Year: 1879

n Dying Confession.


The following bit of legal sharp prac-
tice (not mentioned in Blackstone) hap
pened out on the border.


won't say what border, because you
well understand that Oh the border
means "out vest" and to be more def
mite might be injurious to mo.


1t was the best trick | ever heard of,
and don't think it was ever played be-
fore. not only think that, but Bill
Budsore will get down on his knees and
swear it any time you throw u shadow
of doubt OH it to him.


Bill was the principal one for whom
the trick was played, and he must needs
admire it more than any one.


1t was about the time preachers came
around holding meetings; the country
was being settled by casters, and
law was coming into practice.


1t was just three days before that they
had their first trial by judge and jury
and used books. Bill and wandering
refugee got into an argument over the
trial, and the stranger was worsted,
Bill used as q conclusive point in his az
gllment u navy six, and the stranger's
last words were:


'Ill stand tho drinks at the other bar.


Meaning, we suppose, the bar that
Gabriel stands behind.


Under tho now-fangied arrangements
there was u sheriff and ton others they
called posse, and this gang Immediate
ly took Bill in their charge and said
they would hold him for murder Many
of us did not think the word was prop
erly used. TO be sure we all know what
it meant, but we had never used it in
our lingo, and thought it sounded bad
when it had reference to Bill, who had
merely wiped out his man.


Some of us got together at the dive
and talked the matter over regarding
Bills fix, and all thought he should be
rescued.


Red Smith was for mobbing the shcr-
ifs gang and getting Bill in that way;
but, as knew Smith would never lead in
such an enterprise, however brilliant he
thought it to be, we dropped his plan.


When we had nearly done intimating
to Smith our views OF the one-sidednosa
of his plan the out stage came i'll.


The driver, Pete Marbrow, was life
sworn friend of Bill's, and, as such, we
waited until we had thoroughly satura-
ted with his treat-to make sure of the
drink-bofore breaking the news to him.


That's bad deal, sure he said, af-
ter he was told of the circumstances,
'and am afraid Bill is in for it now.'


He sighed and called us all up again
to approve of success to Bill which
we did.


IF we could only meet them On their
own grounds, remarked Penny Brown,
'and play them at their own game
Penny paused thoughtfully, unable to
finish his idea, or leaving it for the 9th
ers to finish, but it seemed to give Pete
a mental opening, for he started for the
the door, and the distance was long
enough to allow him to say:


Il believe l have it, boys There's a
little cuss in the gig just from the States,
and he says he's % lawyer. I'll bring
him in and see what he thinks about it,


Pete brought him in, and he took
whisky and water and o little sugar,
and SO we formed poor opinion of him,
but thought his weakness might be from
his coming from the States, and on ac-
count of his being so small.


He did not have much to say, only
asking few questions, and SO forth,
but concluded that if one thousand dol
lars could be put up he might delay his
journey long enough to help Bill out
which he thought he could do.


Pete made the raise and got another
chap to take the stage on, and he and
the lawyer stayed with us. Tomorrow
was to be the day of the trial, and tho
lawyer said that he guessed he'd take a
walk ont among the folks and see the
place, but he preferred to go alone.


After he left Pete remarked


Tll bet he's deep one.'


Penny, thinking of the water weak
ness, shook his head.


Read this:


THE sheriff can swallow him.


Implying that his original scheme was
better than our lawyer game. l had
seen a States paper week or so before,
and thought lawyer tricky enough to
sell his grandmother.


Well, the morning came and the trial
started.


The sheriff and all his posse sworc
that Bill Budsore killed the stranger.


His Honor remarked:


Il guess that is plainly evident. Is
there anything more to be said' Ifnot
Iii close with the sentence