Year: 1876




young fellow of some five or six and
twenty.


So prudent was Sarah Bowman, that not
one of her admirers felt himself to be the
favored one. But it must not be imagined
from this that she had not a preference.
There was one whose football was very well
come, whose presence shortened the hours,
and whose voice was music, and this was
Frank Cotton. He did not know his good
fortune. for he never, being a bashiul fellow,
tod his love.


The people often discussed the chances of
the rivals and the shrewd ones "reckoned
it lay between Wild Horse Smith, Henry,
and Frank Colton," with the chances of
winnin, in favor of the first, as it wasn't
thought to he safe to run against Smith for
anything, and more than one was afraid the
rivalry would END in trouble.


VI hethCr Sarah Bowman was the cause
or not, there was man murdered at Red
Fox Run.


The body was found about two miles
from the settlement, up the stream, and
when it was brought in, lying across a
horse, everybody that saw the body, and
that was everybody in the settlement, re-
cognzed it at once as the remains Of young
Henry.


lie had not been killed by the Indians
the most unpracticed eye could see that
at glance, for apart from the bullet hole in
his head and two in his breast, the body had
not been mutilated. The long hair and the
clothing was as intact as when, on the day
before, he had been seen to ride away with
! Frank Cotton.


The news of the murder and the fact that
Sarah Bowman was dangerously sick with IL
fever, that rendered her unconscious. came
to the people together; and, Of course, the
girls illness was attributed to the shock
Henzy's death gave her. and from this the
people reasoned that the murdered man was
the favorie.


Before Henzy was buried on the hill above
Red Fox Run, making the number nineteen.
twelve Of the enlightened settlers held an
inquest, and Wild Horse Smith was mad
foreman. To be sure it was hardly legal
body, as there was not coroner within one
hundred miles but the settlers were de-
termined to so through the legal forms, as
they had when they tried their foreman. and
| so they examined all the wounds, made all
the inquiry they could as to who had been
with Henzy, and although no information
was given them that they were not aware of
the twelve men with all legal solemnity,
locked themselves up in the faro room of the
Coyote Saloon, and with some spiritual re-
treshments on the table, sat down to solve
the mystery of Henzy's murder.


Frank Cotton had great many friends
r in the settlement, for he was honest, tenn
perate, and industrious but as the foreman
of that jury put the case, the warmest friend
'';hings looked bad agin Frank, and his
stayin' away is a powerful strong pint"
r The people were not therefore surprised
when the jury asserted, as their verdict
first, that llenzy was murdered with some
fire arm, and second, that all the evidence
pointed to Frank Cotton as the man who
fred the shots.


One, two weeks passed, and still Frank
Cotton, as if dreading to come near the
scene OF his crime, remained away, thougl
his crops needed his attention.


All they wanted now to perfect the tria
was the culprit, whom they were prepared
to hang the moment he put in an appear
anCe.


There was considerable futter in Rec
Fox Run, when, on the fifteenth morning
smoke was seen rushing from Frank Col
tons house, and an examinatio of thu
premises developed the fact that the owne
Of the house was at home


A few hours from this time the twelv,
jurors, with Wild Horse Smith at thei
head, and rifles on their shoulders, walked
down in military order, surrounded tn
house, and called on Frank Cotton to com
out


There was not n little surprise on thei
pant when Frank walked boldly out will
his left arm in a sling, and looked at hi
neighbors with such astonishment in hi
face, that if it were not genuine, showed
that he was an actor of no ordinary type
AS foreman of that jury, it became Wild
derful amount of cheerfulness, however,
to inform Frank he was a prisoner, anC
why.


The twel ie men saw Frank Colton's fac,
turn ashy pale, and he staggered to the house
for support, as he gasped
"Henzy murdered?'


Hes number nineteen, uu thar on the
HILL" replied Smith, nodding in that di
rection. "We'll give We a fair trial, Frank
but you mout as well know that everything,
agin ye, an everybody on Red Fox Run ha.
made up their mind that you killed Henry,
said one Of the men who was a great stickler
for law and order


Frank Cotton denied it then, but it was
too late, lie was made prisoner and
marched down to the Coyote Saloon, where
co urt was at once established, and Wild
Horse Smith, having shown unexpected le-
gal acumen as foreman of the coroner's jury
was selected as Judge.


Everybody was there but Sarah Bowman
She was in bed worn down with her fever
and barely over her delirium.


The trial went on with a rapidity that
would startlc an Eastern Court of justice
and it was shown that Frank Cotton was the
last person seen with the murdered man
that he was himself wounded, as by the re-
sistance offered by the wounded man that
he fled and remained away two weeks and
as they were both suitors for the same girl,
hand, and for some time an i'll feeling wa,
supposed to exist between them.


The jury came to the conclusion without
leaving the chairs which had been brought
from the Coyote Saloon for their accommo-
dation. They found Frank Cotton guilty