Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-29
ld ofricer balanced mercy in the seales


not 10 carry babies Off to prison when
there were outlaws and grown-up moon
sinners I'm plenty still outside the meshes
of the law. But Wilson was obdurate.
"Fix him up" he said decislvely. Put
on his shoes and stockings ana MS coat.
''He hain't got no coat. nor shoes anu
stockin's nuther." retorted the old man.
with n touch OF sadness In his voice.
"Why. you-uns hain't going to carry my
pore chile off TO jail. be your excialfileu
the woman. She had been silent uiitii
now. holding her baby to her bosoH' ne
baIn't done nothin'; the law hanr got no
hold on him. Why. Lord bless we il"
hain't Wit no more'n 10 years oid!
cant help IT," replied Wilson, Colby.
Hes old enough to peddle whisKey' anu
he'll have 10 CO. ,,,.
felt hat down from a peg in the wall, ana
put IL gently on the little fellows neao'
II was his silent token TO surrender TO
the inevitable. backed by deputy mar
shall. The boy himself. plucky little chap
that he was. never once whimpered OF
faltered. He stepped bravely 10 ms
mothers side and kissed her, ana tne
wretched woman caught him to her ana
held him close. while the tears streahheu
down her cheeks. We drew him away
finally and set Off. and as we passed out
into the cleaning the wind dashed q driZ-
Gle of cold rain in our faces. BY the rad
ing daylight / had my first opportunity 10
look our little captive over in detaii.
He was yellow haired, tiny individual,
with pair of big, bright eyes ana cneek'
as rudy as October apples. Inc nat nc
wore was so large as to warrant the sus
picion that it was his fathers. perhaps
II was the only hat in the poor household.
h 10
cars. its flaps of limp felt lying on his
shoulders. His shirt was OF rough white
cotton stuff. His jeans trousers covered
him from armpits TO ankles, and were
supported by calico strips crossed over
his shoulders His feet were bare ana
brown As we entered the woods that
swept close up TO the house, he turned
about and waved sad alden TO MS
mother. Looking back through the misty
rain and the deepening gloom, saw 'he
woman standing lonely in the doorway,
her baby still Rugged to her breast, her
bead bowed down, and her face buried
In n fold of her apron. AT the melan-
choly sight of that poor mother weep
ing there an idea flashed upon me ike an
inspiration l made il point then 10
take personal charge of the prisoner Ior
NV course of action was already formed.
noselv first to get into the saddle and
rode off with the prisoner trudging on
foot at my stirrup. When l lad drawn
little way apart / leaned over and spoke
to him softly, so as not to be oVerheard
by the others of the squad.
"Wouldn't YOU like to escapeY' asked.
mo. sir" he answered promptly, 10
nv great surprise But it dawned upon
me that he was afraid. Many prisoner
IN that land of feuds legally arrested
nv his enemies has been given an OPP
nortunity TO make a dash for liberty, IN
order that his captors might shoot h'm
dovn. and visit their murderous malice
upon him under the aegis or the law
IL IL an old ruse. Ny little prisoner
knew the sinister ways Of the mountains
and was circumspect.
"But I'm going 10 let you" 1 said In
the friendliest tone l could muster
"When we come TO that thick clump OF
laurels you spring into 1t and run as
fast as your legs can carry you. III
shout to you to halt and fire my rifle IN
the air Just to fool those other fellows
But don't you pay any attention to me.
Just keep on running. DO you unuer-
stand?
"You won't hit me?" he asked look
dent doubt OF my honest intentions.
81 give you my word my boy"
answered. 'Do just as ] say, and every
thing will be all right"
So when we came to the thlcket OF
laurel the boy quickly brushed aside the
masses of shieldlike leaves that glimmer-
ed duskily with the rain, sprang nlmDiy
within. and the foliage closed upon MIN
A moment later and he came into view
on top OF a bank of clay above the trees
"Haltp' I cried at the top Of my voice
The command was artifice intender
to trick my companion in arms. But
the boy frightened by my assumed
ferceness of tone. stopped dead IN his
tracks. so that for nm instant l thought
my scheme must miscarTy. Run on"
/ was forced 10 cry. at the Imminent
risk of being overheard by the posse,
and l fired my rife into the air. The
bullets singing wide of any mark re-
assured the little fellow. He started
off again, footing il for dear life, and
followed him with my eyes as he shout
dered his way through the ferns and
tangled brakes until his white shirt
ceased to show among the distant
shadows
For little time | waited for the other
possemen to join me. As they did not
come / concluded, naturally enough, they
had OWNED that my tiny prisoner had
run for il and escaped, and, holding the
matter of no consequence, had ridden
on to join the main posse. SO, as the
rain was beginning to pour down steadily
and the dreary evening was fast closing
In, | hurried off to the farmhouse down
the valley that had been previously
agreed on as the rendezvous for the
night. Supper time came. but no posse
arrived / was fain to believe they had
found shelter in the upper valley. Pre-
sently | sat at table with the farmer
and his household and gorged famously
upon crisp rashers of bacon, fried eggs,
corn-pone, sorghum, and other reiishiag
viands OF mountain fare. Then. far into
the night. sitting in the chimney corner
by the cheerful hearth, / listened 10 the
tales Of my bluff and garrulous host as
he todd Of old duels. bloody clashes OF
hostiR mountain clans, of many a fight
ing hero and romantic episode OF ven
dettas OF the past BY the time | got
to bed the weather had changed for the
worse; the rain beat down in driving
torrents, and the wind was yelling
through the night like a banshee. Bat
as l drowsed in feathers. under warm
coverlids with good roof between me
and the tempestuous heavens, the blasts
and the flying sheets of rain were merely
music-aliegro OF thunderdrops on the
clapboards; piccolo scherzos piped by the
gale about the gables; cymbal crashes
OF gusty water hurled against the
window-panes tnkling mandolin notes
from dripping caves, and for an obli-
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