The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-05-16
WON THROUGH
SHEER PLUCK
Woman's Wit Too Much For
a Band of Murderers.

on a plantation in the south and ad-
dressed man sitting in a chair before
his door. Bixby was a northern man
who, having lost his health. had de-
cided to live an outdoor life in genial
climate. With his wife he had gone
south and settled in Georgia.
''Tom Venable? Who's Tom Vena-
ble?'. said Bixby with a bewildered
air His question was not answered.
for at that moment number of men
Joined the first conner. and handouts
were clapped on Bixby's wrists, Alice,
Joe's wife. came to the door in time to
see her husband led away.
They think I've murdered some
body. Alice" said Joe. land are going
to take me to town for few days.
but it'll all come out right"
1t was soon after the close of the
civil war and at the height of the car
petbag days. when northern settlers in
the south were in constant terror The
committee" had bounced upon Joe
more for the purpose of terrorizing
carpetbaggers than in the cause Of JUS
tice Instead of taking him to a
the authorities they camped near a
deserted log cabin. in which they con-
fined him After supper they smoked
and considered what to do with him.
The conclusion was to give him
Judge Lynch trial the next morning.
the result of which was predetermined
A man was left on guard at the cabin
door. and the party went to sleep in
barn near by.
When Alice Bixby saw her husband
led away by the committee on a
charge of murder. she. knew exactly
what it meant. For awhile she be-
lieved they were taking him to lmme-
date execution. and the thought para
lived her mentally and physically.
Then came the hope that they might
think what she could do to save him.
After many plans had been considered
and abandoned she hit upon one which
she proceeded to put into practice.
Aiming herself with the only weapon
in the house. she took horse from the
stable and followed the party at dis
lance. About 2 O'clock in the morning
she suddenly appeared before the man
in charge of the prisoner and begged
piteously for an interview.
Couldn't on no account" replied the
guard,
"What'll they do with him."
"Waal, reckon they'll hang him"
Alice pleaded so hard for one last
goodby that the guard finally consent
(. ed. While she was inside he listened
to the conversation. which was wall
ing on the partaof 1the woman and at
tempts to reassure her on the part of
the man. At last she babe him fare
well and came out. The guard. OF
course. kept a rife ready to receive the
prisoner should he attempt to leave
when the door was open The guard
did not know that Alice between her
means had been talking in whispers.
"Take this for your kindness" said
Alice. giving the guard watch. land
whenever you look at it think OF the
woman you have befriended.
The man took the watch. and. resting
his rifle in the hollow of his shoulder.
strained his eyes in the darkness to ex-
anime it. Alice stood by and little
behind him Suddenly be felt cold
metal against his temple and knew
that it was the muzzle of pistol,
IF you move or cry out" said Alice
.T'll pull the trigger" Then she called
in a low voice. "All right. Joe.''
AS Joe left the cabin Alice felt the
guard move She pressed the steel the
him that it was still there, and he re-
sumed his immobility. He saw his
prisoner disappear in the darkness and
heard a horse crashing through the
bushes. The sounds ceased; still Alice
stood rigid. Had the guard seen the
pale face above him and recognized
that she was straining every nerve to
keep from swooning he might have
.risked a stroke for the upper hand
He waited. expecting every moment
change in the situation. but no change
came. Finally he said:
How longs this goin' to last?"
SHOVE and you dier'
Alice knew that all depended on keep
ing the man as he was as long as pos
sible. Joe was not mounted on fleet
horse. and unless he secured a good
start it would be easy for the dozen
men who had arrested him going in
different directions to catch him. The
watch. which the guard still held in
his hand. not daring to make a motion
to throw it down, licked loudly. To
steady herself Alice counted its beats,
but minute seemed so long that she
desisted A gray streak appeared in
the east. and she could see the time.
It was o'clock. She had entered the
cabin about 3. Joe had an hours start
The arm that held the weapon was
ready to drop. but she did not dare
change the hand for fear the prisoner
would take advantage of the act to