Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-08-06

been at an end. Perhaps it IS not too
late yet" he thought, and, acting upon
the suggestion, he arose and started for
the door. But suppose the vigilantes
should take him away and hang himl
How would Tom ever learn OF his
fatc2 Acting upon sudden impulse,
he wrote this brief note, which he
placed in n conspicuous position upon
the tuble:
Dear Tom-If l am not here when you
come II is because the vigIlantCs have
taken me away and hanged me by mis-
take for that other Englishman. NED.
Then he opened the door and passed
out. lie had gone perhaps fifty yards
when he was startled by the click of a
rifle hammer and a stern summons to
throw up his hands. He obcycd with
out hesitation, and moment later he
was confronted by n great, rough
bearded fellow, who with shrill whiS-
tie summoned several other men TO his
side.
"Waal, ye didn't git away, did ye,
Jimf' said the man who halted Ned
ana who seemed to be the leader of the
party.
My name isn't jim" replied Ned in
a low, choking voice, for in imagina-
ton he already felt the hangmans
moose tightening about his neck. It's
Ned Standsh, and a more 'unlucky
devil never lived"
"Ned Standish, Is it," rctorted the
other, n broad grin oyersprcading his
face. "Waal, | reckon it'll be dead
Standish' in a little while" which sally
provoked ronrs Of laughter from the
fellows companions. Ned, however,
protested his innocence so vehemently
that, despite the conviction of his cap
tors that he was none other than Jim
White. il was decided TO take him up
to camp and have his case decided
there instead of finishing him then,
ms was evidently their first intention.
He then asked permission to go into
the cabin moment which was grant
Cd him. the men accompanying him.
His purpose was TO let Tom know
where he was to be taken, and he add
ed to the note which ne had already
written these words:
Three o'clock Thursday afternoon. They
are about 10 take me up to the camp.
He judged rightly that the men
would not attempt to destroy the note
or prevent him from writing what be
desired. Indeed. they looked upon it
as n bluff and regarded il with
amused indifference. About this time,
however, an incident happened which
nearly proved fatal to his hopes, for
one of the more curious of the men
in prowling about the cabin uncarthcd
that awful suit of clothes. Shouts Of
triumph and cries of dcrision at Ned's
protest greeted its discovery, for II
was regarded as conclusive evidence
OF his guilt Some of the men We're
for taking him outside and finishing
him, especially the fellow who found
the suit, who denounced him as a muir
derer liar and scoundrel of the deepest
dye The leader, however. decided
to take him up to the camp, and this
was done without further delay.
Arrived here, ne was taken to
large partially filled house, where
number OF men. presumably vigIlantes,
quickly assembled. Then, with cOnsid-
crahlc show Of formality. his trial be-
gan \ number of men were selected
to act as jurors, who seated themselves
on boxes and barrels somewhat apart
from the others. Then the prosecution,
or whatever you may be pleased TO call
IT, offered its evidence. Several men
identified Ned rs Jim White, and three
positively sworc that they saw him fire
the fatal shots which had killed Dick
Allen and Ed Hope. Then the men who
had captured him told the story Of his
flight, capture and the discovery of the
clothes concealed in Tom MClntOsh's
cabin. which were identified by a num-
Der of men as those worn by White at
the time Of the shooting. and then the
prosecution rested.
The evidence seemed overwhelming,
and that II was regarded as conclusive
by every one I'm the room was apparent.
Then Ned was asked If he had any
thing TO say in his own behalf. There
was a method about the whole proceed
lng that was entirely Mt variance with
Ncd's prcconceiycd notions of vigilante
Justice which. together with the char.
actcr OF the evidence. left him but little
hope as 10 his chance of escape.
For several moments he did not re-
spond for he felt the utter futilIty of
attempting to convince these men that
he was other .han Jln White. but me
love Of life which is So strong in most
men at length asserted itself, and he
calm voice that hc began, for the GER
talLty Of his impending fate made him
seem 10 himself aS good as dead. In
simple, earnest words ne told the story
of his unhappy lot since coming TO this
country, ana there was more than one
who, looking into his frank, youthful
face, was for the first time disturbed
with grave doubts as 10 whether he
was Jim White after all. In the same
simple, quiet way he told the story OF
the days Incidents, and the deep, re-
spectful silence which followed told as
N4''' l'4'ltlF N0 ilt' - 4IN'F N'h'A isAA''
about him how deep was the impress
sion which his words had made
For several moments this silence con
tnurd, but was broken AT length by
voice saying in sharp. coItcuptuous
tones: IT'S Jest clever bit of actin.
Hes jim White We all know he's Jim
White"
Thus thn effect Of Ncd's story was
swept away. and it was but q few
minutes after that the jury announced
that thpy h.Iicvcd the prisoner to be
Jim White. Then preparations for the
execution We're made \ stout heavy
rope Was 'rau~'t iH o.l e, ned 10
beam above a rough moose was made
al the other end, and then one Of the
men approached Ned to pinion his
arms
These ominous preparations seemed
10 suddenly quicken the love Of life
within him, and then, like an inspIra-
tiou. came a sudden thought TO his
mind