The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-12

- sa~.e;
"Sdy, are these people kiddin' met" he
inquired.
De set adrIrt on a log with his shirt
or"
EITHER would mean certain DEATH
said 3 stranger-"frost in winter, mos.
quitoes in SUMMER
That's all right" another bystander
declared. "A mans life depends ON
his grub up here. and I'd be in favor of
enforcing that punishment to the let
ter"
Cali the same, l take no chances
said Stark. There's too many stran-
gers here. Just to show you how /
stand, I've put Runnion on guard over
my pile of stuff, and I'll be glad when
it's under cover. 1t isn't the severity
Of punishment that keeps man from
going wrong; it's the certainty Of it."
'Well, he'd sure get it. and get 1t
proper, in this camp" declared Lee,
and at that moment. as If his words
had been challenge, the flaps of the
great tent were thrust aside, and Run
MON half led, half threw man into
the open space before the bar.
Lets have look at you" he pant
ed. "Well. if it amt nigger!'
whats up?" cried the men crowd
ing about the prisoner, who crouched,
terror stricken, in the trampled mud
and moss, while those playing roulette
and "bank" left the tables, followed
by the dealers.
Hes a thief" said Runnion, mop
ping the sweat from his brow. II
caught him after your grub pile, Stark.
He dropped a crate of hams when |
came upon him and tried to run, but
dropped him" A trickle of blood
from the negro's head showed how he
had been felled.
"Why didn't you shoot? growled
Stark angrily, at which the negro half
arose and broke into excited denials
Of his guilt Runnion kicked him saw
agely, while the crowd murmured ap-
prevail.
lie me see him." said Lee, elbow
ing his way through the others. Fix,
ing his one eye upon the wretch, he
spoke impressively.
you're the first downright thief I
ever seen. Was you hungry?'
"No; he's got plenty" answered one
Of the tenderfeet. He's got a bigger
outfit than l have"
"Then / reckon it's divine NANTES
tation," said mo Creek" Lee tearfully.
This black party is goin' to furnish
an example as will elevate the moral
tone of our community for year"
"What y'all aim to do?" whined the
thief.
"We're goin' to try YOU" announced
the one eyed miner, land if you're
found guilty. as you certainly are goin'
to be, you'll be flogged. after which
perdicament you'll have a nice ride
downstream on saw log without
your laundry"
But the mosquitoes
TOO bad you didn't think of them
before Let's get at this, boys, and
have it over with"
A miners meeting was called on the
SPOT and a messenger sent hurrying
to the post for the book in which was
recorded the laws Of the men who had
made the camp. The crowd was de-
termined that this should be done le-
gally and as prescribed by ancient Gus
tom up and down the river There
was no defense for the culprit, and he
offered none. being too scared to do
more than plead. The proceedings
were quiet and grim and were well
nigh over when Lieutenant Burrell
walked into the saloon. He had been
In his quarters all day, fighting fight
with himself. and in the late evening,
rebelling against his war with his con-
science, he had sailed out and, drawn
by the crowd in Stark's place, had en-
tered
A man replied to his whispered ques-
ton, giving him the story. for the
meeting was under Lees domination,
and the miners maintained an orderly
and businesslike procedure. The mat
ter Of fact, relentless expedition of the
affair shocked Burrell inexpressibly
and, seeing Poleon and Gale near by, he
edged toward them. thinking that they
surely could not be in sympathy with
this barbarous procedure.
You don't understand, lieutenant
said Gale in low voice This niger
is a THEIR
Gentlemen" announced Burrell,
standing near the ashen gray wretch
and facing the tentful of men, this
man is a thief. but you can't kill him.