Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-05-12

tire congregation set of for Mr.. Por-
ter's.
Ibid you say Samanthy shot oney'
asked Itho,lu. coming up to where Mamie
stood. with her mothcr and Mrs. Porter.
'Oh, dear! Isn't 1t dreadful! | sha'n't
sleep n wink tonight thinking of it,"
"Ncithpr shall L." said Mamie. IL
haven't got the sound of that gun out of
my ears yet. II doesn't seem to me AZ
| II I ever would. Come home with me,
Rboda. Your aunt will have plenty Of
company. and won't need you. DO come.
please! ! cant bear to think of staying
alone. and You haven't stayed with me
In a long time
Rhoda consented. aud the party fol
lowed the men from the camp ground.
It was n crowd Of stcrn-faced men that
gathered about the barn a few minutes
later.
''She hit one. sure enough" said the
| foremost settler. as he paused at the open
stable door. lies hurt p,Tty bad. or
dead. | reckon, jcdgin' from the blood
Lift him up" said Mr.. Boone. "Mcbbc
he's tainted"
Two men stepped forward and attempt.
ed to lift the figure in the doorway.
'"Ilc's dead" said one of them. after
partially raising the body. "Neighbors.
there's one less horse thief IN this world
he added. solcmnly. yet not without
sound Of satisfaction In his voice.
| There was u moment OF deep silence in
the crowd. The presence of death kept
down the demonstration of the excite
mcnt that every man felt.
| just then Wayne came up, in company
| with one of the ministers
I'VE heard you had caught q horse
thief. and came 10 crafty curiosity to
seq what one of the animals looked like"
he said. with u laugh. hut Mr.. Boone
fancied that he detected nm uneasy sound
In the speakers voice. and that the laugh
which accompanied the words seemed
forced and unnatural.
I've have" said Mr.. Porter. holding
his lantern So that the light Of II fell full
upon the dead mans face.
| Wayne started back with a frightened
exclamation. lie stood for q moment
and looked upon the CHASTITY sight, then
turned away with shuddcr that he could
no, hide and walked toward the house.
"lhc wrath of God 'smitcs the trans.
gressor." said the minister. solemniy.
MAY hc have mercy on this poor sinners
soul! lc, us pray"
Aud knccling by the dead, among an
awe.S,ruck company which stood with
barred. bowed heads. the good man pray
cd. and tho sound Of his voice was all
that broke the silence until "Amcn!" was
said.
a hnsty consultation was held con-
ccrning the disposal 10 BE- made Of the
body.
Before Il was concluded. Mr.. Boone
came hurrsing up with the news that his
horses were gone.
II toll you what Il II. men," said one
Of the settlers. rs he listened To the It'd
ings. "cf We ever git track q the thieves.
we've go, TO do 1t now. Them with
Boone's horses cant have mOr'n an
hours start of us. nm IL seems ns II
they must ha' left some track behind.
This"-pointing to the body In the door.
way" bc quite likely I" put an end
10 their performances IN this ncighbOr.
hood for spell, anyway. an we don't
want 'cm 10 git away IL It's possible ia
find 'cnl. We've hunted fer 'cin high n
low, an hunted thurrcr. but we hunt
got on to the right trail fer some reason
or another. We hain't never found out
what they'd done So soon after they'd did
II as we hcv this time. l:f We turn out
nm s'nrch as If We meant bisness, /
emit help fcclin y ~ We could get some
track Of 'em. II seems 80. anyway. An
] go In fer maxim such u hunt rs We
hnin't made yit. though ] don't know
We can bc n bit more thurrcr'n We hcv
ben. But we can try. anyhow: an II
We do ind any signs OF 'cm, we can follcr
'em up II We git right at It an don,
waste no time. What say, ncighbors!'
A hearty iuurmur VI assent went over
the crowd.
Lights were procured, and a close TX,
animation Ut the premises about Mr.
Bones barn began.
Heres their tracks plains day." do
clared Bill Green, NJ eager for the pWr'
suit OF horse thieves now rs he had beer
IN hour ago for pardon Of his sins. II
feels If We was gOin' TO fetch 'eni this
time. ! do SOL
An hour later there was unbroken quiet
where. NJ short time before. there had
been so much excitement. They were
on the trail of the horse thieves at last
The dead mans body had been placed
in the barn TO await burial Oh the NOR
row.
1t was twelve o'clock when the light,
carried by the men who were on track Of
the horse thieves faded into faint glim
mers IN the distance, and finally dwindlel
into 50 many sparks, and then seemed
to go out IN the darkness Of the night.
In the kitchen ut Mr.. Portcr's the won
On and ministers were talking over tho
exciting events of the evening. Wayne
had retired. The clock struck one.
II declare exclaimed Mrs. Boone, I'D
no idcc twas so late! Come, Mis- Hold
retlgc, let's be- Eoin'. or we sha'n't 81,
any rest tonight, an ! feel clear beat
out"
Mrs. Holdrcdgc was visitor from
"down below" whom Mrs. Boone had in
vited home with her from camp meeting
Are you ready, Nannie!" asked Mrs
Boone, US she and Mrs. Holdrcdge rOs,
to go.
"YOu can go on. mother, and Khod,
and III come right along responded
Mamie. Il want to see Samanthy ,
minute
Mrs. Boone and hcr friend took thci
departure, aud Mamie called Samanth.
into the pantry for consultation.
"Dick ought to know what's happened.
said Mamie. ut may be that the knOwl