Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-11-14

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81 Reckon You Have Some Idee What
a Hoss Thief GIFTS In This Neck O.
the Woods"
going so close 20 Jerry that the odor
OF bad whisky almost stiled him
DANCED IL he don't seem to answer
the 'scripton all right. all right Ell.
fellers?" The other men carefully
looked Jerry over through their
bleared eyes and nodded their heads
The shurf N know fer sure" said
one OF the men. Him n Tom Nor.
tons the on'y ones round ere that's
ever seen 'Spick Ransome Bin
oughter be back 18th the shurf purity
soon. He was movin' Ike hell when
I seen him"
Tom Norton. owner OF small ranch
a few miles away. was sent for. re
spending with all possible haste He
was an old man and his eyesight was
badly impaired He squinted az Jer-
ry for fully FIVE minutes and then
o said.
Il amt JUS sartain it's 'Spick but II
it was boss race I'd put a hundred 20
one 90 win hands down"
That's near nough fer ms. oh. fell
lers2 p" shouted a reeling man flashing
a revolver over HIS head. shell we
wait fer the shurte"
"Hain't no use 20 delay matters"
said another. Tom is bout as sure
as a Teller kin be. an he amt taIzin'
jus fer excitements sake WhereW
we take him q"
Back in the hollcr." said Dick III
git the rope and"
Jerry sank 90 the ground IN col
lapse.
See the sliukiu' curt" sneered one
OF the men. kicking Jerry soundly in
the back. Jerry attempted time and
/ time again 90 protest his innocence
OF any criminal offense. but his words
were drowned by derisive laughter.
II was not long before this luckIess
son OF Gemini utterly devoid OF phys
teal strength. was being rudely
dragged towards tall tree in a hol-
low about 100 yards back OF Splavins'
house. The youngest OF the Texans
soon was climbing the tree 70 a strong
limb IS feet up. While the rope was
being tied 90 the limb Jerry's hands
were being bound behind him. The
moose had just been prepared when
the sheriff. whom Bill had telephoned
20 from the outskirts OF the city. came
up with Bill on their painting. lathered
horses.
Not so quick. men," shouted the
sheriff, dlsmounting and running TO
where Jerry lay on the ground. III
tend 20 this matter n II needs tendin'
to" A roar OF protest rose from the
threats OF the would-be lynchers. but
the sheriff asserted his authority so
4 strongly that the men dropped back.
/ and he brought a lantern 10 bear on
the white face OF the captive.
tom Norton says it's "Spick' Ran
some as certain as hell" said one OF
the men.
The officer looked Jerry over care
fully and then. his face the picture OF
fierce wrath, arose and addressed Nor
ton in this manner:
You squint-eyed old fossil OF a
heather, you. you couldn't tell boss
from a COW! You'd JUS as soon swear
this mans life away as to drink that
rot-gut you're fun OF nowi This amt
no more 'Spick' Ransome n you're a
decent citizen. For cent I'd drag you
back with me and let this young Teller
make you sweat till your measly old
hide didn't hold an ounce O. meat. And
II II wasn't fer your old age I'd make
you skin up that tree and unite that
rope. You sit out o. here in two min
utes or I'll make them spindle legs
n
moved before. Here. Splavins. you
drunken fool. unite this young feller's
hands and square yourself 18th him
right And do It damned Quickl"
For an instant the rough men OF the
ranches stood back like bronze
| statues, looking at one another.
did you hear what said?" reared
the sheriff
A moment later Jerry's hands were
free and he was on his wobbly legs.
An he amt 'Spick?' blurted Dick
NO more n you are, Splavins."
snapped the officer.
Then, who In hell is her" asked
BIZ.
That's none o. your business"
roared the sherin. What are you
goin' to do to square yourselves 18th
himf You can't jus look it over n
call It quits"
Fifteen minutes later the hand OF
every one Of the men had grasped Jer-
rvs almost lifeless hand, and before
another hour was gone the penniless
Gemini was seated at a table that
fairly groaned with wholesome food.
He was the guest OF honor.
CHAPTER XXI.
A Reward.
Gen. Bostos. Mike O'Connor and