204 SPORTING STORIES 



into the " poker-room " to consider their verdict. Presently 

 the noise in the bar-room died away to complete silence, 

 but from down the caiion came confused sounds as of 

 disorderly cheering. Then the tramping of many feet, the 

 ring of voices, and the clinking glasses announced that the 

 bar was full again. There was a knock at the jury-room 

 door, and a dozen voices asked what the verdict was. 



" Not guilty," was the prompt reply of the foreman. 



A volley of oaths burst from the " boys." Pistols were 

 pointed ominously towards the jury. " You'll have to do 

 better than that," said the leader of the loafers ; " we'll give 

 you half an hour to consider." 



At the expiration of the half-hour the door was opened 

 again, and, " What is your verdict, gentlemen ? " asked the 

 spokesman of the " boys." 



"Guilty." 



" Correct. You can come out. We hung him an 

 hour ago." 



The jury came out, and the " boys " stood them drinks ; 

 and when, after a time, the town resumed its tranquillity, 

 it was allowed at more than one saloon that " Mexicans '11 

 know enough to let white men's stock alone after this," and 

 the " boys " exchanged the belief that this sort of thing 

 was better and more sensible than " nipping 'em at sight." 



Toward sunset the bar-tender concluded to sweep some 

 dust out of the poker-room back door. He was surprised 

 to find the missing horse dozing under the shadow of an 

 oak, and the two lost mules masticating playing-cards, of 

 which some bushels lay in a dusty pile. Then he suddenly 

 remembered that the animals had been there all day ; but, 

 as the Mexican was dangling in mid-air half a mile away, 

 it was too late to repair his little aberration of memory, so, 

 like a wise man, he held his peace. 



