The herald., 1898-01-30

to the teeth and evidently ready t.
shoot at seconds notice. They paiC
very little attention to me, but seemed
to watch with great interest the pur
suit of my companion.
| "All this time l had not the slightes
idea what the trouble was, and l dar,
not ask the men who We're guarding me
L supposed they intended to rob us, but
could not understand why they did not
| do so Immediately.
While these thoughts were passing
| through my mind the band of pursuers
was rapidly overtaking Warren. At last
the foremost one swung his lasso round
his head and let fly at the fugitive,
catching him around the shoulders and
unhorsing him with a jerk that seemed
enough to break every bone in his body.
Two other men then dismounted, bound
the captive's arms and dragged him to
the nearest tree. Placing a moose around
his neck, they threw the other end of the
rope over limb pulled until the victim
swung clear 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
motionless. There was horrible fasci-
| nation in the awful sight, and | could not
take my eyes from the swaying form
until l was aroused by the voice of the
man on my right. That's right sonny,
he said, take good look at it, It's the
last hangin you'll ever see"
shuddered at these ominous words
but mustered up courage enough to ask
what my companion had done to de-
serve such a terrible fate.
" Oh, don't try to play innocent" was
the reply, accompanied by a volley of
oaths; you are in the same boat
before l could protest my innocence
the rest of the horsemen rode up. Your
turn next, said the leader grimly. If
you've got any prayers to say, say em
damned quick.
'Speechless with fright | was dragged
from my horse and led to a tree near
by AS in dream | felt the moose
placed around my neck and saw the
end of the lariat thrown over a limb
y dozen hands grasped it and waited
for a signal from their leader. Then.
at last, | found my tongue For God 8
sake, gentlemen, I implored, tell me
why | am to be murdered. / swear |
have done nothing wrong.
Don't waste your breath, you in
fernal horsethief,' jeered one of the
crowd. 'You'll need all you've got be-
fore we get through with YOU
AT these words / understood it all.
/ was suspected Of stealing horses. !
had often heard Of the summary Way
in which crimes of this sort were pun
ished in the west, and 1 felt that my
situation was hopeless.
Tin no horsethief,' | cried. T swear
to God l bought that horse in Pueblo.
He's liar yelled a desperate
looking ruftian. Eff he amt a boss
thief Whut's he doin' in the company of
that low-lived skunk over there?' and
he pointed TO where the corpse of Bill
Warren swung to and fro like a ghostly
pendulum.
Cries of String him up! String him
up" resounded from all sides. but the
leader restrained his impatient follow
ers. Give him chance to say what he
wants to- said he. It's the last chance
he'll have unless he proves his inno-
cence'
Encouraged by these words I ex-
pialned as well as | could who I was
ana where | was going. and how 7 had
met Bill Warren only the night before.
ana supposed him to be q gold hunter
like myself
The leader seemed to he impressed
oy my words and manner, but the others
clamored for my death One big. burlv
fellow apparently voiced the sentiments