Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-05-31

thought l could got board with you for
a day or So
"'Jim's friends arc mine. ho said,
with a sidelong glance Come on
''This was much easier than had ex-
pooted. Jeny, or Ole Hoss, was none
other than the man I was after.
CAS- we emerged from the wood into
the clearing a lank, slabsided specimen
Of humanity approached. He was abovt
to speak to Jerry when his eyes fell upon
me, and he suddenly turned away.
There was something familiar in his
features, but I could not place him.
cole Hoss passed on, and 1 followed
him into his cabin. II was q small affair
with two rooms.
Zone we uns lives in, he explained.
All the wimmen sleeps in t'other.
"'Whero do the men sleepS' I in
quired.
"'oh, we uns hunks down thar in
Their corner
1.-THE 'wimmen folks retired early
that night, and l sought rest on a blan-
ket that had evidently seen several sum-
mers and innumerable hard frosts. I
was very tired, and though I intended
TO rise when all was quiet and take a
view Of the premises ! fell asleep.
81 was awakened by tho pressure Of
something cold against my forehead,
and opening my eyes looked into the
muzzle Of q revolver, while the voice Of
my host said:
"'Ef you I'm moves a hand, oil goes
yer topknotl'
VIVA does this moang ] demanded
IN my sternest tones.
"'It means that we uns arc onter
you I'M. That's all
Several other figures now stood over
my couch, and my genial hest said:
"'Waal, shall We uns finish him now
or wait.
Let's take him outside, sug-
gested.
AFTER they had bound me hand and
foot 1 was carried into the open air. A
short consultation was held, and 1 caught
the words, down ter the hut
NAV, said one brawny fellow, he
amt bad ez that. Besides Pete may be
mistaken.
"His objections wero received with
murmurs Of disapproval.
1t amt too much, asserted my
host. It's jest what no deserves, and
it'll prove an example to tho others
''There was some more discussion.
Then l was informed that on my arrival
Pete Sanford, a member Of the gang,
whose still 1 had aided in destroying
some time previously, but who had es-
capped from the officers, had recognized
me as a detective who had come under
the guise of friendship to land them all
in prison, and that L was to be left in
tho hut.
This failed to strike terror to my
soul, however, as 1 supposed they would
merely leave me there overnight, and
should then have a possible chance O
escape. Had 1 known the true nature O
my punishment l would have begged IN,
oaptors to mercifully put a bulle
through my brain.
""They carried me 70 the hut, and ON.
Of the men carefully opened the doc
and peered in. He took torch and thor
oughly inspected every nook before en-
tering. Finally, bound hand and foot,
was laid on a pile Of husks in ono cor
ner. Then the men departed withou
ever closing the door. 1 was highl,
elated at this oversight and lay en-
deavoring to muster strength to breal
my bonds when I heard O rustling
gliding sound in one corner of the room
Could it be that some other human
creature was imprisoned with me? No
it must be the wind outside. Then from
the long, dark opening used as a fire
place came a similar sound, anothe
and another. What was it? What coul,
this mean?
Suddenly 1 felt something Gid
across my legs as they lay bound on th
foot of the bed, and the awful horror o
the situation that my prosecutors hal
devised dawned on me. / was in a do
Of snakes. If / moved, I was a dea
man. Sick with terror, I became IN
conscious.
II awoke lying beside the road. TIL
noe was shining full in my face, an
bending yer me was the girl 1 IA
met in tho afternoon.
'Twar a clus call for you nm, sh
said. i heered pap'n the fellers a-talki.
ez haeow they left yer here, an when
got er chance 1 come to you un.'
How did you do it?' I gasped.
Huh? I'm used to snakes, but
but
The girl began to sob.
What is it2 / asked, moved b
her distress.
IL dassent go hum, fur dad Wi
kill me-
"That's how my hair got white,
said the major.
"But the grip" said /.
"Oh, she is in the next room wit
the childrenl She's my wife. "-Ez
change.
A Story Of the Duke OF York.
As a boy the Duke Of York was thol
nu0blum miscellaneous MANY Of his prnul