Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-26
The Story Teller.
a SWIM FOR LIFE.
A WESTERN EPISODE.

| on the OutSklrIS VI IHS So"P, w
Mexican who was walking hastily
past. The stranger understood but
imperfectly the remark addressed to
him, but replied, "Horses stole," and
proceeded on his way, his long spurs
| ljingling every step.
I The miner looked after him anx-
iously, and when he had disappeared
down the hill, turned towards the sa-
loon, muttering something about horse
thieves and hanging, and strolled, or,
as he would have himself said, "loaf-
ed" into the bar, where an excited as
sembly was gathered. .,
"Wa'll, they're gone clean away"
cried the owner Of the missing ami
mails "and my hosses nor donkeys
don't stray by nature. There's bin
some thieves around, you bet!"
"Like enough but who's the man
Howsomever, if we ketch him, gentle
men, we'll shoot him fair"
"Give him trial and rope him
that's the cure" said the owner. "And
now tew business. My treat, gentle.
men. Drinks round, and then I'll
follow the tracks bit, and let you
know"
Such an offer was not so be slighted.
The "drinks" having been fully appre-
ciated by all present, at the expense
of their health and brains, the owner
of the missing beasts departed to fol-
low the trail, which led towards the
canon up the river.
Ogden Smith, or "Soft" Smith, as he
was not unusually called, had that
very morning taken his horses to water
down stream, and left them in a safe
place pending their disposal. Ogden
had been unfortunate in his prospect.
ing. He was neither quick-witted
nor quick-tempered, though ready
enough with his sixshooter when cir
cumstances seemed to warrant its use.
But for this trait, "Soft" Smith would
have been stamped with strong var
iation of the term "idiot."
He followed the tracks mechanical
ly, and after about half mile, finding
they still led up towards the hills, be
returned and as he strode back,
breathing vengeance against his spoil
ers, he noticed human footprints on
the farther side of the trail-heavy
boot and spur marks. He felt inclined
to track these again, but knowing the
trail would lead to the river, then
flooded with melting snow, he decided
to return to the camp, and enlist the
vigilants in his cause.
1t has never been correctly ascer-
tanned why horse-stealing was then,
and may be still, regarded as a worse
crime than the taking of human life !;
but that this was the case in the west
is undoubted. Many rough digger
was permitted to add to the notches
already cut in the pistol butt, but a
horse thief was hunted down and ex-
ecuted summarily.
Notwithstanding gathering storm,
the men in the saloon, as soon as they
heard Ogden Smiths report, determin-
ed to do vengeance on the criminal.
The sufferer, meantime, met with
much sympathy, and "dust" (gold-
dust, which passed for currency was
freely shaken into Ogden's hat in the
barroom. The discussion as to who
the thief might be was waxing warm,
when voice cried
"Reckon some Mexican's had hand
in this game"
This suggestion was at once adopt
ed, and Bill, the miner, said:
"Aye, then I can show him. I saw
him on the hill above this morning.
Did We notice any tracks ?"
II did," replied Smith, eagerly.
Large boots, and spur marks, too.
That's the man !"
"Well 60 for him. Who knows his
place?'
Several present did, and one man
added
"He's a mighty quick shot, you may
depend"
"We're more of US than him." was
the answer of the leader. "He can't
fix us all. Now, gentlemen, we must
proceed reg'lar. Panel jury, if you
please; but there is no use in wasting
time."
The jury was quickly chosen, and
in order to avoid unnecessary delay,
horses were brought out, and the
whole party rode through the driving
rain and tempest to the Mexican's
hut.
The door was burst open, and before
the surprised occupant could use his
weapon he was seized and bound. and
thrown helpless on the floor. Before
he was disabled, however, he managed
to seize and retain small knife, which
he thrust into his sleeve.
To his questions he got but scant
replies. The jury were ushered into
small shed, and told to deliberate
upon their verdict, after few ques-
tions had been put to the criminal,
who protested his innocence.
One bystander, more humane than
the rest, volunteered to act as prison
er's advocate, and addressed the jury
as matter of form, for he knew the
strangers doom was sealed.
After pause the jury again retired,
and in few minutes the self-appointed