Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-03-03

ant" laughed the senior ofIicer when.
ever he thought he saw any OF them
showing fear. But the natural dread
of the drawing once overcome, no ire
NOR disgraced the Texans. and even
their enemies grunted their approval.
The march to the right was as steady
as the march to the left, although death
waited on the one side and hope on the
other.
BY a freak of fortune Hurst and
Wallace were the last to draw, and 1t
was the youths turn before his senior
AS the man before him took his hand
out with bean of the fatal color ne
looked stupidity up as though hardly
conscious of what he was saying, and
cried:
you brutes. you might have told us
that black bean was bigger than the
white"
His words were heard all over the
corral, and lump rose in many q
| mans throat as he looked over at
Hurst's sunny face and head as he
stood waiting his turn. Every one
knew that Jake Bennett loved the boy,
and had warned him at risk OF instant
death. They were sorry for Wallace,
but his taciturn manner had repelled
most of the warm hearted frontiers
men.
Strike the cur to the ground!"
| shouted the officer. But no stop,
| this is as good as a play" he added,
| smiling sourly. See, gentlemen, there
| are but two beans left, and as my
| friend who is about to die remarks, the
black one is the bigger. Now, my dear
| friends, choose. 1t is your turn first,
by son; pray come and choose"
A low hiss sounded, but the Mexican
| took no notice. but watched Hurst's
| face with cruel smile. All caught
their breath, for they saw the lads
cruel dilemma when 1t was too late.
| To draw blindly was but the fate of
everyone, but to draw knowingly would
| be sheer murder and they waited.
| Paler and paler grew the youths
| face.
Suppose 1 do not draw" he asked
| Then you both die" was the terse
reply.
Draw, my lad" said Wallace, all his
soul up In arms against this treachery
Il freely forgive you. Remember the
girl we love and draw"
Forgive me, Will, but cannot. I'd
rather die with you"
| And Grace?" Wallace whispered.
Better to die with you than in dis
honor after you." Hurst whispered
back. and then, without another word
he took his friend by the arm and
walked to the right.
No one broke the silence, for ever
the human wolf in command felt some
| trace of admiration.
Clear the corral of the prisoners or
the left and secure them on the Other
side of the camp!"
The order given was quickly obeyed
and in few minutes only those
| doomed to die were left.
Then the shuddering men, tethere6
like sheep away in the Mexican camp
heard the sound of volley after volley
ringing up from the corral, and they
tried in vain to stop their ears to keeI
out the sound. One thing they knew
which was some comfort, however
slight. that not a man begged for mer.
| cy, but that each one died fronting his
foe like a soldier should.
The other day an aged women, whose
calm, peaceful face had brought com.
fort to many an aching heart, was lait
in her grave in San Carlos and the lie.
send that they carved upon her head
stone was a quaint, albeit sad one.
Here lies Grace Thatcher, spinster
| G"Born-1S24. Died Oct 8, 1901
''She was the affianced wife of Leon.
ard Hurst and the affectionate frfent
OF William Wallace, who were botl
| murdered by the Mexican troops Oh
August Is, 1S43."