Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-01

A'Nu ehNoS ySuio VI tut
law, where each man was his own
court Of appeals and where crime was
unknown
"Oh, there's lots Of countries worse'n
this" he declared. 1--WE may not DO
very handsome to the naked eye, and
We may not wear our handk chiefs in
our shirt cuffs, but there nlnt no wild
ders and orphans dom our washin,
and man can walk away from his
house. stay n month and find 1t there
when he comes back"
Those days are past." said Stark.
There's too many new people coming
in for all to be honest"
They'd better be-" said Lee az.
excessively. 1--WE amt got no room for
stealers. Why, I had hand in maxim
the bylaws Of this camp myself, long
with John Gale, and they stip'lates
that any person caught Robin cache
IS to be publicly whipped In front Of
the tradin' post: then. II It's winter
time. he's to he turned loose on the Ice
barefooted, or II It's summer, he's TO
be SGT adrift on a log with his shirt
off,"
EITHER would mean certain death"
said n strangcr-"frost in winter, mos
qutoes 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"
"All the same, 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 a man from
going wrong; it's the certainty Of IT.
We'll he'd sure get it. and get It
proper, in this camp" declared Lee.
and OF that moment, as II his words
had been a challenge, the flaps Of the
great tent were thrust aside. and Run
Mon half led, half threw Il man into
the open space before the bar.
Lets have look at you" he pant
ed. "Well. II 1t amt niger"
"What's up?" cried the men crowd
ing about the prisoner. who crouched,
terror stricken. In the tramped mud
and moss. while those playing roulette
and bank" left the tables, followed
| by the dealers.
Hes 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 exclrru ue1r1ui,
Of his guilt. Runnion kicked him saw
agely. while the crowd murmured mp
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 erst downright thief I
ever seen. Was you hungry"
mo; he's got plenty" answered one
Of the tcnderfeet Hes got bigger
outfit than have"
"Then reckon it's divine NANTES
tation," said mo Greek" 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 tho
thief.
Were goin' to try you" announced
the one eyed miner. and If your
found guilty, as you certainly are goin
to be, you'll be logged. after which
perdicament you'll have n nice ride
downstream On saw log withou,
your laundry"
But the mosquitoes
TOO bad you didn't think of then
before Let's get at this, boys. ant
have it over with
A miners meeting was called on rur
spot and a messenger sent hurryine
to the post for the book in which wa'
recorded the laws Of the men who had
made the camp The crowd was de
termined that this should be done lie
gally and as prescribed by ancient Gus
tom up and down the river There
was no defense for the culprit, and hi
offered none, being too scared to dc
more than plead. The proceeding,
were quiet and grim and were wei
nigh over when Lieutenant Burrel
walked into the saloon. He had beef
IN his quarters all day. fighting fiGh
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 Starks place, hao 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 orderl.
and businesslike procedure. The mat
ter of fact relentless expedition of thu
affair shocked Burrell inexpressibaS
and, seeing Poleon and Gale near by, h
edged toward them, thinking that the,
surely could not be in sympathy will
this barbarous procedure.
, you don't understand, lieutenant,
said Gale in low voice. This nigge
is thief"
Gentlemen" announced Burrell
standing near the ashen gray wretcl
and facing the tentful Of men. "thi
. man is thief. but you can't kill him.
Stark leaned across the bar, hi
eyes blazing. and touched the usntsA
ant on the shoulder