Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-03-11
A WOMAN'S PLUCK
lOriginal.1

ooc AAAoY, ySl WhHttu ~ the muir
der of Tom Venable"
The speaker had ridden up to 4
cabin on plantation in the south and
addressed man sitting in a chair be-
fore his door. Bixby was a northern
man who, having lost his health, had
decided to live an outdoor life in a
genial climate. With his wife he had
gone south and settled in Georgia.
'Tom yenable? Who's Tom vena-
ble?" said Bixby with a bewildered
air. His question was not answered,
for at the moment number of men
Joined the first conner, and handouts
were clapped on Bixby's wrists. Alice,
Joe's wife, came to the door in time
to see her husband led away.
"They think I've murdered somebody,
Alice" said Joe, "and are going to take
me to town for few days, but it'll
all come out right. Don't worry"
1t was soon after the close of the
civil war and at the height of the
carpetbag days. when northern set
tiers in the south were in constant ter
ror. The committee" had pounced
upon Joe more for the purpose of ter
rorizing carpetbaggers than in the
cause of justice. Instead of taking
him to county seat and turning him
over TO the authorities, they camped
near deserted log cabin, IN which
they confined him. After supper they
smoked and considered what to do with
him. The conclusion was to give him
a Judge Lynch trial the next morning,
the result of which was predetermined.
A man was left on guard at the cabin
door, and the party went to sleep in a
barn near by.
When Alice Bixby saw her husband
led away by the committee on a
charge of murder, she knew exactly
what it meant. For awhile she be-
lieyed they were taking him to imme
date execution, and the thought para
lyzed her mentally and physically. Then
came the hope that they might delay
the murder, and she began to think
what she could do to save him. After
many plans had been considered and
abandoned she hit upon one which she
proceeded to put into practice. Aiming
herself with the only weapon in the
house, she took horse from the stable
and followed the party at distance
About o'clock in the morning she
suddenly appeared before the men in
charge of the prisoner and begged pite
ously for an interview.
Couldn't on no account" replied the
guard. go away from we're or III
call out the committee"
"What'fl they do with him?"
"Waal, reckon they'll hang him to-
morrer''
Alice pleaded so hard for one last
goodby that the guard finally consent.
ed. While she was inside he listened
to the conversation, which was a wall,
Ing on the part of the woman and at.
tempts to reassure her on the part of
the man. At last she babe him fare
well and came out. The guard of
prisoner should he attempt to leave
when the door was open, but did not
expect such an emergency, the words
Of the man within pointing to a hope
that he would be able to prove his in
nocence. The guard did not know that
Alice between her means had been
talking in whispers.
'"Take this for your Kindness" said
Alice, giving the guard a watch, land
whenever you look at it think of the
woman you have befriended''
The man took the watch, and, resting
his rife in the hollow of his shoulder,
strained his eyes in the darkness to ex-'
anime it. Alice stood by and little
behind him. Suddenly he felt cold
metal against his temple and knew
that it was the muzzle of pistol.
IF you move or cry out" said Alice,
"I'Il pull the trigger" Then she called
in low voice, "All right, Joer'
AS Joe left the cabin Alice felt the
guard move. She pressed the steel the
harder against his temple, reminding
him that it was still there, and he re I
sumed his immobility. He saw his
prisoner disappear in the darkness and
heard a horse crashing through the
bushes. The sounds ceased; still Alice
stood rigid. Had the guard seen the
pale face above him and recognized
that she was straining every nerve to
keep from swooning he might have
risked a stroke for the upper hand
He waited, expecting every moment
change in the situation, but no change
came. Finally he said:
How longs this goin' to last?"
''Move and you die"
Alice knew that all depended on keep
ing the man as he was as long as pos
sible. Joe was not mounted on fleet
horse, and unless he secured good
start it would be easy for the dozen
men who had arrested him going in
different directions to catch him. The
watch, which the guard still held in
his hand. not daring to make motion
to throw it down, licked loudly To
steady herself Alice counted its beats,