The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25

head dropping. oh, 1t was awfulP'
1--WE think - we're sure that he
wouldn't do one of the things he'd
have to hang for" was GabriePs ear
nest assurance.
"Of course he wouldn'tr 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
grief was so foreign to her disposition
that he was alarmed.
"Mebbe you'd like to walt 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.
a'am," protested Crane mildly, for
they had paused to discuss the ques-
ton.
II may as well get used to it-if 1t
kills me-" declared Mrs. Clancy, and
then, fixing glowing eyes upon each In
turn, she said earnestly: II want you
i to understand l appreciate you've been
good friends to me ever since l came
+ L
ways been good friends to Harry, bu II
I'm convinced that his being up there Is
/ your fault-why, why, the whole seven
/ of your will hang for 1t If | have to do
! 1t myself" The widow looked per-
/ fectly capable of engineering any num-
Der of lynchings at that moment.
| Absurd as was the situation from one
point of view, there was the tragedy
! in the background, and 1t was a grave
/ ly preeccupied 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 pressed a
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 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 If from long
waiting.
Don't stand staring like idiots! I'm
~,
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, aud 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 grfnned
sheepishly when they had administer
ed restoratives to him. II was coming
back from dosing the sick critter,
when / took a notion to climb that
there tree and look around the land
and see If there was anybody l knew
sashaying around-laugh Ii you
wanter" he said as a knowing smile
went the round of the group.
~ went up in the tree and l looked,
and l thought l saw way Off an old
friend of mine" The showed all his
white teeth, land so was In hurry
to get down, and my heel caught In Il
crooked little branch, and I fell ker-
PUNK till a handy little stsL.p Of a
broken limb caught hold Of my belt,
and there hung as fine as silk. That
was all beautiful and nice, only, gents,
1t was so that there was q sharp
little prongy branch sticking out OF
the tree right behind my shoulders,
and | couldn't move hand or foot with
out ketching 1t like knife, so there l
hung till l went to sleep while back.
When l woke up | was all numb and
cold from hanging there. I'm feeling
better now, thanks. Next thing L
knew / heard you fellers coming and
seen you out the corner Of my eye"
They examined the small ragged tear
In Harry's shirt between his shoulder
blades, and they saw that the flesh
was red and bruised from the tortur-
ing branch that had pierced 1t.
"You had a narrer escape" said
Gabriel soberly.
81 guess you won't get to breaking
no laws now" joked Hem Wayland.
you've somehow got taste Of what
necktie party feels like 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. 1--WE chaps better be
making for the Lone Bull. Lees keep
ing your supper hot for you, Harry"
And there's lady waiting around
the corner for you," added Jim Lewis
over his shoulder as he followed Crane.
"a lady-who-ahw The question
died on Harry Barry's lips as the Wild
ow Clancy's little pony dashed toward
the cottonwood tree, bearing slender,
erect figure, with an aureole Of au-
burn hair and dancing blue eyes There