The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-24
IDS: They're going to hang old Pete

hands: They're going to hang old Pete
Mexicanr'
Hang. old Pete! Aw, you're foolin'
they ain'ty
Don't talk so loudg expostplated Tom
my in aEhoarse Whisper. IF they heard
you they'd hang us for KNOWN about it
Who'd hang us, crazy?"
The ranchers that"-here, glancing
fearfully over his shoulder, Tommy uR-
expectedly found his voice The ranchers
were a mere cloud of dust in the dis
lance.
It's Babe Thompson and Bill Jones
and that other feller that's always with
EN-. They planned it sitting on the boxes
in front of the store. 1 was hiding from
Sammy Moves and had just popped into
the old trash barrel when they came
outer the store and begun to talk bout
hangin' Pete. They're goin' to wait till
six O'clock, when the cow punchers come
in for the mail, and then they're going to
take him outer jail"-and Tommy gasped
for breath.
The boys stared at each other in the
silence of horror. Then Tommy con;
tinued:
There's the rangers"
But they're over at Smithyille."
Cant they come over here, smartie, II
somebody goes after emf"
You don't meant
Yes, 1 do" interrupted Tommy.
But we can't walk. It's ten miles!'
Whose talkin' bout walkin'. Come
along cried Tommy, seizing his COM
panion by the arm. "Pete's horse is
grain down by the creek. He's a goer,
if he is old"
DO you reckon Pete was with, the
gang, sure enough?' asked the other boy,
as, with chins in air and elbows on hips,
lhey trotted across the prairie. 't'
Nav" said Tommy, with the conf
doence Of fait based on evidence. II know
ne wasn't with EN-"
How'd you known -'.; r
Cause he fixed my trap and mended
my fshin' pole and cured my pup when
ne mad the mango and brought my ma
some birds when she was sick. Cattle
thieves don't do things for people;
thy're mean" s-- ~
The other boy acknowledged the force
Vi ms testimony to character by an
emphatic nod -
But circumstantial evidence had weigh
ed heavily against Pete at the bar of
srown-up public opinion" He was a
Me&can, reason enough in that to foster
suspicion in the mind of the frontiersman,
VINO always held his neighboF across the
border in light esteem.
me horse was easily found and led by
me torelock 10 the rear of Tommy's barn.
lhen arose the fateful though unfore-
seen question: "who should ride to
smithWlle?"
Inc old animal. with his sway back
onu prominent bones, stood, a protest,
asalhst the suggestion that both should
~ must" said Tommy, "because--'
-, lot words might have followed and
'4it message In. ba 70 4 "
hituellhltely had not the unwary Tommy.
stepping from behind the sheNering
I'm, brought himself within range of
nv maternal aye. His appearance was
nv signal for an authoritative, you.
~ ,'Oinas' come here this minute and mind
oaoy while I go to the store"
s'W' Tommy. who had intended to go TO
tb, n without permission, aud take
NV eohsequences had no idea of disobey-
80 direct command. As reluctant and
rg'eHed he turned to obey the sum-
mons the other boy. SELLING his oppor-
s''g' scrambled into the saddle, and dig
A. ms heels into the old horses TANKS.
fence 'ou"" the corner Oh the
mo-. injustice OF events ranked in Tom
hsa souli In bitterness OF spirit he who
49,, lound II all out, saw himself con-
on " 10 a day duh with the emptiness
p,r,,a ing while 10 his perAdious COM
GA would come the thrill OF action
Wt ne glory Of adventure.
ur., "'n' by che return OF the baby's nat
e. 'areiaker, the boy had regained his
o.,l ne went across the prairie 10
hsi,,'' me jail, That would have been a
~, or course even n Pete had not
nla. "l'hin ltn walls Though the per.
ksd H. ,ohdnei Of the other boy still ran
n.l einmy began to whistle the or,
,sr. p,NFhuul thing happened AZ De
az l',,o,i the iaii Oh Pete looked through
"''A iho jaiisF. nov 10 his busl-