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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
Book online «Walter Sherwood's Probation by Jr. Horatio Alger (unputdownable books txt) 📖». Author Jr. Horatio Alger
“I wish you could; I hate to be left in such a place.”
“Cheer up, Mr. Sherwood. It won't be for long, I predict. You may rest assured of my best efforts in your behalf. I will at once telegraph for Colonel Owen.”
The evening glided wearily away. Walter threw himself on his pallet and was nearly asleep when a confused noise was heard outside, and heavy blows were rained upon the outer door.
“What does it mean?” asked Walter, bewildered.
He listened intently, and there came to his ears a shout which made him turn pale with terror.
CHAPTER XXXII AN AWFUL MOMENT
“Bring out the hoss thief! Lynch him! Lynch him!”
“What's up?” asked the tramp drowsily, opening his eyes.
“Bring out the hoss thief!” cried a dozen rough voices, as the battering at the door was repeated.
“They want you, young feller!” he continued, as he caught the meaning of the cry.
“What shall we do?” asked Walter helplessly.
“They don't want me,” returned the tramp complacently. “It's you they want!”
“You will stand by me?” implored Walter, eager for any help.
“Won't do no good! There's a crowd of them. You're in a bad box, young feller!”
“Have you got a pistol?”
“No.”
Then it flashed upon Walter that he still had the revolver which belonged to Dick Ranney.
“I will sell my life dearly!” thought Walter, “They shan't kill me without some resistance.”
“Open the door, or it'll be wuss for ye!” cried a rough voice.
The door was strong, but it did not long withstand the fierce attacks made upon it. Walter, by the light that came in through a crevice, saw it sway and gradually yield to the impetuous attacks of the mob.
“Here's the hoss thief!” exclaimed the leader, throwing the light into the cell occupied by the inebriate.
The tramp was alarmed and completely sobered by the terrible suggestion.
“I ain't the man!” he said. “It's that young feller yonder.”
The man with the lantern turned in the direction of the other cell.
“He's only a kid!” he said doubtfully.
“All the same, he's the hoss thief!” said the tramp earnestly.
“Is he telling the truth?” asked the leader, turning to the men who were just behind him.
“He looks most like the hoss thief!” said Dan Muggins. “The other's a milk-and-water chap, just out of boardin'-school.”
“You're right! Smash in the cage!”
CHAPTER XXXIII WALTER SAVES ANOTHER'S LIFE
Meanwhile the feelings of Walter were hard to describe. He saw that perhaps his only chance of life lay in remaining quiet and letting the mistake remain uncorrected.
On the other hand, the poor wretch was as much entitled to life as he.
“He's the hoss thief!” shrieked the tramp. “Ask him if he isn't.”
The leader, who had him by the collar, paused, and the words of the captive seemed to make some impression on him.
“We don't want to make no mistake,” he said. “Mebbe we might ask him.”
“You hear what this man says?”
“Yes,” answered Walter, in husky accents.
“Is it true? Are you the hoss thief?”
“No!”
And the poor tramp would have been dragged away, but Walter, his face pale, but resolute, held up his hand to secure attention.
“Listen!” he said. “I am not a horse thief, but I was put here charged with stealing the horse of Colonel Owen.”
“Just as I said, gentlemen,” chimed in the inebriate.
“Then we've got the wrong one!” said the leader. “Here, you can go!”
“We must have you!” went on the leader, approaching Walter's cell.
“What do you want to do with me?” asked Walter, with sinking heart.
“String you up! That's the way we serve hoss thieves!”
“Gentlemen!” said Walter, “you are making a terrible mistake.
“Didn't you say just now you was the thief?”
“No; I said I was put in here charged with horse-stealing.”
An assault was made on the door of his cell, and within three minutes Walter was dragged out.
He began to speak, but was roughly ordered to shut up.
The line of march was resumed, and a quarter of a mile distant they passed through a gate and began the ascent of a hill, at the summit of which was a grove of tall trees. Walter shuddered and his heart sank within him, for he understood only too well what fate was in store for him.
CHAPTER XXXIV A TERRIBLE ORDEAL
At the summit of the hill Walter's captors came to a halt.
“Young man,” said the leader sternly, “your hours are numbered. Have you anything to say?”
“I have a good deal to say,” answered Walter, finding his voice and speaking indignantly. “Even if I were guilty, which I am not, you have no right to condemn me to death untried.”
One of the masked men, who had hitherto stood in the background, came forward, and in clear, ringing accents spoke:
“The lad says right. He has not been proved guilty, and I for one believe him innocent.”
“I thank God,” said Walter, “that there is one among you whose heart is not wholly hardened. I stand here a boy—barely eighteen years old.
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