The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-06-09

Esy caupsut0a.
Al the tine had uei The slishtcst de
what the iroable wss aud dared pot ssl
the met Vbo vsre guarding me. ! sal
posed test they Intended 70 rob us la
ooali GOT onisutand why they 81 nct j,
60 Immediately
While tacse thonshts we're psssin.
turoagA my miud the band Of punuer
We rapidly ogenakiag Nsue1. At lssl
the tormasl one sVuug bic lssso round
sud let it Hy at the iasiilys, catching hia
sroani the SHOULDERS aod unhorsing him
Stth = le that seemed enough TO bfssA
every boue ia III, body. Iso other men
lhpn dlsmounted. bound the csptivo's
arms aud dra ,ged him to the nesrssl tree
/ Placing moose around bis mech, they
tbfes the other end OF the rope over q
limb, pulled until the victim SWING clear
Of the ground aud left him dsuslius there.
I Il mast have been killed, OF st lesst
stunned by his fall from the horse. for be
h0ug perfectly motIonless. There was a
horrible fascination 10 the awful sight,
aud could not take my eyes from the
sVaylcg form uutll was aroused by the
voice Of msn on my right That's right
sonny, be said, take good look a, it.
It's the last hanging you'll ever see.
| shndderei at these ominous words, bat
mustered mp courage eaough TO ask what
my companion bad done to deserve such
terrible fate.
Obi Don't try 10 play innocent, was
the reply, you are both in the same boat.
Before could protest my innocence
the rest Of the horsemen rode up. Your
turn nI', said the leader grimly. II
you've any prayers to say, say EN- damn
ed quick
Speocbless with fright, | WAS dragged
from my horse snd led TO tree ne.r by.
As in dream | ielt the moose placed
around my neck and saw the end OF the
larist thrown over limb. A dozen
hands srasped it and waited for signsl
from their leader. Then, Ut last found
my tongue. For Gods sake, gentlemen,
| impIored, tell me why am to be mur
dtrsd, swear | have done nothing
wrong,
Don't waste your breath, you blamed
horsethief, Jsertd one Of the crowd |
You'l need all you've got before we get
through with yoL.
I'm no hoisethIei cried, swear to
God bought that horse in Pueblo.
He's q liar, yellei a desperate looking
ruffisn. II he amt hossthei what's he
doing in the company of the low lived
skunk over there7 aud he pointed to
Tnere the corpse OF Bill Warren swung
10 and fro like ghottly pendulum.
Cries of String him up String him mp
esounded from all sides, but the leader
estrsined bis impatieot followers. Give
lin q chance o say what he wants to-
md be. It's the last chance he'll have, u n
ess be proves his Innocence
Encouraged by these words, explained
6 well as | conld who | was and where 1
vas going, and how had met Bill War
en- only the night before, aud supposed
i'm to be gold hunter like myself.
The leader seemed to be impressed by
~ words ard manner, but the others
lsmored for my death Ooe big, burly
ellow apparently voiced the sentiments OF
ne crowd, saying, Hang the onery cuss
les only kid and new at the business. :
at II we let him go he'll be worse than /,
is pal some day.
| felt the rope tightening and my
at hour was surely at hand | cast one o.
espairing look about me, Some distance ,
way foreman was approaching His y
ce looked familiar Hold oul gssped \
think ktow that man. Before | could !,
y more the moose ii. htened and | WAS :,
tied from the ground. Again the leader
teriered, aud wss lowered to the earth. .
uch against the will Of the msjorIty OF
e mob
" hen had recovered sufiioit nty to h
ok around the man on horseback was
ose at hand. ahd recognized the old :,
sn | had met At the hotel In Denver u
y captors evidently knew him, Hey,
e they called. This young feller say 10
knows you, Does be belong to your
lndsy school class2 ;,
A roar OF laughter greeted this sally. II
The old man rode mp and looked me ~
er from head TO loot. Seems TO me I've
En- i'm aIore, be said Vt last, bat dou't n,
ccolecl when ner where.
Don't you rememberi | grosned
Il you iu Denver, at the hotel, last NJ
eduesdsy evening, aud had q long talk
th you. You advised me to go back 10
lsi, and didn't have sense enough to
te your advice nj
That's right, sssented the old man; | NJ
] meet this young TELLER, ez be says. ! an
est hes all right boys ca
Bat the boys we're not TO sppeased 90 Al
iiy. Taa! don't prove uuthiu object 70
the man who bad voiced the general be
ltlmeut before. You Only met him
1t nee He might be a hosstLisi fer th
o tlal, sn
Jnce more the blooithifsiy crew de
.nded my lie, bu, the old man iuterced ge
for me and insitted that | be taken 10 sci
eblo and ,igen chance 10 prove my wi
.ocetce. His words seemed to carry
VI oi weight, Tor, though there vss DO DO
d sr1mbliuF, wn immediately 90 ha
nod. and plscei upon my horse. The ior
-. r.ttftrng lee a..