Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-22


That was Bills argument, and in part
he reasoned correctly. On the strength
of this belief he had come down the
stream, inspecting the banks closely on
either side, hoping TO find where the
horses had been led out of the water
and driven off toward some of the roads
leading out of the settlement.
That's him-that's Dick Brayton,"
shouted Bill Green, who had been the
first TO recognize the man who appeared
so suddenly before them. We're close
on TO the gang nowI Shoot him eff he
tries to rum
Dick had no idea of running.
You're just in time" he said. I've
discovered the secret of the horse
thieves"
"An' we've jest diskiyered one on EN-,
a second time" answered Bill, as, with
desperate courage which he wondered at
even then, and could never account for
afterward, he knocked Dicks gun from
his hands and grappled with him. In
stantly others Of the party came to his
assistance, and in a minute Dick was for
the second time prisoner
Don't les give him a chance TO git
away ag'in, said one of the men. String
him up to this OF tree, an make sure of
him this time
That's the TALK cried Bill Green.
EFF we go to palaverin' with him some
O. the rest O. the gang may come along,
fust we know, an help him tn give us the
slip. l don't b'leeve in trials fer boss
thieves. Ef we hadn't awaited fer one
afore mebbe Mr.. Boone d ben span O.
bosses ahead"
See here, neighbors,' said Dick, at
tempting to be calm. II can prove to you
that l am as innocent of what has been
laid to me as any one Of you is"
''Du it, then, an be spry about il"
said Bill. I'VE hain't no time to fool
away"
II have Just tracked the horse thieves,
with Mr.. Boone's horses, to the border of
the Big swamp" said Dick. Il was on
my way to Mr.. Boone's to let him know
what | had found OUT
That's likely story" sneered Bill.
But l reckon 'twon't go down with US,
What du you think about it, fellers?''
1--WE don't take no stock in it," respond
ed Mr.. Balcomb.
Dicks explanation had fallen like good
seed on stony ground.
Hello, there's Perkins an Speers. ;"
cried Bill. as two men appeared on the
opposite side of the creek. Come acrost,
boys"
Bill met the men little way from the
group which surrounded Dick, and talked
with them in low tones for a few min
utes.
"Ye're right" Dick heard one of them
say. Its best to make short work of it,
Eff OF Boone or Porter comes along afore
it's done they'll want US to hold on an
give him chance for trial, an don t
what l go in fer, an l go in fer it now!'
MY idee," said Speers, concisely.
Here's suthin' that'll ans'er in place of
suthin' better"
As he spoke he unwound a leather
strap from about his waist. 1t was five
or six feet long. Men often used these
straps instead of suspenders, tying them
or buckling them sufficiently tight to keep
their trousers from slipping over their
hips.
Bill took the strap andI came back to
the waiting group.
"I've talked with Speers an Perkins,
an they amt in favor O. waitin'," he
said. What dye say, men? Is it
hang?"
Hang it isr' was the reply from every
man in the party.
For Gods sake don't murder a man
in cold bloodp' cried Dick, pale as death.
Il tell you | am innocent. If you'll take
the trouble to search the Big Swamp
you'll find that I've told you the truth.
Search and find out whether I've been
lying to you before you hang me-"
What's the use o foolin' with him.
cried Perkins. Were only wastin'
words an time
Tie his hans" ordeerd Bill.
And in spite of his powerful struggles
Dicks hands were tied, and the fatal
strap fastened about his neck.
For Gods sake" he began, but
Perkins had thrown the strap over a
limb, and two or three men had seized
it, and he felt himself being lifted from
his feet.
AT that instant a wild, shrill cry, full Of
mortal terror, rang through the gray
gloom of the morning and caused them
to relax their grasp. Turning in the di-
rection whence it came, they saw Nan
ME and Rhoda coming swiftly toward
them, with faces as white as those of the
dead are, making wild gestures for them
to release Dick.
Dicks good angel had brought them at
the very nick O. time. The men let go
the strap, and his feet touched earth
again.
1T wasn't her' cried Rhoda. painting
for breath. We've found out-who the
thieves are-and the ringleader' S
Wayne
Then she sank down on log and burst
into tears.
Whats that we're sayin'Y' cried Bill.
Don't you go to tryin' to fool us. IF
you do"
If we did | suppose you'd hang u.s.
cried Mamie, Indignantly. WAS that
what you were going to say?'
What is it that you've found out?'
asked Perkins. IF you've anything to
tell, tell it an done with it,"
Mamie drew long breath and began.
What she had TO tell the reader already
knows.
II sw'ar to man. l don't b'leeve itr'
cried Bill 1T can't be that the singin'
teachers boss thief"
HE is" cried Rhoda Il heard what
Mamie mas 4oiu YOU May never SPEAK
another word if we haven't told you the
truth
Wayne a boss thief" repeated Bill.
/ incredulously. 1T can't be-
Il dunno but he's as likely 10 be as
anybody else" said Perkins. ''I'lI tell
you what my plan is: Let's hunt up the
other party. Then let's take Brayton
with us an 80 into the Big swamp IF
/ we find the thieves Wen fx EN-, an
that'n let him off FL we find we've ben
! fooled
I The unfinished sentence had a great
deal Of stern meaning in il.
1 The plan was agreed to.
1 An after we've ben there. wen come
out AZ call on Mr.. Wayne" said Bill,
who, much against his win. was convinc-
Cd OF the truth OF Rhoda's story. He be-
gan TO feel vindictive against Wayne for
having duped him, as he must have done
/ II he was horse thief
See here. he said. turning suddenly
/ aad facing Dick. ~didn'f l see you maxim
marks on that Of cottonwood =
No. Bill Green. you did not. answer.
ed Dick Il don't say thar ron didn't
g -, -, y I s,-.,,- -