The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-04-25

said. Thar thet young TELLER set-one
leg over the horn of his saddle. Fine
locker. Stood six In his stockings. I
knew him the minute I sot eyes ON
him. He knew me, but never tsvigged.
Bill Mcconnell war ahead, and he
opened the meetin' without singin'.
"Good morning, stranger
"Good morning.
"'Seen anything of man about
your size straddle of a sorrel mare look
in a heap like the one you ride"
"'No, I haven't
"'That's purity good mare o. yourn.'
"'Yes, she was worth cool five hun
dred dollars, but sae's little winded
now; say, mister, I'll give you five
hundred dollars clear for that one o.
yourn and stop the DEAL He was
making good bluff, Mister Editor.
Hoss stealin' in them days was death
on the spot. He knewsswe war on him.
His offer would well pay for the
brolSen-down hoss, and he war a.
bankin' that his money would pull
him through. But, yer see, he didn't
know Mcconnell. Mac had been cap'n
of the vigilants back in '63, up in ther
Basin, ana had name ter keep white.
He just smiled at the mans innocence.
That's straight blind o. your'n, pard,
an it stands us to come in, but we're
thar an hold you over. You look
leetle mite played out, as well as yer
mare If you'll jest get down an jine
our little party, it'll stretch yer legs,
an mebbe ye need stretchin' all over.
1x,ls f1,a
gills, but slid down without word.
We followed suit, and Agnew threw
over his head moose, an passin' the
other end over limb of that lone old
tree, nodded that things war ready.
"That young fellow was game ter
the last. Never moved muscle.
Seemed kinder like shame. McCon-
nell went up to him and said:
"'Now, pard, is everything all right?
Does it fit your neck accordin to
Hoyle?'
"'All right.
Have you anything to say why
this ere little picnic shouldn't pro-
ceed?"
'Nothin'.'
"'Have We got any word ter leave to
yer friends? If We have, make it short,
fur we're goin' to break camp inside er
ten minutes
''That young feller took his eyes off
bit of sage brush fur the first time
and looked us straight in the eyes.
His eyes war blue. l took notice of
that, an his face was clean and kind
of pure looki n. He didn't seem to be
30 L., ~, -lof
on round him. Kinder had far-away,
talki n'-ter-the-angels look. Made me
feel as though didn't count nohow.
Kept thinkin' of something I learnt in
Sunday school in Missouri when ]
warn't bigger nor that basket O
papers, Then he came to, an drawin'
crumpled letter from his pocket,
spoke with kinder tremble in his
voice:
"'Perhaps you are better scholar
nor be. If you'll jest read that an
be kind enuf to answer it, I'll tell yer
what ter say
Mcconnell had already passed the
coil of rope to Jim Agnew and he had
! drawn it tauts He took the letter, an
as we hung around kinder curious like
he opened it an read out loud:
"'ETowAH, Ga , Jan. 49, 1s74-My Dear Sor
| James: For long weary months have waited
| for news from you, since your last dear letter
| to your old mother. God bless you, James
| and answer my prayers, that this letter may
reach you, thanking you for your ever thought
| full care for me in my old age But once more
to look in your dear face and feel that my
| baby boy was near me would cheer my ole
heart more than to possess all the gold IL
| dol ho nr ny1Nnp
promised me that in the spring you woult
come back to me. May the good God watch
over and prosper you, and return my dear boy
| to my old arms before die. From your lovinl
| MOTHER "
Joe paused and looked vacantly W
at the ceiling. His eye followed the
drunken gyrations of the yellow wasp
The heavy rumble of the great ylindel
warned me that the outside pages wer,
going to press and that more copy
would soon be needed. Still waited
in silence.
"That letter did the business.
Mcconnell had had good edicatiol
back in Michigan, and he commenced
in strong, clear voice, but afore tn
closing words war out, it war all w
could do ter hear his voice. Yes, sir, an
my eyes got weaker nor sick heifer's
Fact! The rope slackened until it fel
from the hands of Jim Agnew, and a
the breath of the mornin' came a-rush
in through the leaves of that old tree
and long shafts O sunlight kinder pros
pected down through the opening
boughs, someway, my old throat cave
in like an went ter thinkin' O. long
sunny days on the banks of the Mi:
souri,, of my old dorg, an Nv littl
sister with eyes jest like this feller'.
an of my old nanny an how sh
taught me to pray. Couldn't help il
Mr.. Editor, but borrowin' hoss al
robbin' stage didn't seem bi
enough thing to string that boy up ful
an break his old mothers hear
Guess Mcconnell war thinl1in' O. tn
the same way, fur he kind of reveren'
ly like folded up that soiled bit o ps
per and handed it to its owner, al
without word slipped the moose froI
his neck, an then in tones as gentle q