The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-21
HE SAVED THE HORSE THIEF.
A Tenderfoots Experience in n
Breezy Texas Town.

/
rode into Red Blanket, a cowboys
town in southwestern Texas. one sum-
mer morning, intending to buy sheep
and cattle, and found that a crowd OF
/ lynchers had caught horse thief and
were about to rope him up to a tree on
the fair grounds. whittier all the grown
men and boys of Red Blanket had
gathered to sanction the proceedings
by their presence.
Now. l was still enough of a tender
foot to turn sick at the sight Of a
lynching bee, even though l knew the
prisoner was guilty, as in this case they
all assured me he was. Butt like to
have the law take its course. and de-
precated the illegality of a private
hanging at the hands of Judge Lynch
and his court.
So I made up my mind in an instant
to make plea for fair play The pris-
oner was a mere youth, without any of
the earmarks of his profession Of crime,
and I pictured his mother perhaps at
that moment looking for tidings of her
boy. However, 1 kept those semi-sen1-
mental thoughts TO myself. while 1
saluted the rough leader of the lynch
ing gang and asked carelessly if 1
might witness the proceedings.
You might, stranger, if you keep q
the curt reply.
I dismounted from my horse. a fine
animal which 1 had bought at FL PasC,
and L noted the admiring glances that
were cast upon him by the cowboys,
who adore a good horse.
The proceedings had been stayed for
a moment by my coming, and saw an
imploring look thrown at me by the
prisoner.
eff you've got ennything ter say, out
with itp' yelled the leader.
II never stole no bosses in my life!'
A groan of derision saluted him.
''Pul him up, boysr' rang out the
.'stayr' 1 cried. "Give me a word
with this man. Let me look at his
bootsr'
I approached him and asked him to
show me the soles of his bootsr'
did he wear these when appre-
hended?"
Yes"
Look at them. gentlemen! This man
is a tenderfoot. 1 doubt if he can ride
a horse. He has worn neither stirrup
nor spurI''
They gathered around him, and 1
showed them the surface of the soles
without corrugation or wear
THAT don't count growled the
leader
Let me see your hand"
He held out a sturdy young paw that
looked as honest as gold.
[ examined it and started violently.
Gentlemen, this will never do. This
hand tells the story of the boys life.
The palm here is hardened with toll.
And look at this lifeline. 1t ends in
water. Gentlemen, you dare not hang
a man who is born to be drowned!'
There was a confused murmur. but
the leader still held the rope.
Suppose we make a test" 1 sug-
gested. Let US see if he can mount
a horse. Try aim on mine and I'll
guarantee he cannot mount if he is
the land lubber I take him to be.
Keep hold of the rope, Possum!'
yelled dozen voices.
you bet I will" came the response.
I was taking my life in my hands,
but l was determined to save the poor
fellow if l could AS he mounted
which he did awkwardly enough
whispered under pretense of Tightening
the saddle girth:
Ride for your life to the Pan Han
die depot and leave your horse there!'
My next move was to dig a steel pin.
hidden in my hand, into my poor horse.
my little game appear? 1t had just
the contrary effect. It jerked Postum.
as they called the leader. from his
feet and as he fell. flew from his hand.
and then, like an arrow from the bow,
the prisoner was off.
"Stop him! Stop him. I yelled and
to aid in the confusion. I drew my re-
volver and fired wildly after him.
Every man there followed my example
and there was a perfect fusillade of
arms, but all missed. Then one and
another sprung to horse, and rode like
mad after the runaway
They'll have fleet steeds that FOL-
low" I quoted to myself, while loudly
bewailed the loss of my good horse,
and the treachery of the thief
That's what you git for not mindin'
yer own bizness," said the leader with
a bitter scoWl.
Perhaps you would like to hang me
in his placer" 1 suggested.
Was l suspected? L cannot tell, but
the cowboy is not vindictive and as I
seemed to share in the general loss, 1
was allowed tc go unmolested. But I
think my little ruse of palm reading
had it's effect, too. There is always a
leaven of superstition in those rough
characters.
recovered my horse but never heard
of the rider who so cleverly aided my
plan in his behalf. I dare say he was
all they represented by the way he rode
out of the difficulty, but it was a race
for life, and I am glad he won-Chi-
cago Times-Herald.