Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-20
HE SAVED THE HORSE THIEF.

lie SAVED THE HORSE THIEF.
Tcnderfoot's Experience In Breezy
Texts Town.
| rode into Red Blanket, cowboy 5
town in Southern Texas, one summer
morning. intending to buy sheep and
cattle, and found that crowd OF lynch
ers had caught horse thief and were
about to rope him up to tree on the fair
grounds, whittier all the grown men and
bovs of Red Blanket had gathered TO
sanction the proceedings by their pre-
sence.
Now. | was still enough of tender
foot to turn sick at the sight of lynch
ing bee. even though | knew the pris-
oner was guilty, as in this case-they all
assured me ne was. But liked to have
the law take its course, and deprecated
the Illegally of private hanging at the
hands of Judge Lynch and his court.
So made up my mind in an instant to
make plea for fair play. The prisoner
was mere youth, without any OF the
ar-marks OF his profession of crime,
and l pictured his mother perhaps a,
that moment looking for tidings OF her
boy. However, | kept those semi-sen-
timenal thoughts TO myself, while |
saluied the rough leader of the lynching
gang and asked carelessly if might wit
ness the proceedings.
You might, stranger, if you keep a
mighty sill tongue in your head, was
the curt reply.
l dismounted from my horse, fine
animal which | had bought at Ell Paso,
and | 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 i'm
ploring look thrown at me by the pris-
oner
IF you've got ennything ter say, out
with it, yelled the leader.
Il I-sver stole no hossss in my lifer'
A groan of derision saluted him.
Pull him up, boys" rang out the COM
mand
Stay" | cried Give m ca word with
this man. Let me look at his bootsi'
| approached him and asked him to
show me the sOles of mis- boots.
Did he wear these when appre-
hended?"
Yes"
Look al them, gentlemen This man
is a tenderfooJ. | doubt If he can ride a
horse. He has worn neither stirrup nor
spur"
They gathered around him, and
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 sturdy young paw that
looked as honest as gold.
| examined ii and startled 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 life line. 1t ends in water
Gentlemen, you dare no, hang a man
who is born to be drowned"
There was a confused murmur, but
the leader still held the rope.
Suppose we make test," I sug-
gested, "let US see if he can mount a
horse. Try him in mine and I'll guar
antee he cannot mount, If he is the land
lubber take him to be-"
Keep hold of the rope, Postum"
yelled dozen voices.
You bet | will, came the response.
was taking my life in my hands, but
! was determined to save the poor fellow
if | could. AS he which he
did awkwardly enough whispered
under pretense of tightening the saddle
girth:
ride for your life to the Pan Handle
depot and leave the horse there
My next move was to dig a steel pin,
hidden in my hand, into my poor horse.
Would the rope unseat the rider and my
little game appear? II had just the con-
trary effect. II jerked Postum, as they
called the leader from his fe,a and as he
fell the rope flew from his hand. and
then like an arrow from the bow, the
prisoner was off.
stop him, stop him. yelled and TO
aid in the confusion | drew my revolver
and fired wildly after him. Every man
there>folowed 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 follow"
/ quoted TO myself, while | loudly be-
walled the loss of my good horse, and
the treachery of the thief
That's what YOU gets fur not mindin'
yer own bizness," said the leader with a
bitter scowl.
Perhaps you would like to hang me
in his placer" | suggested.
Was | suspected? | cannot tell. but
the cowboy is not vindictive and as |
seemed to share in the general loss, |
was allowed to go unmolested. But
think my little ruse of palm reading had
its effect, too. There is always a leaven
of superstition in those rough charac-
ters.
recovered my horse but never heard
of its rider who so cleyerly aided my
plan in his behalf. l dare say he was all
they represented by the way ne rode out
OF the difficulty but ii was a race for life.
and am glad he won.-Chicago Times
Herald.
-O-
NEW PARLOR CAR LINE.