Miners' Stories; III. An Experience with Judge Lynch [pp. 29-32]

Miners' Stories.
of my friends might arrive in time to with the jury, again entered the circle,
interfere for me. I had but faint hopes and gave me to understand,'The time's
of it, for at the time I was not aware of up.' As soon as they had pronounced
the action taken by Mr. Knight. the words, there was a stir in the vicin "I spoke in slow, measured words to ity; the next moment before I was aware
the judge and jury; I urged my right to of what was going on, Dick had slipped
be heard, taking it for granted that I the noose off my neck, loosened the
was to speak in my own defense. I bonds that tied me, and I was a free
talked as I never had talked before, and man. The Nevada boys and a few othI don't know how long I should have ers formed about me as aprotection, and
kept on if I had not been interrupted by at the same time surrounded judge and
a puny, pale-faced, insignificant, mean accusers.
looking pup, who cried out,' That's "Dick then explained to the outsiders
enough,- we don't want to hear any who I was, and demanded a'new and
more bosh. String him up, boys; his fair trial.' The end of it was, that when
time's come.' the sleepy witness was searched, noth "In afew moments they had my arms ing could be found on his person, but
tied behind me, and I was led under a unluckily for him, as he was putting on
tall pine tree; a rope was thrown over his sailor jacket, one of the boys saw a
one of its broken, dilapidated branches; loose string hanging down from his
the slip noose was made in a bungling sleeve. For a joke, or from some sudfashion, and slipped over my head and den idea, he pulled it, when forth came
around my neck. The judge gave me an empty buckskin purse. When this
half an hour to live, to consider over was shown to the storekeeper he idenmatters, andsaid'I could thenhangwith tified it at once as one of his stolen
my eyes wide open and see myself die.' ones; he knew it by the initials inside.
"As the judge left me with the crowd The sleepy man now turned pale, and
in circle about me, I noticed the mule would have sneaked away had he not
riders arrive, hitch their animals, then been prevented. A search under the
come towards the pine tree. I recog- bench in front of the seat brought forth
nized their faces as those of my friends. the missing gold dust, wrapped up in a
Hope now sprang up in my heart. I handkerchief. A full confession was
saw that one and all had stern looks, extracted, and when I left the place he
and that they were armed. They were was swinging and turning around, with
so few in the midst of many, I dared not the twisting of the rope; life had fled.
appeal for help; but as Dick Folger, with "The jury who had convicted me were
his big body, paced towards me, I heard unanimously voted to be cobbed over a
him say, as if speaking to the crowd,' We barrel, but the sentence was never carhave come to see justice done.' By his ried out, as they paid a heavy forfeit in
eye I knew he meant it for me to hear, treating the crowd. The storekeeper
and to encourage me. Soon more friends had to make good my losses, and in the
began to arrive on foot, and I saw Dick end I got back safely to camp. My
talked with the Nevada fellers as they comrades arrived too late to see me
came up, and they all seemed to act in'hanged and saved by a miracle,' as they
concert with each other, assuming posi- always put it. With my excitement I
tions in squads. forgot to bring them the promised'las "The judge and witnesses, together ses candy."
C. HFramd
32
[Jan.