Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-03-06

ueSu diSpftnI. Ous ~ was HNtuli
I'VE think = we're sure that no
wouldn't do one Of the things he'd
have TO hang for" was GabrieI's ear.
nest assurance.
"Of course he wouldRt.' Mrs. Clan
cy lifted her tear stained face and
turned drenched blue eyes upon him.
Gabriel was relieved. To see the
spunky little widow giving way to
erief was no foreign to her disposition
that he was alarmed.
"Mebbe you'd like to wait here while
we go and investigate" he suggested,
but the widow was firm In her deter
mination to be on the spot.
"You amt used to such scenes,
ma'am." protested Crane mildly, for
they had paused to discuss the ques-
ton.
Il may as well get used to tiff It
kills me-" declared Mrs. Clancy, and
then. fixing glowing eyes upon each in
turn. she said earnestly: 81 want you
to understand appreciate you've been
good friends TO me ever since I came
from the east. and know you've al
ways been good friends to Harry. but IL
I'm convinced that his being up there Is
your fault-why. why. the whole seven
OF you will hang for II II l have to do
1t myselfr' The widow looked per-
fectly capable Of engineering any num-
Der Of lynchings at that moment.
Absurd as was the situation from ono
point OF view. there was the tragedy
IT, f.ac nv~A
iy precccupied party that swung
around the last hill as the sun dropped
its lower rim below the horizon.
A yellow shaft Of sunlight struck
the cottonwoods, and from the tallest
one something dangled from stout
upper limb.
Don't you look. ma'am-wait till We
come back" commanded Gabriel with
sudden authority. and he presssd .
flask into her hand.
The brave hearted little widow sud
denly lost courage and bowed her
head once more on the neck of her
pony.
When the seven pounded to q stand
still under the cottonwood tree they
slipped from their saddles and hesitat-
ed. Harry Barry's roam horse whin-
MED sharply, and then. apparently
from the air above them, came fam
iliar voice. peevish. as II from long
waiting.
Don't stand staring Ike idiotsl I'm
plumb tired out hanging up herew It
said
The seven turned awed looks upon
one another. and as by one accord the
youngest and strongest. the two Lew
ises. Jim and Tim. sprang toward the
tree and fairly spurred their way up
into the lower branches. from which
they mounted higher Then there came
the sound Of several voices raised In
inquiry. explanation and direction
After awhile three men came down
the tree instead of the two who had
climbed up. The third man was Harry
Barry. and the others were helping
him. for his limbs seemed stiff and
his face was quite pale. He smiled
as cheerily as ever as they gathered
around him.
Another one on me-" he grinned
sheepishly when they had administer
ed restoratives to him. II was coming
back from dosing the sick critter,
when took notion to climb that
there tree and look around the land
and see II there was anybody knew
sashaying around-laugh IL you
wanterw he said as a knowing smile
went the round Of the group.
81 went up In the tree, and looked.
and I thought saw way on an old
Z friend Of mine" (he showed all his
white teeth, "and so was in hurry
to get down, and my heel caught In a
crooked little branch, and l fell ker-
PUNK till handy little stump of a
, broken limb caught hold of my belt.
I and there hung as fine as silk. That
was all beautiful and nice. only, gents,
II was so that there was sharp
little prongy branch sticking out OF
the tree right behind my shoulders.
and I couldn't move hand or foot with
I out ketching It like a knife, so there l
\ hung till I went TO sleep while back.
When woke Up WAS all numb and
cold from hanging there. I'm feeling
better now, thanks. Next thing
/. knew / heard you feilers coming and
seen you out the corner OF my eye
They examined the small ragged tear
I in Harry's shirt between his shoulder
blades. and they saw that the nesh
was-red and bruised from the tortur-
ing branch that had pierced IT,
+ "You had narrer escape" SAID
/ Gabriel soberly.
II guess you won't got to breaking
no laws now" joked Hem waylanc
you've somehow got taste OF what
I neektie party feels IKE when you're
the guest Of honor"
/ Crane had ridden ahead to break the
good news to Mrs Clancy. and Gabriel
suddenly vaulted into his saddle and
wheeled about. I'VE chaps better DO
making for the Lone Bull. Lees keep