The record-union., 1897-09-05

would be, there was likely to be a lively
time, for revolvers We're pretty thick
in these parts, and you bet I've got
mine, said the informant.
The coach drew up to a deserted
town. Not a loafer was visible on the
steps of the inn. Only a fat chore-boy
stood waiting to receive them.
What's the matter?' they asked the
boy.
Law sakes. dun you folks know?
You hearn how the Dutchman was
killed? No? Wall, he was, and
everybody knows he dun it, He's been
heard to brag on it, and to tell that
he swagged a right good lot of silver.
But the Vigilantes got him, and they're
agoing' to fix him if they kin. Folks
say, here the boys voice fell to an
awe-stricken whisper, they writes the
names of them as they're goin' to string
up in blood drawn from their OWE arms,
writ in black book: and that them as
gets put down in them books cart no
more escape than they could git away
from the devil
WHO is the murderer
Why he's about the prettiest of the
lot, and not sech a bad fellow, neither,
when he amt drunk. When he's full
of whisky, leastways such as they sell
over yonder. then, | yum, I'd just as
soon and little ruther meet a cata-
mount in the woods as Black Charley
Mrs. Reeves gave & violent start.
She had been standing YEARLY ~,
scarcely listening to the conversation.
She caught hold of the boys arm WHO
is this man now on trial for murder?
she demanded. Tell me his name
Well, ma am, his hair bein long
and black, and his character mostly the
same color leastways. as | told ye,
when he's drunk, we calls him Black
Charley. But when he's sobe". aud
kinder dressed up, we speaks 10 him
genteel like, and says Mr.. Reeves
The woman trembled so violently
she would have fallen had not the
young man from New York supported
her. He spoke to the boy.
Stop talking, now, and make this
lady cup of tea. Get something. any
thing, to eat Don't YOU see how tired
she is? Madam, this boy is newt door
to an idiot Don't you pay any regard
to what he says Come in Take a
little luncheon and rest yourself
Eat and rest, when it is my Charley
whom all this wild town has gone out
TO see, just as they would go to see a
clown in a circus? 1t is ali false. Char
ley is not a-not what they say. He is
at heart fine fellow, and OH SC hand
some and gallant. 1t is drink He
shall stop drinking when 1 get him
back. He shall, for the child's sake if
not for mine. Oh. Charley, never
half did my duty by you. If l had
should have kept you by my side. And
now those terrible men have him in
their power. But 1 must save him.
Quick, show me where to go. God has
sent me here to save him, and l must
not be too late
THE boy shook his head. 'Tain't no
place for ladies like you to be. Il he
an awful rough crowd l was down
there meself, but the boss mad< me
come back to wait for the stage My,
the yellin' and the pushin' ami the
swearin. But, if you'll look a bit af-
ter the house, I'd just as soon run
down ag'in, and let you know how
things is agoin'; who's ahead, you
know
But the woman said I am going
myself. Do you think l am afraid Of
a rough crowd, where Charley is con-
cerned?
The young man had been regarding
her with great kindness and ply. See
ing she was determined to go, he said:
i will go with you, Mrs Reeves
have no revolver, but good strong fist
is at your service. When we get to
the spot, perhaps we can do something
to help your husband. Or perhaps we
shall find it is not he
God grant it, she murmured as she
thankfully accepted his escort You
are very kind she said, simply; let us
go at once
They went, the young man carrying
the little girl, who made no objection
to the arrangement. They had no diff
Guilty in finding the place of trial. 1t
was just outside of the town. 1t was a
strange scene. The Judge sat in a
cart. The jurymen stood on ore side
The prosecuting attorney and the pris-
oner's counsel were near by The prs
oner himself. taller than all the rest, a
splendidly formed man, but with deep
marks of dissipation on his handsome
face, stood erect, calm, Indifferent, a
smile or sheer curling his lir A
light chain was fastened around his an
kles, otherwise he was unbound Near
by stood some twenty-five masked and
fully armed men, the Vigilantes This
was one of their first arrests and they
had given their prisoner over to the
court of justice of Virginia for trial.
Afterwards they dispensed with this
formality and tried, convicted and ex-
ecuted their prisoners themselves. with
dreadful regularity and determina-
ton. There were no bubbles about the
construction of the law. no bou1uets
from the ladies'; no quail on toast was
supplied for their last breakfast It
was short shrift and sure fate BY
GEORGE you can't help admiring that
sort of thing when it is righteous JUS
tice doing her work, hanging murderers,
horse-thieves, and stage-coacf robbers
We'll, Mrs. Reeves pushed her way
through the crowd, and a pretty rough
time she had of it. But without the
young man she never could have reach
ed the place at all. They came nearer
the circle of the guards. No one was
allowed inside. Mrs. Reeves caught
sight of the prisoner, and gasped as
she said, Yes, it is he 1t is my Char
ley, but, oh, how changed. See those
dreadful men with the masks on. Do
you think 1 might speak to them. or
to the Judge? l think 1 could make it
all right. Anyway, when they know
that l have come all this way to see
him, they will let me speak to them
g No; not now the young man an
GXNarpd . nj n
no good at present. Wait and see how
the trial goes
They waited The jury were not