The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-10-01

OF work. to be sure; but what else
conld they do? The most valuable
horses OF the settlement had been
stolen. one after another, with con
summate daring and cunning. and
now that they had the guilty party In
their power, were they to let him 20
because to hang him would be an un
pleasant duty?
Boys, all OF you that have horse
you wouldn't like to lose, Just step
over here"
Nine OF the ten came from under
the tree and gathered beside their
leader In the open. The tenth man
the man who remained in the shadow
of the tree-was bound hand and foot
and couldn't very well change his
position. Besides, he was the horse
thief"
We'll, boys" demanded the leader.
"are we quorum"
"Surel"
"Then he hangs?"
The nine men nodded their heads.
Good"
Hold on. gentlemenl" cried the
Man under the Tree p wish again
TO assert that bought this horse
which you accuse me OF stealing. and
paid 5000 for her"
There was loud guffaw.
you don't believe me. gcntlemen?"
The Man under the Tree seemed
hurt.
Believe youl" said the leader.
why. stranger. that's old Wilkins
Bess and he'd have parted with his
grandmother first"
But. gentlemen" expostulated the
Man under the Tree. wouldn't II be
wise to look up wilkins first and ask
him."
The leader smiling. said: Stranger
we're you ever hanged?"
The Man under the Tree made a
deprecatory movement only twice"
he said
We'll, you're cool UNI" exclaimed
the leader, when he again got his
breath.
The members of the quorum then
gathered in body around the Man
under the Tree. One OF them took a
lariat from his arm and another ad-
Justed II about the prisoners neck
This last man was the leader himself,
and he could tie a knot that isn't
down among sailor knots nor In popu-
lar religious works II was hang.
mans knot and II had never been
known TO fail when given fair trial.
Then the loose end OF the lariat
was thrown over strong limb OF the
trees
Gently. boysl" cautioned the lead.
or. GENTLY He comes OF good fam.
lily and perhaps n he hadn't been
hoss thief he had been honor to the
community. Gentlyl"
The body OF the prisoner was drawn
up. the loose end OF the larlat Sc
curely fixed, and the quorum stood on
aud viewed its work The hanged
man swung about six feet OF the
ground, his face twisting towards the
tree, so that the men beneath could
not well see its expression. How
ever they did not wish TO.
TOO bad" murmured the leader
that his education was neglected
But it's too late now. boys. for moral
suasion!"
The others silently nodded their
heads in confirmation OF this quorum.
and mounting thor horses rode has.
lily away with the bay OF Wilkins
In the lead
Arriving at the settlement about
half a mile distant. the stern body
gathered under the roof OF the Red
Dog and began a game of faro.
Wont old wilkins be glad when he
sets eyes on that bay OF his again?
The meetin' II be just like a father
findin' long lost daughter"
But the whisky being strong and the
playing high. the men soon forgot
about Wilkins. the Man under the
Tree and the bay horse, and not until
Wilkins himself came walking iato
the Red Dog did the incidents OF
the earlier forenoon again recur "a
them.
'Hello. Wllkinsi" cried the speak
er Of the late quorum. Flows Bess p
"Bess? Oh. she's outside, buyin
canned goods"
"Buyin' canned goods. Is shee" ques
toned the cowman "Whin did "
learn her the thrick?"
wilkins looked about and seeing
grin on every face realized The con
fusion OF terms "Oh. you mean ih'
-
"Surel"
Well" rejolned Wilkins. hltchini
uneasily, "a mught as well let the ca
out o. the bag before It's got kittens
sold Bess this mornin' to-"
The sentence WAS never finished
or it's end fairly drowned in choru
OF "Hell,"
-Can't a man sell his own horse?
demanded wilkins
A glass OF raw spirits whizzed owe
his head and crashed against the OF
posite wall
Why, you lop-eared coyote. ain
ye got no more iudgmint than to sci
horse wldout first tellin' livery ma
wild a rope fur twinty miles aroun'
Ain't-ughl" broke Off the speaker
reaching for another glass to thro'
at Wilkins. "lou clam wild the loci
jaw. you fish widout the light ay II
telligencei"
What's the matter2' demande
Wilkins. keeping sharp eye on tn
glasses
Why. you OF pirate. we've hange
'be man ye sol Bess TO. fur a hos