wan and hopeless,
glanced up as the cell door was opened to
ma himself in the arms of his old 'pard"
and foster father.
'Pete" he cried. "Oh, Pete, have you
come at last9 But It's too late now.n
Never ~ die. my boy. You are saved,
thank God. I've found the real murderer
he's dead now-an I'd never have rested a
minute II I'd known the danger you was
in"
"But who-how'-
1.-The murderer? Oh, I got on the scent
at the start. l got others interested, then
the governor, an we tracked him down.
when he shot himself an saved his govern.
ment from the trouble. Same fellow who
swore he saw you shoot. 1t was all set
up game. But you are free, an now where
do you want to CO. my boy, for you still
own the u 900 they robbed you of?''
10 California" said Ned, light of in
tense joy and hope shining in his eyes.
Back where was happy and SAFE"
Later on they told him the story of the
CIR! who had done SO much in his cause, the
little schoolmate and friend of his child
hood.
Three years later he called upon her to
thank her for her confidence and help and
to tell her how he had prospered, with the
nope ever before him of sharing his all with
her if she could care for him.
Pete and Jim refused to attend the wed.
ding, but they each sent large gold mug
get from their new claim, which was pan
ming out beautifully. as wedding present.