The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-04-27
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IN AT THE DEATH
BY JEROME HARTE.
They're coming!'

Ihey re coming.
A hush fell upon the group Of rough
clad men, broken only by the impatient
stamping of their bronchos. Grim ana
stiff against the pale yellow Of the
early morning sky was outlined rude
" constructed gallows. and somewhere,
far Off in the prairie, a dog was bark
ing. The sound came with faint monot-
ony on the clear air.
At the foot Of the gallows, n little
apart from the group, n girl waited
looking strangely out of place with her
unplnned hair and fair young face. Her
horse, a great, fiery eyed stccd' stood
quiet and submissive under her firm
young hand. She sat the saddle wen
ND toward his neck. and behind her an
expanse of blanket showed strapped
twice about the shining black back.
They're coming"
The girl turned about in her saddle
and faced the condemned men as they
approached. The two foremost were
older and walked with bent heads and
STOPPING shoulders. Each was guarded
by strapping, well armed miner.
The third and last prisoner was
young man. He held his head high,
and his eyes sought the first pink glow
Of the eastern sky with muslng thought
fulnesS. His forehead was broad, his
chin strong His might have been
better life.
One-two-One-two How slowly
they came, The girl jerked herself
about in the saddle and stared mt the
bronchos and their riders Her face had
become white and drawn.
The last prisoner mounted the gal
lows and stood ut the end nearest the
girl. His attendant, big negro, waited
n moment beside him and then reluc-
family descended the crcaking steps.
He looked mp at the girl, and there was
a mute look of comfort and pity In his
bright eyes
ooh. yes. She could trust the niger
the girl told herself "What was it he
had saidT'
"You needn't worry, miss. Dat ere
knot won't be tied so berry hard!' he
had promised, and she knew the faith
full fellow would keep his word. Temp
klns. the notorious. could slip such a
knot and free his hands in a second be-
fore the sheriff could give the final
signal!
And her part? Did she know Il per
fectly? Was she brave enoughf She
looked at the last prisoner lie had
shifted his gaze to her face, and his
look was full OF calm encouragement.
She smiled n quick, faint smile How
strong she was-and how like ice!
The sheriff was making n prayer. 1t
was a hating one, indeed. but he was
trying hard to make it feryent.
In moment he would be giving the
signal. Was her hand steady? The girl
raised il TO her head. 1t trembled not a
whit. though her heart was wild.
Yes, in a moment the sheriff would
be giving the signals. At the third
She had long been a splendid marks
woman. and surely God would help her
today. She could not take n meditated
aim, but she must not, would not fail!
At the very instant Of that last signal
the rope that swung the last prisoner
into eternity must cleave In two. A
bound, a spring to the blanket behind
her, a miners bullet or two and a mad
dash over the prairie toward the west
ern hills, where his friends were await
ing them. And then, happiness and
love-love always.
"Ready, now, gentlemen cried the
sheriff.
The third and last prisoner turned his
face toward the girl. Black caps were
unknown in that rough country. He
smiled How near to liberty he was!
"One"-
The girls hand grasped her pistols
hilt The prairie dog had stopped bark
ing. How still 1t was!
Two
The pistol was slipping slyly from
her belt. A bit of the sun was visible
behind the hilltop. His hands must be
free now. How white he was!
"Three."
There was n sharp report, even as
the weights swung clear, and immedi-
ately after n dull heavy, crunchirg
thud The big black horse reared up
with n wild snort and came back upon
his fore feet, quiverlng in every joint.
Up on the gallows swung two con-
torting black figures and beside them
a bit Of jagged rope swung free. The
third prisoner lay in the dust beneath
them, and his head was doubled be-
meath his body.
The sheriff went over and turned the
body with his foot.
"Broke his neck" he remarked SEN
tentiously.
The girl leaned forward and looked
down into the upturned face at the
foot of the gallows. There was a terri
BILE look of horror and uncertainty on
her fair young face.
The miners stared in amazement. The
girl put the smoking pistol in her belt
and, turning, dug the spurs into her
horses TANKS. Before a OBTAINING hand
had been raised she was dashing away
to the t-alonei-Nickell.
Ready to Start.
T-It 10. 40 hu1