Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-06-09
Which Was
Which?
By EuNcE BLAKE

mining town In the far west with pick
and shovel on his shoulder and. ap-
preaching couple OF miners standing
before a saloon. asked some questions
as to whether 1t was worth while to do
any prospecting In the country round
about. One OF the men rcpsied 10 him..
while the other Kept a pair OF steel
gray eyes on him from under SOM
brero hat as be ground hard on a
quid Of tobacco. When the young man
had passed on the gray eyed man said
to his companion:
'Weil. that beats anything ever saw
before, l knew Jim Allison had cheek.
town harefaced like that after the
bosses he's run or
Jim Allison. You don't mean that's
Jim Allison
shore. Id know him IL his face
was charcoalcd."
Within another ten minutes half a
dozen men surrounded the stranger
with drawn pistols and called on him
TO surrender. Astonished. be asked
what he was wanted Tor.
you can't braxen ii out that away
In this we're camp. Mr.. Allison. Well
see that no more bosses are run OF
by runnin' the biggest boss thief OF the
territory up ON a rope. It'll be on the
other neck this time
Allison. My names not Allison; its
Ruggies.''
The disclaimer had no effect except
on one man who had once seen Allison
and doubted II this man were be. but
the gray eyed man was so cocksure
that the prisoner was hurried away
and. since the sheriff was handy. WAS
turned over to him.
1t happened that the jaiier's daugh-
ter. Annie Sweetzer. was visiting her
aunt over the divide and one day re-
ceived a letter from her mother men,
tioning among other things that the
noted horse thief. Jim Allison. had de-
lilerateiy walked into the camp. had
the next Friday. Mrs. Sweetxer spoae
OF what decent looking young man
he was and what pity he should have
sunk TO horse stealing.
The day Annie received this letter a
party OF men rode into the place. and
In their center was Jim Allison him
self. They rode by the house where
Annie was staying. and she was told
who the prisoner was. She asked why
be had been brought there instead OF
being taken 10 the mining camp and
was told that he had been run down
with some horses In Stony Guich. This
set the girl 10 thinking. Were there
two Jim Allisons:
The same afternoon Annie went
home. The Jail was small brick
structure back OF her fathers house.
!. and on her arrival she went out to
hare look at the prisoner The mo-
ment she laid eyes on him she saw
that he was very like the man she had
seen In the morning; but. while the
latter had hangdog look about him.
this one looked honest.
Pop" she said. that young Teller
out In the jau isn't horse thief. He
isn't Jim Allison neither
A0ds AAA. .Vu AAihu gouI wv II uOot-
ness. Every time a good lookin. young
Teller Ii taken In you get soft on him.
Il tel you. pop. they got Jim Allison.
over at Aunt Marfha's l saw 'em
bringin' him In
The father had gone out OF bearing
.before the sentence was finished. An
ME went back to the prisoner ana told
him OF the situation. He was to be
hanged next day and there was not
much time in which TO act. The minds
/ OF the Jumpers were made up that they
had got the man who had been steal
ing their horses. and they could hard
" wait till the next day to hang him.
II Annie told them the story OF the
other Jim Allison they would attribute
her evidence to be prompted by de-
sire to save the life Of man with
whom she had fallen In love
You Just wait" she said TO the pris-
oner. 'tili tonight I'll bring you a
file"
Il see.''
That's the easiest way And I'll
bring you bed comforter. too. for you
to put over the lock while you're hiin'.
so they won't hear you at the house"
Annie provided the file and the COM
forter. but that night she heard the
fling. and. fearing others would hear
1t. she set up moaning. declaring she
had bad toothache. When she was
assured that the ding had ceased for
good she quieted down and after mid
night went out and unlocked the outer
door to the jail. the key to which hung
In the kitchen. The prisoner had done
his part Of the work and was ready to
leave.
"Goodby. little GIRL he said. quite
likely You have saved my life
Where you going?r she asked.
Anywhere to get away from here
You go over to where your double
Is That's the safest way THEY'LL get