Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-16


left him dangling there. He must have
been killed, or at least stunned, by MS
fall from the horse, for he hung perfect
lv motionless. There was horrible fas-
cination in the awful sight, and could
not take my eyes from the sWaying
form until / 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' youll ever
see.'
81 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 volley Of
oaths; you are both in the same boat.
Before I 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 a dream l felt the moose
placed around my neck and saw the
end of the lariat thrown over limb
A dozen hands grasped it and waited
at last, / found my tongue. For God 8
sake, gentlemen / implored, tell me
why / am to be murdered. l swear I
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 I understood it all.
[ was suspected of stealing horses.
had often heard of the summary way
in which crimes of this sort were pun
nshed in the west, and I felt that my
situation was hopeless
" I'm no horsethief,' 1 cried. L swear
to God 1 bought that horse in Pueblo
Hes a liar yelled a desperate
looking ruffian Eff ne amt boss
thief whut's he dom 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 ghostly
pendulum.
"Cries of String him up! String him
upp resounded from all sides. but the
leader restrained his impatient follow
ers. Give him a 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-
planned as well as I could who I was,
and where 1 was going, and how I had
| met Bill Warren only the night before
and supposed hir1 to be a gold hunter
like myself.
fTlhe leader seemed to be impressed
by my words and manner, but the
others clamored for my death One big,
burly fellow apparently voiced the SEN
timents of the crowd, saying: Hang
| the onery cuss. He's only kid and
new at the business; but if we let him
go he'll be worse than his pal some
day
81 felt the rope tighten around my
neck. My last hour was surely at hand
cast one despairing look about me-
| Some distance away thorseman was
approaching His face looked familiar
| Hold onr / gasped I think l know
that man. Before could say more the
moose frightened and l was lifted from
the ground Again the leader inter-
fered, and ] was lowered to the earth,
much against the will of the majority
Of the mob.
when had recovered sufficiently to
look around, the man on horseback was
close at hand, and recognized the old
man / had met at the hotel in Denver.
My captors evidently knew him. Hey,
Joen they called This young Teller
says he knows you. Does he belong to
your Sunday school class?
"A roar Of laughter greeted this sally.
1.-THE old man rode up and looked me
I've seen him afore,' he said at last,
but don't recollect when ner where
Don't you remember" / groaned,
I met you in Denver, at the hotel, last
Wednesday evening, and had a long
talk with you. You advised me to go
back east, and / didn't have sense
enough to take your advice
That's right assented the old man;
L did meet this young Teller, ez he
says. guess he's all right, boys
But the boys were not to be appeased
so easily. That don't prove nuthin', :
objected the man who had voiced the
general sentiment before. You only
met him that once. He might be a
boss thief fer all O. that
Once more the bIoodthlrsty crew de-
ananded my life, but the old man inter
coded for me and insisted that ] be
taken to Pueblo and given a chance to
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