The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02
ST. FRANCSVE WEST FELCIANA PARISH LA, SATURDAY, JULY 1898
"The leader seemed to be impressed

"The leader seemed to be impressed
by my words and manner, but Tho
others clamored for my death. One
big, burly fellow apparently voiced thu
continents of the crowd, saying, Hang
the emery cuss. He's only kid ani
new at the business, but if we let him
go he'll be worse than his pal some
day..
II felt the rope tighten around my
neck. My last hour was surely at hand
l cast one despairirg look about me
Some distance away horseman was
approaching. His face looked familiar
Hold on!' I gasped. I think 1 know
that man Before could say more
the moose frightened and l was lifted
from the ground. Again the leader in,
terfered, and l was lowered to the
earth, much against the will of the ma.
jority Of the mob.
when | had recovered sufficiently to
look around the man on horseback was
close at hand, and l recognized the old
man I had met at the hotel in Denver
My captors evidently knew him, Hey
joel they called. This young Teller
says he knows you. Does ne belong to
your Sunday school class?'
"a roar of laughter greeted this
sally.
1.-THE old man rode up and looked me
over from head to foot. Seems to me
I've seen him afore,' he said at last
but l don't recollect when ner where.
Don't you remember" l groaned
I met you in Denver, at the hotel, last
Wednesday evening, and had a long
talk with you. You advised me to 60
back East, and l didn't have sense
enough to take your advice
"That's right assented the old
man; 4 did meet this young Teller, ez
he says l guess he's all right boys.
But the boys were not to be appeas-
ed so easily. That don't prove nuth-
in, objected the man who had voicad
the general sentiment before. You only
met him that once He might be boss
thief fer all O. that
"Once more the bloodthirsty crew do.
manded my life, but the old man III.
terceded for me and insisted that I be
taken to Pueblo and given chance tc
prove my innocence. His words
seemed to carry deal Of weight, for
though there was no end of grumbling
was Immediately unbound, and placed
upon my horse. The ride back to towr
was without incident, except that sew.
eral of the crowd expressed a desire tt
shoot me, in order to save the county
the expense of trial. They went nc
further than to threaten, however, anf
I reached Pueblo with whole skin
When we arrived at the hotel the pro.
prietor was called out and commanded
to tell what he knew about me.
"I don't know nuthin' about him,
he began, and my heart sank within
me, but my spirit rose when he con-
tinued, "ceptin' that he put up here fer
few days. Said he wux goin' to Silver
Cliff. 1 helped him buy his outfit and
that boss he's ridin'.'
I" Who was with him when he came
here?' was the next question.
Nobody. But he went away with a
Teller that said he wuz goin' to Silver
Cliff, too. Where's he at?'
"'Oh! he's ornamenting a tree out
yonder. Eff it hadn't been fer the in
PREVENTION of Providence in the shape
of Ole Joe Mack, this young feller
might be keeping him company. E7
it is, he seems to be straight enough
and I reckon we'd better let him 60
He ought to more kcerful in the choice
of his pals thought. That cuss that
wu2 with him wuz the Wust boss thief
in the State
II remember no more after that.
was told afterward that I'fell off my
horse in a dead faint and was carried
into the hotel, where lay in raging
fever for over month. I was de-
lirious the whole time, and they had tC
tie my hands to keep ME from tear,
ing all the skin from my throat, grasp.
ing at an imaginary rope"