The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-30

notice. They paid very little attention To
me- but seemed to watch with great In
torest the pursuit Of my companion.
| All Ibis time had not the alghtest idea
what the trouble was and | dared not ask
| tho men who we're guarding me. | Aup-
posed that they intended TO rob ua, hut
| could not understand why they did NOT do
| so Immediately.
while these .bonghtR were passing
through my mind the band Of pnrauers were
| rapidly uvcrlaklng warren. At Inst the
| foremost one swung his lasso round his
J head aud let ny at the fugitive, catching
| him around the shoulders and undressing
! him with Jerk iifat seemed enough 10
break every bono In his body. TWO other
men then dls3mounted. bound the captlyog
! arms and dragged him to the nearest tree.
| Placing moose around his neck they
| threw the other end OF the rope over i
| limb, pulled until tho victim swung Rear
Of the ground and left him dangling there.
! He must have been killed. or at least
stunned. by his fall from the horse for he
/ hung perfectly motlonlcss. There Vas a
| horrible fascination in the awful signt ana
| i could not take my eyes from the swayiug
form until | was aroused by the voice OF
| the man ON my right That's right. fanny
man on my right. That's right sonny,
| he said take good look at 1t. It's the
last hanging' you'll ever see. =
ahnddercd at these ominious words,
DUt iHlNltTeu up tuUTihe. enough 10 ENK
what my companion had done to dese:se
such y terrible fate.
oh. don't try 10 play Innocent. was
the reply, accompanied By yolley OF oatlh;
You are both In the same boat
Before could protest my innocence
the rest OF the horyeneB rode up. .Ycpr
turn next said the leader srinly. ~
you've get any prayers to say, say Gin
damned quick
''Spcechless with fright, was dragged
from my horse and led to a tree near b.,
AS In dream ] felt the moose placed
around my neck and saw the end OF the
iafiat thrown over limb A dozen HANDS
their leader Then, at last. found my
tongue. Fer Gods sake. gentlemen, /
implored. tell me why am to be murdered
] swear have done nothing wrong.
Don't waste your breath. you Internal
hcrse thief jeered one Of the crowd. You
will need all you've got before we ger
through with you
AT these words ! understood II all. s
was suspected OF stealing horses had
often heard OF the summary way IN whIcD
crimes OF this sort we're punished In The
West. and ! felt that my situation Was
hopeless.
I'm no horsetblef.' ! cried. Il awear
70 God | bought that horse In Pueblo
"'Hes a liar,' yelled a degperate- looitnx
rtifian Ef he Amt hossthief wlipt's
he dom In the company OF that ow-ifvea
skunk over theref' and he pointed 10 riherrl
the corpse Of BIZ Warren swung to and fro
like ghpstly pendulum,
Cries Of String him I'M! String him
up! res0unded from I'LL Aldes, hut this
leader restrained his jmnaticnl followers,
Give him chance TO say what La wants
To-, said he. ITS the Iast chance nu'll
have. unless he proves his innocence.'
Encouraged by these words ! cxpiaiped
as we'll as | could who ! vas and where
was going. aud how had only met Hill
Warren the night before. aud supposed him
to be gold hunter like myself.
The leader seemed 10 be impressed
by my words and manner. but tho others |
ciamored for my death. Que biz. buriy |
fellow apparently voiced The xentllpentpj
of the crowd. saying. Hang Tho oreyyI
o,,ks He's only y Nd and new e tne
btiSInosg. bull II W. let him ao hSIl ~ |
worse Than bis nal xOuae Nv.
! felt the rope ttHhtcu around ny qsck, !
Ny last hour WAS surely ~ aajid coGt 1
one despairinG look about ne SoIJte diks
lance away q horseman ~ appfoaeo ins.t