The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-15
An ELECTRICAL SLIP.
TALE OF REVENGE.
NJ RoBrHT BARB
,n,-yy,shL 1894. " Rss.vt H-rnl

,,,h. ,.ck until he was dead. and might IN.
IA have mercy on his soul. Everybody
.~,..d that II was righteous, but new that 4
-, .s,t.need thsy sddsd, Poor fsfloyP'
llb.rt Prior vas . younR man who had
,,a more II his swn way than was good for
Nm. HI. own fsmiiy-fsthsr. mother. brother.
"a ,l,,srs--hsd given way 10 him 90 much
,n,t h, appeared to think the world at large
.hould do the same. The world differed with
Aim. Unfortunately. the first TO oppose his
,,.l.rt will was . voman-s girl almost She
v.uId have nothing to do With him. and told
MIN 90 He stormed. Of course. but he did nos
ioek upen her opposition as serious. No girl
"A her senses could continue to refuse young
IA. Of his prospects In life But when he
heard that she had become engaged to yeunR
Bowen the telegraph operator. Prior's rage
p.sssd all bounds. He determined to brighten
Bowen out OF the place. and called at the tel o.
srsph once for that lsudabls purpose; Blu,
Bowen was the night operator, and was abs
sent The day man. with . smile. not know
Ing what he did. said Bowen would likely be
found at the Parker place. where Miss John
son lived with her aunt her parents being
dead.
Prisr ground his teeth and departed. He
fsund Miss johnson at home. but alone. There
vas stormy scene ending with the tragedy,
two bullets for himself But he was coward
snds eur at heart, andi when Il came TO the
Point Of putting the two bullets In himself he
auailsd snd thought 10 best to escape. Then
electricity did him its nrst disssrviee. It sent
his description far and wide. capturing him
twenty-five miles from home. He was taken
back to the county town whore he lived and
lodged In jail.
Public opinion. ever right and all-po wsrful.
how asserted itself. The outward and visible
sisn OF its action was an ominous gathering Of
dark-browsd citizens outside the jail There
we're determined muttsrines anon the crowd
rather than outspoksn anger. but the mob was
the more dangerous On that account. One
man In It's midst thrust his clessd hand to-
ward the sky. aad frem his nst danglsd rope.
A err like the growing Of . pack Of wolves
went mp - the mob saw the rope. and they
elamorsd at the gates Of the Jail Lynch
himl Jailsn give up the ksysr' was the CRY.
The agitated Sheriff knew his duty. but he
hssitated to perform Il Technically. this was
smob-s mob Of eutlawsy but in reality IL was
composed Of his fellow townsmsn. his neigh
bors. his frisnds-justly indignant at the oom-
mission Of an atrooious crime. He might order
them to Be fred upon. and the order perhaps
would be obsysd. One. two. . dozen might bs
killed. and technically again they would have
daughter would bs-for whati To save. for
time only. the worthless LIE OF . wretch who
Rightly msrited any doom the future might
have In store. for him. 30 the Sheriff wrung
ais hands. bewAilsd the fact that such
crisis should have arisen during his term OF
sf1cs. and did nothing: while the clamors OF
the mob grew 30 loud that the trembling pris.
ensr In his cell heard It and broke out into .
cold sweat whom he realized what II meant
He was to have dose Of Justice In the raw.
What shall I do ." asked the iailsr. Give
up the ksys7"
II don't know what to dos cried the Sheriff.
speaking to them. do you think"
mot the slightest"
fought 10 call on,thsm 10 dispsrss. and II,
thsy refused suppose should have them.
fred on"
That IL the law" answered the jailsr.,
grizzly.
what would you DO II you were In my
DlaesT appealed the Sheriff. Il was evident
the stern Roman father was not elected byf
popular vote In that county.
"ksr' said the TALLER. "oh. I'd give 'em the
keys. and let 'sn hang him. Itn save you the
trouble II you have 'em nrsd on. you're sure,
to kill the very men who are at this moment
urging EN- to 20 home There's always an In
nocsnt man in . mob. and he's the one to get
hurt every time"
well. then. Perkins. you give them the
keys; but for heavens sake don't say I told
you. They'll be sorry for this tomorrow. You
know I'm elected. but you're appointed. so you,
don't need to mind what people say"
That's all right" said the jailsr. I'll,
stand the brant"
But the keys were not given up. The elamor
had ceased. A young man with pale face and 4
red syss stood on the top OF the stone wall that
surrounded the jail. He held up his hand
and there was instant silence. They all rsocg-
niIsd him As Bowen. the night operator to
whom she had bssn engaged.
dsntlsmen." he cried. and his clear voice
reached the outskirts OF the crowd. don't do
H. Don't put an everlasting stain on the fair
name Of our town No one has ever been
Tnehed In this county And none In this State.
% far a. knew. Don't let Us begin It II
thought the miserable scoundrel inside would
ssesps-ii thought his money would bug him
en-Pd b the man to lead you 20 batter
down those doors and hang him on the
nearest trss-and you know It." There
were cheers at this- But he won't sscaDs
His money can't buy him on. He will be
hanged By the law. Don't think it's mercy
I'm preaching; it's venEsAAosr Bowen shook |
his elsnehsd nst ct the jail THAT wretch |
shouts He'll be In hell. for he's . bastard. |
until the time his trembling legs carry him to |
NE seanold Iwant him to stay In this hell |
I'LL be drops through into the other. II there IL
ons lwaHt him to suffer some Of the misery |
lsAis caused LynehinR IL over in . moment
saAt that murderer to die BIZ the slow msr-
silsss cruelty Of the law"
Even the worst In the crowd shuddered a.
sAsJ heard these words and realized As they
looked At BoWsn's face. almost inhuman In lts
rage that his thirst for revenge made their
oHh seem almost Innocent. The speech broke
sSp the crowd. The man with the rope threw
ever into the iail yard. shouting TO the
+ S.nsnn. Take care OF It. old man. you'll need
:, The crowd dispersed. and the shsrin. over
sn-.ng Bowen, brought his hand down anee-
uonAtely on his Sh ouldsr.
? Bowen. my boyI he said. you're brick.
n eIsrlsstinRlT obliged to you. You got me
~ Sst Of an awful hole. II you ever get into
ukht place, Bowen, come to me. and II money
4, ,n aas oi Tli help you you can have all
4. Thanks, /" said Bower, shortly. He was not
~ mood Tor eongratulAtionA
4, ana 90 II came about Just As Bowen knew
y would that all the money aud nhueRes OF
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