The San Francisco call., 1903-12-20

me. gentlemen, II you will; the odds are
against me, but know nothing to tell
you; and it's not likely would tell 1t
II I did, was what he said. It was
an unIucky speech, considering that
their errand was to make him tell. Sor-
rell reached under the bed where Har-
rison had slept and drew forth a saddle.
MY saddle" he called out exultantly;
stole with my horse a month ago."
Perhaps, SorreIl. II you would look
under the other bunk you'd find the
horse - That speech came near turning
the scale in his favor. The laugh was
on SorreH One whose wrists were dec
GRATED with blue anchors nudged him,
saying In an undertone: Hi say, has
'ow ye'd better peach on the gang.
There was no reply. 'Yer fine lad,
fine lad an brave. HI ate to see ye
strung"
Come, young fellow. just give US the
names OF your friends and you so Scot
free. urged another.
Gentlemen, as 1 have said, 1 know
nothing to tell. and If were what you
think me. would be a poor sort II 1
brought my comrades all to the moose
just to save my own neck
That's brave talk, fellows" said Sor-
rell. before another had time to speak;
hell sing a different tune when the
rope is round his neck. Come on, it'll
be sun up now before we get to the tree.
He can saw his prayers as we ride
along" TOO bad, Sorrell. there's moth
ing nearer that's high enough from the
ground to hang a man on. I might es-
cape on the way" mo danger Sor-
rell smiled significantly.
One Of the things he hated Harrison
for was that Harrison insistently said
Sor-rell instead Of Sorrell, the name
with the accent on the first syllable be-
ing the exact shade Of his hair. From
Orton's cabin to the hollow where the
haunted oak stood was but a short two
miles-a hollow where the poppies grew
larger and longer stemmed than else
where and the alfillarilla grew ranker.
The sun was not yet above the noun
tain top when the cavalcade, the dis
pensers Of justice and the judge, drew
near. Harrison's hands were tied be-
hind him. To say what was in his
thoughts would be to say that which
no man would tell At each mans belt
the handle Of a revolver showed and
cross-wise before him he carried a rife,
no sign Of relenting in any face-unless
indeed, II were in HIS who wore the
blue tattoo on his wrists: he had been
as Jolly a tar as sailed under her
Matesty's colors. and the courage OF the
man with his hands tied pleased him
nightly.
He that was Sorrell both OF name and
hair stopped the long easy lope Of his
Ia hfT1Hnlf
high in his stirrups and looked ahead.
The others stopped simultaneously.
What is it?" What do you see?' came
In several voices. 1t was nearing the
end of the days of the "vigilants." There
were Sheriffs and posses with the law
at their backs already in the land.
Unconsciously each man wondered
about the leetness of his horse. What
do 1 see?" replied SorreH. See moth
ing. That's it-what's become Of that
tree? 1t was here at sundOwn last
night. Has the earth swallowed it?
Does any man. of you see it?'
They looked Up and shook their
heads; no tree was in sight.
There was a quick jingle Of belled
spurs a clatter of hoofs and the horses
were halted as one on the rim OF the
hollow. The tall oak with It's gallows
arms lay stretched on the earth. Every
branch and limb of It broken in the
crash OF it's fall. On the fallen trunk
sat TEX. her fathers ak leaned against
her knees. Her heels were gently tap
ming the bark. She looked pale and
tired; there was a droOp to her shoul-
ders: her mouth looked as though II