224 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



to see that they are enforced, and to uphold 

 the Sheriff in his endeavours to protect his 

 prisoner from the mob. * So far, so good,' 

 retort the people ; ' but the criminal protected, 

 the authorities fail in their part. Astute 

 lawyers find ground for appeal after appeal, 

 and finally, on some purely legal technicality, 

 the prisoner gets off with slight or no punish- 

 ment, and is soon turned loose again to 

 repeat his vile offence. There will always 

 be found citizens who will not submit to 

 this, and who, if the law fails in its duty, 

 will be unto themselves a law, and protect 

 their own homes and families as best they 

 can/ That this accusation can be made, 

 and in a measure truthfully, is a fact which 

 may well cause those carried away by a 

 natural and proper horror of lynching to 

 pause and consider. Abuse is no argument. 

 The skilful physician probes for the bullet 

 before attempting to heal the wound. 



Mention has already been made of the 

 legal delays so common in this country, and 

 it may be added that the opinion of a certain 

 Eastern journal quoted above finds an echo 

 in the hearts of all thoughtful and honestly 



