Arizona republican., 1898-12-04

See that oak tree standing over
 there, near In edge Of my clearing?
 Well that old tree could tell many
 tales if it could only speak.
 When I come here in 'G9 this ere place was a wild wilderness. an where
 you sec that log abin standing in that
 thicke. was the only town in all this
 section Of country. That cabin was the supply store for hundreds CT miles around. Bill Becker E-as tho name of the man that ran the. store. His sock
 n trade consisted of, besides provis- iCla, c0Whida boots, tGh2ecp, annu-
 nitian and whiskcy The bGy5 used to congTegate about the store every night
 and drink iiduor and play poker. and
 1t was mighty seldom that ',to crowd
 broke ID without some one getting cai
 or shot.
 Bill had a wife and daughter, and
 Ee and his family were known al! over
 this ridge. The daughters name was Nellie. She was q pretty girl, anr as good Q rider and rife shot as there was
 in the gulch. Of course, all the boys
 were in love with her
 Ore day 2 young fellow came to the
 village from-no one knew where. He
 wore fine clothes and had plenty Of
 money, and fer a long time Ee was thought to be government officer l
 were so numerous hereabouts. But he proved q ri2h, nice fellow and bought "a li.t!e b':ach O. cattle and settled down ] all by himself i1 that little valley you | see oyer there. In the meantime Will 1 son, that was the young fellows name, | had, like all the rest of us fell in love
 with Nellie. and we older lovers took
 2 back sea.c to give him . chance. Ke all agreed 10 give tho tind29fo0t q fair, 1 square deal except enc fellow, Jack I>immiler, and he sWCrc he would make Wilson wish he had never seen the set tiemeH5.
 Everything wen5 along smoothly for a year CT such q matter. Wilson made lcis of money, and by this time all Of IS had to acknowledge he had a dead circh with the girl.
 One rainy day Jack came over to the store and said to q score or more of Us sitting round, that his favorite pony and three 2-year-old steers had been stolen from his herd the night before. Now, in those days, one man could sheet another one for a trif1e, and come clear, but stealing would fetch Judge Lynch out in a hurry, and fl the thief were caught-well, that old Cak tree and rope ended it.
 Jack, after that, reported regular loses to the boys and indignation was worked up to Q fever heat I knew very well that if the thief was found cut the boys would make quick work of him and 10 questions asked.
 "One morning Jack came running to the store and reported that he ana Dave Eckles, enc of his men, had seen Wilson drive off eleven unbranded steers the night before. Without vast ing a minute the boys went down in the valley and brought Wilson up to the stcse in hurry. Som We1t1l to hang him without ceremony, while others wanted to grant him q trial. It WAS finally decided TO give him . chance for his life. Bill Eckles was elected judge and Jack and Eckles gave in their testimony. Wilson swore Ee was at home all of the night, but as he lived alone he couldn't prove it.
 T took Wilson's side and tried my best to make the boys see that Q man win the money Wilson had made and | tAe way he had acted a5 a man 2Eorgst Is that Ee could not be guilty | os stealing Jacks slCck, but the jury | said the evidence was against the p-is | CCer. and thC verdict thai- was decided | on was that Wilson should be hanged | from the old lone oak at caylight next | morning. Nellie cried and begged, but | the boys said Wilson was guilty and 1 must be hanged.
 Wilson was guarded in one Of the | log cabins that night and a. dawn next morning all the boys for miles ID and ! down the gulch were gathered at the { old oak to see Wilson go over the di vide I tell you l felt awful had, for l | knew in reason that they were about to halg an innocent man. But they had sWo1e to put an end to the report ed stealing and had set upon j. to make an example of Wilson. The prisoner sat on the bank Of his claybank nus tang pony, calm and stern.
 Wilson. I am G--n sorry fer you; you was gittin' mighty popular among he boys, but this ere stealin's go to sop, said oll in Gs mean q way as l-= knew hoE-. An we'll list give you Chrce minutes to gLo ready to pass ln
 I'm ready now, Becker, bEe when 1t is all oyer you will find out you have hanged an innocent man
 "Ihis made Bill madder'n ever, and, sna,chiag up the rope, he was in the act Of throwing it round Wils0ns neck, when 9 shc, down the trail caused every one t2 tUrR, and, dashing up to ne crowd, cars fJeiiis, I-aunted Jn her swift so"ral pony.
 teEe gtabbel the br q ( O9 1sC. 9--y, a-l, SiSl1ig n4Zn 2 lasE ~lL4 ne- wh away the two went up tte trail
 "The boys were thunderstrUck by Nellies aclIon, and so quickly did she 10 her work and ride away thai- none seemed willing to attempt to follow
 Wilson and Nellie were married the next day at Springfield then but a hamlet. Not long afteIwGr Jack was tabbed by Ecl1les over Q settlement Of wages. and when he seen that :he jig vas up with him, he called the boys 0 his bed and confess 3d that he drove , lis own stock off and hid it. and hired 3ckles to swear against Wilson. to get ven With him for winning rim h4In Ielie's affection. Bill Becker was here, and when he heard Jacks con-