Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-09-26

en- th, grass so close for a strip of six
miles back of that again that a grass
hopper couldn't hide in it from a blind
owl. So If they're not ahead of us
they are lying on their bellies near the
edge of that bare strip eleven miles or
SO from here"
Sheehans calculations were nearly
correct, for scarcely had they turned
in the grass belt before a man arose
from the grass. He made no fight and
was quickly bound and placed in the
wagon.
Within half a mile they flushed the
two remaining robbers. They dashed
away blindly and Sheehan fired, send
ing one to earth, while the other stood
quietly to be taken.
cts Black Kelly" said Sheehan.
'He's pretty we'll shot up, and l had
to put another hole in him." 1t was
Black Kelly, sure enough, tall, dark
skinned desperate, whose desperate
deeds had made his name notorious.
Meade dismounted "Bind up his
leg, boys, before we get to business.
Tie up this other man and put him in
the wagon"
No one asked the destination, but
Meade sat on the box Of the wagon
with the driver, and the posse followed.
They knew the grim finale was near at
hand, but one cannot hang a man on
the prairie. Two hours back from
where the fugitives had been taken
was a little clump Of trees, not more
than three or four, but then only one
was needed. Through the gathering
dusk the party moved in silence, and
after the last glow Of the sunset had
faded the trees loomed in shadowy out
line before them. The wagon stopped.
Quickly a line was made fast to q
stout, projecting branch, and the moose,
tied with it's long cylindrical knot, dan
gled in the air. Then the man who had
been first caught was brought up and
made to stand in the wagon behind the
seat while his legs were dashed togeth-
er. The moose was drawn down, placed
in position around his neck, and then
the crowd fell back. Meade took out a
what is your name?" he asked alb
ruptly.
civilian Hamilton" was the answer,
almost inaudible.
"Have you any message to send to
any one, anything to say?" he asked.
II was led into this thing" began
Hamilton. II didn't do any shooting.
1 just tried to get away. It was Black
Kelly who done it. He put up the
whole job. If you would let me go
this
''Drive on,' said Meade.
The driver of the wagon jerked the
reins, the wagon moved from under
Hamilton, and the first Of the trio was
hanging in the night. A merciful shot
from Winchester terminated his suf
ferings. The second man received the
same treatment.
Kelly was then placed in the wagon,
and for the third time Meade stepped
forward, the recording pencil and note
book in his hand.
'Have you any message to send to
any one, Kelly?" he asked.
Kelly's black eyes were gazing far
into the infnity of the night. He never
deigned to turn his glance.
"Drive on" he said. The cold au
dacity, the sheer nerve Of the answer
sent a thrill of animal admiration
through the men. The mountain iron
in their blood rang to the spirit of the
man as stern as they. Even Meade
himself lost his self possession and
stood a moment speechless.
After a short discussion Meade turn
ed again to Kelly. "Kelly," he said,
"you ought to have been hanged first.
You ought to be hanged now, but it
seems as though your nerve has got
you one more chance. We're going to
unite you and give you one minute
start into the prairie. If we see you
after one minute We'll shoot. You've
got no horse, no gun, no grub, and
you're pretty well hurt. It's 40 miles
across to the railroad. There's no wa
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