The record-union., 1897-09-05

for this, looked at the guards. They
gravely nodded their heads. The final
decision rested with them. But the
Judge still hesitated. 1t was without
precedent to hang a man Immediately
after sentencing him.
"One of the guards stepped up to the
Judge and whispered to him. They
were afraid, not without reason, that
they could not hold their prisoner SO
much as a single night. Attempts would
probably be made TO rescue him. HIS
friends were an organized gang or
roughs. ugly and determined. 1t might
be now or never, that the prisoner was
in the power of the Vigilantes. Ihe
Judge, at any rate, had no choice. he
could only do what the Vig1lantes had
determined upon. Accordingly he SAID:
LET the sentence be executed with
out delay. Those whose duty it is Will
make the necessary preparations
VI.
"About ten rods away there was
shed. partly built. Thither the guards
marched their prisoner. 1t is wonder
full how the click of twenty-five re-
yolvers will open a way through
crowd. The people fell back with cries
and curses, trampling upon each other'
none resisting. The guards did not
have occasion to fire a shot, but they
were ready, and those fellows knew
that there would be no trifilng. 1t Is
all a matter of history. They dldn |
lose their heads, but marched their
prisoner right straight along. The
Judge and jury, also inclosed within
the circle of guards, came to the shed'
and there some men, under lher VI
rection. fitted up a primitive aHalr'
which would do their job as well as
more refined machinery. A box upon
a barrel answered to the scaHold. y
rome with a moose at one end dangling
across a beam was fastened by the
other to the side of the shed Inc
rope had but little slack, and spring
inc the trap was but kicking the par
rel and box away.
Mrs. Reeves and her child had some
how crept inside the shed. The young
man was strong, or she and her chlld
might have been killed in that WIG
rush. Had she lost her footing ana
fallen. the mob would have trampled
over her like a herd of buffaloes. But
there she was, and nobody had noticed
q strange woman. with sad, anxious
face Never once had she taken her
eyes from her husband. she mahdseo
tn keen near enough to hear his words
and see his face. He joked with anu
swore loosely at the guards AS lheS
heIned him mount the barrel, have
care bows he said. A little awkward
ness now would spoil the whole CIT
GUS
He united and threw down his neck
tie. adjusting the moose himself arouho
his neck. saying carelessly, a mem
ento to my wife. Some Of you see that
she gets it. will your He little dreamed
that she stood close beside him.
THE prisoners hands were then Sc
curelv bound behind him, and there was
q hush, for all was ready. Some one
called for the minister. The crowd
made way for a young man, the Metho-
dist preacher of Virginia, a good man
whom they respected. He lifted his nat
to pray. Some of the men took on
their hats; some of them bowed their
heads. The prisoner stood erect, ana
seemed to take no notice Of the MINIS
ter.
ut was just at this moment that Mrs.
Reeves sprang from the crowd anu
flung herself at the feet of the Judge.
sMercy!' she cried. oh, Judge, save
my husband AS you hope for mercy
on your own soul, save him
"Astonishment kept the crowd quiet
at first. and then there was confusion
and excitement, as they pressed for
ward, Judge, jury, and all who could.
The guards threatened to use their
weapons. thinking this was ruse on
the part of the prisoners friends TO Ell
feet a rescue. But Black Charley him.
self now became the object of atten-
ton. He was leaning forward, all MS
stolid Indifference gone.
Mary Reeves!' he said, in Heaven's
name. how came you here"
I came to bring you home, Charley,
to your baby. 1t was a long and weary
journey, but my love to you kept me
steadily on the way. l was determined
to find you.
You're a fool for your pains. If
YOU hadn't tracked me, you would new
er have known of this. But, perhaps,
you like to see me come up with.
For answer, the mother held up her
child for him to see. The little one
strangely resembled her father.
He looked at her full minute earn
estly. Then with a savage oath he
said Get out of this now as soon as
YOU can. Take her with you, and don't
tell her what sort of a man 1 have
been. Oh, yes; I've been bad enough.
Hanging's too good for me. But 1t
isn't often that mans precious wife
comes to his execution
MARY did not seem to notice what
her husband said. She turned her
white face again to the Judge, her
whole attitude an agony of petition.
."The Judge was very much agitated.
His duty was hard enough, for he was
a kind hearted man, and the wife's
prayer might have prevailed, when
there came a voice from the crowd,
How much mercy did Black Charley
show the Dutchman?'
"The prosecuting attorney sprang to
his feet. He spoke with loud voice:
Your honor, can justice be turned
aside? Fair trial was given to the
prisoner, and he was righteously con-
victed. He did this murder in cold
blood. He lay in waiting, in ambush
for his victim. He let him pass. and
basely shot him from behind, that he
might rob him. Can such a crime go
unpublished? If this pass, will life
ever be safe in our State? Will it not
be said of us that we We're not men
fearless to do our duty? that our hearts
were womens? that a woman wept be-
fore us, and a murderer was free? Your
Honor, you dare not let this man CO.
There was movement of impa-
thence among the guards. They had
suffered too much to let their first vic
fnr1r cI In from than In tho and +hn,-