Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-29

manthy kept saying to herself, as she
watched him as furtiyely as cat watches
mouse. EFF he did, I'll bet he wouldn't
feel like putterin' round with that neck
ham cher o. his'n. He'd be a-thinkin'
e. the necktie that's waitin' fer him."
And then, when she realized that it was
not only possible, but altogether probable,
that this man would be hanging by his
neck, dead, before the day was done, she
felt great thrill of horror going over
her, and wanted to run away somewhere
and hide.
When ne had gone to camp meeting she
put on her sunbonnet and ran over to
Mrs Boone'S, to wait, with the women
there, for the return OF the men from the
swamp.
1t seemed as if the forenoon would new
err end. First one and then another would
run to the door to see if they were COM
ing.
1t was about twelve o'clock when
party OF grim and determined looking
men halted near the edge of the grove
in which the camp meeting was held.
Their clothes were corn and stained with
the black soil of the swamp. Their faces
had tense, strained expression in them,
along with look that told they had ac-
compIished purpose which had hitherto
been baffied.
The sound of singing came to them,
blown across the forest by the SOFT south
wind. Distinctly above all other voices
could be heard Wayne's in the old hymn:
There is a fountain filed with blood,
Drawn from ImmanuePs veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day.
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all Fly sins away"
There's suthin' qgfe appropriate about
the dyin' thief" ole of the men said.
He wouldn't feel like singing hymns eff
he knew what our arrand was"
''S'posen you call him ont, Bill Green,
said Speers. ".Du it kinder slick, SOS not
to make any fuss, eff We can help it. We
don't want to 'starb the meetin."
Bill Green made his way across the
woods to the camp meeting grounds The
hymn was just concluded, and Wayne
was sitting among his scholars, cool and
quiet. and seemingly as much at case as
ever in his life.
I10Nt AOu lOuutl out dliy tIlhS thS
men and women kept asking Bill, as he
swer them He went up to Wayne and
touched him on the shoulder.
You're wanted he said
Wayne looked at him with perceptibly
paling face.
"Who wants me-" he asked. what
am | wanted for?"
y. - I
by folks askin' questions, an III explain
to ye, said Bill.
Wayne looked keenly at Bill, but he
could make out nothing from his scrutiny.
Mr.. Green's face was as unreadable as
that of the Sphinx.
They joined the men who were waiting
at the edge Of the grove.
Good morning, gentlemen, said
Wayne. Have you found any traces of
the horse thieves YETI
Yes, we have" was the reply, and the
speaker looked him straight in the eye.
"Ahp' Wayne's face lost its color, and
his voice sounded hard and tense. Nv here
are theyT
'Four of 'em are under ground" was
the reply AN the fifth has been reddy
to put under ever sence las night. Two
on 'em died with bullet holes thru EN-,
an three with ropes round their necks. .
Wayne was CHASTITY white now. He
knew that they were telling him the
truth.
He gave one swift glance to left and
right. In an instant his plan Of escape
was formed. He sprang toward the
woods. Once in it he might succeed in
getting away. 1t was his only chance.
But they had been on the lookout for
something of this kind, and he felt him
self in the grasp of strong hands before
he had taken dozen steps.
'Y' can't come that on u.s." said Bill
| Green. I'VE stole all the bosses an
KEEP all the singing schools y ever will.
| There's a tree ben a-waitin' fer We years,
down in the Big Swamp"
Wayne made one more wild and des-
perate effort to break away from his cap
tors, but in vain. He was in grasp of
/ iron.
Ten minutes later he was being hurried
toward the Big Swamp.
| The pallor of his face was frightful.
but he said not word after being sat.
/ isfed that it was useless for him to try
| to escape.
! AZ AlAt IuAGtibn VI TIT swamp anu Al
| land they met the men who had remained
behind to bring out the horses.
/ Dick was one OF this party. He start
ed when he saw Wayne in the same sit
uation he had been in but a few hours
before. and turned away, sick at heart.
He had seen three men dangling from the
limb of an old cypress. that morning. and
he could not get rid of the horrible sight.
| We're a-goin' to take him to that place
we see, when we was a-goin down,
where the oil tree is with the limb stickin'
out as eff twas a-waitin' fer suthin' tn
be hung on it. win you come back with
us or wait here?"
wen wait here" the men in charge
of the horses decided.
| Bill Green unsnapped a small chain
from Nell's bride. 1t was five or six
feet long, and had been used in place of
a halter.
Wen use this he said. "an' wen
leave Ii rs we use il.
1 Then they went on down the creek
with the doomed man between them. and
not a word was spoken until they reach
ed the island where the old cedar grew,
grim and gray. and gnarled into fantas-
tic shapes. with long wreaths OF moss
hanging to its branches. and swaying
slowly in the dumb wind which blew
about the lonesome spot.
Number One" said Bin Green. like
s judge passing sentence Of death on a
murderer. as they paused beneath the
outstretehed arm of the old cedar. 1t is
purity nigh all over with We in this world
HEY Y anything 10 say? Ef We hev. say
il now"
do what you're going to do, and have
done with it, answered Wayne, through
ashen lips. Aud that was all.
The chain was fastened about his neck
and some OF the men lifted him up while
one climbed on the old limb and secured
the fatal links about il.
Ready" asked Bill Green. hoarsely
Aye. all ready" was the reply.
And then
They turned sway as silently as they
had come. and left the leader Of the
league OF six swinging from the old cedar
whose fate il was 10 bear that horrible
burden, a CHASTITY, frightful record Of