Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-15

1ooslng his pent up hatred at last saw
that was trapped, but rejoiced that Ma
omi's supposed fall was but part of Lukc's
device.
Come, boys, form the court" said one
Of the older men. There's handy tree
on yonder bluff ready for the Britishcr."
Thus it was that found myself on trial
for my life, for horse stealing is a hanging
business in Dakota, before the dreaded
Judge Lynch. Luke's perjured evidence
was fatal. He swore that my story of hay
ing been sent for the doctor was false;
that had arrived at Golden Falls a mere
penniess loafer, and that had reuuited
his charity by robbing him of his horse.
looked round on the rugged faces of my
captors and saw there was no hope for
mercy. was absolutely without proof OF
my innocence.
1t was all over in five minutes. The
court pronounced me guilty" and I was
told to say my prayers. But lust as the
sentence was uttered there was the clatter
and rattle of Wheels and round Black
mans Corner came the Parson City mail
coach, the self same vehicle in which
had been victimized by the road agents. "
The driver pulled up as he camo abreast
the crowd. l saw that my old acquaint-
ance, the one eyed guard, was in charge.
He got down and strolled over to where
the miner who had overtaken me was still
holding the chestnut horse. Going to
hang him, boys?" he asked after mo
ment's scrutiny.
"That's Sc" was tho reply
"Whcre is the cuss?" asked the guard.
THAT'S him." said one of the men,
pointing to where l stood with my hands
bound behind me.
The guard recognized me, with a start.
"Pah!" he said, you re foolin. That
Britisher was along with us, passenger,
when the agents stuck us up. Hecouldn' t
have stole the horse, or the dust either, for
the matter of that"
'What do you mean?" asked the miner
who had acted us judge. No ones talk
in about dust.
Il am, though" said the guard shortly.
Il tell you that is the horse the road
agents lifted, and it stands to reason that
the man as lifted the horse lifted your
dust, don't it?''
There was murmur of wrath among
the miners. All eyes were turned on Luke.
He began to move toward the edge of the
crowd, but rough hands restrained him,
and the leader said very quietly, "You
will have to show where you got that boss,
Luke, before you make tracks"
1T amt u matter of shown where he
got the boss, l reckon" said the guard.
"Leastways not altogether. See! He's a
button short in the center of his shirt.
Guess l can find the missing sinner to
match" and he pulled out of his pocket
bright metal fancy button, engraved with
pheniX, the exact counterpart of the
SNOWY fastenings Luke wore in his hunt
ing shirt.
eco on. What of that" shouted the
crowd.
81 picked up that button on the ground
where we were robbed said the guard.
fright here by the corner. 1t got hitchcd
off as the galoot cut the traces of th.t
bald faced chestnut. ! saw it drop. |
guess that ought to be enough for you"
1t was. "What say you, boys? Shall we
hang him?" asked the judge. And amid
a storm of ayes" Luke was dragged, pale
and trembling to the tree. As the fatal
spot was reached he braced himself IN
with an effort and pointed to me. ! was
still bound between two of the men.
Boys" he said, ''if 1 tell you where the
dust is hid, will you hang that cursed Eng
lishman alongside me?"
mo, by gum, we wouldn't hang a dog
on your evidence, you traitor, that sold
your pals" said the judge. up with
him, lads!'
1t was not till a year later that, safe in
the security of our English home, Naomi
told me quite all there was to tell about
Luke. She had reason to believe that in
the interval between hearing of her ia
theirs death and my arrival he had twice
attempted her lfe-once by means of Il re-
puted accident with his revolver and
again by persuading her to cross the noun
tain torrent at dangerous spot In all
probability my rash trip out west was the
means of preserving the life as well as the
fortune of the heircss of Golden Falls.
But am more than repaid
My character was fully re established
among the mihlrs on our return to camn.
The boy, Indian Joe, had overheard Luke
pressing me to take the horse to ride for
the doctor. Needless to say, Naomis fall
from the crag was fiction designed to
send me to "A merciless death.-Chamhar
Journal.