The Kentucky Ranger

E >> Edward T. Curnick >> The Kentucky Ranger

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By a small bridge near Franklin Schoolhouse Sam Wiles met by
appointment Zibe Turner and the two walked along the road, having
little fear of being seen as it was near midnight. They soon reached
Judge LeMonde's barn lot and now had to use the utmost caution not to
arouse the great dog Sport or any of his satellites. By degrees they
pushed open the heavy gate. Then they went to the barn door through
which the horses were led to their stalls. It was fastened, but with a
common lock. Wiles had brought a bunch of keys for just such an
emergency, and after trying two or three found one which fitted the
lock. In a moment they were inside the great barn. A long row of stalls
was just before them. They carefully closed the door and Wiles, taking
a flint and steel and some tinder from his pocket, struck out a spark
which ignited the tinder. He then applied a long brimstone match to the
tinder, and at once the match was ablaze. They soon found in which
stalls were the horses they wanted, Velox being in the first stall and
Dolly in the third. Back of the horses were pegs upon which hung
harnesses. Wiles quickly unbuckled Dolly's halter and put a riding
bridle on her. He then selected a fine saddle and placed it upon her
back. Turner did the same for Velox. They then reopened the barn door,
and Turner led Velox into the yard. Wiles at once followed with Dolly.
To prevent all suspicion they closed the barn door but left it
unlocked. It seemed as though they would get away without arousing man
or dog; but just as they were leading the horses through the barn gate
Velox, perhaps incensed at being taken from his stall at that unseemly
hour and leaving his mates, gave a loud neigh.

This sound was heard by Sport who was sleeping in a coach house at the
rear of the mansion six hundred feet away. At once the faithful animal,
suspecting something was wrong, set up a great barking, and was
instantly joined by a group of dogs which were with him. The thieves,
being afraid that the barking would arouse the plantation, jumped into
their saddles and rode quietly along the county road till they reached
the river road a quarter of a mile beyond. Here they stopped to observe
if anything would happen at the house.

Now the acute ears of the dogs had heard the hoofbeats of the horses in
the still night, and they continued to emit a chorus of barks. At last
their noise awoke Judge LeMonde, who was dreaming that twenty lawyers
were all pleading a case at once. Thinking something unusual was the
matter, he arose and dressed and called up George, his son. Together
they went out to the carriage house and tried to quiet the dogs, but
they continued barking. The men could find nothing out of place. But
the judge, being somewhat uneasy, said to his son: "Let us go down to
the barn and see whether or not the horses are all right."

So they started down the road, past the negro cabins (all the slaves
being sound asleep), and on to the barn. They went into the barn, and
soon discovered the absence of the horses. The judge was a man of
decision and courage. He said: "George, thieves have broken into the
barn and stolen our two best horses. I do not believe they have been
gone long. Run instantly and arouse Mose and some of the other slaves.
Tell your mother what has happened, and say that we are going at once
to follow the thieves. While you are gone I will get out Prince, Clay
and Bess, and we will go after the villains."

George ran to do his father's bidding, and soon most of the whites and
slaves on the place were informed of the theft, and were wild with
excitement as a result.

In the meantime Wiles and Turner saw the lights in the house and were
sure their deed was discovered. It was too late to return the horses to
the barn, and they decided to carry out their first intention and ride
them as rapidly as possible twenty-five miles down the river road, and
there deliver them to a confederate, who would smuggle them to a horse
dealer in Paducah. They put spurs to their horses and the noble brutes
started down the river road at a fast gait. At the beginning the
thieves had every advantage. They were mounted upon Judge LeMonde's
fastest horses, and they had several minutes' start of their pursuers.
So that they were more than a mile down the river road when the chase
began.

"Ha! Ha!" laughed Zibe Turner, "I 'spects I'm ahead in dis race. De
time befo' Velox passed me; but now I'm ridin' him, an' I'd like to see
de debil hisself overtake me."

"We'uns air safe," said Wiles, "but we'uns must hold back our hosses
sum, for we uns hev a good jaunt to take, an' it won't do to tire 'em
out at fust."

Both acted at once on this sensible advice, and they brought the ready
animals down to a moderate trot. It was now a little past midnight, and
not a soul was to be seen on the road. A light breeze blew softly from
the south, shaking the tiny forest leaves and blowing across the fields
to welcome the coming footsteps of another day.

Though these bad men boasted to each other that they had the winning
hand, there was some uneasiness in their hearts. They knew that this
was the highest stake they had ever played; they were striking at the
chief man of the county, and had stolen the best horses on his
plantation. Should the heavy hand of justice smite them, it would be a
stunning blow. The voice of conscience was not utterly dead, and it
aroused fears in their hearts that they were not willing to acknowledge
even to themselves; but, like many other desperate men, their very
alarm occasioned a fiercer determination to show a bold front.

About two o'clock that morning honest David Hester, who lived about
fifteen miles distant from Judge LeMonde, was awakened from his deep
sleep by a pounding in his barn, which stood not far from his house.
Honest David knew at once what was the matter,--his horse Jim was
kicking in his stall. This valuable beast had a habit at irregular
intervals of kicking and pawing in the barn. Once or twice his restless
feeling had made him use his legs so vigorously that he was thrown in
his stall; and if his owner had not come to his help, he might have
been fatally hurt. This night Jim's knocking was specially violent.
Farmer Hester at last arose and went to the barn to quiet the restless
creature. Speaking kindly to him, he turned him into a box stall and
returned to the house.

Just as he was entering the rear door he heard the sound of horses'
hoofs some distance up the river road. His curiosity aroused, he
decided to see who the early travelers were. He walked to the front
yard and stood under a large lilac bush which was already covered
thickly with leaves.

The horsemen came on quickly. The moonlight was not sufficiently clear
for David to see distinctly; but he noticed that the rider nearer him
was a short man mounted on a dark horse, and that the other was a
larger man riding a lighter-colored horse having a white spot in its
forehead. David did not recognize either the men or horses, but the
suspicion flashed across his mind that the lighter-colored horse was
Judge LeMonde's Dolly. However, he was not sure, and in a moment the
men had ridden by.

Honest David returned to his house and bed. It proved, however, to be a
night of interruptions, for he had hardly gotten between the sheets and
fallen into a sound slumber before there came a loud knocking at the
front door. David--and in fact his whole household--was aroused
thereby, and hastening to the window, he tried to learn what was the
matter. He saw in the yard below three men standing by three horses and
heard the quick and eager words of Judge LeMonde: "Hurry, Friend David,
and come to our help. My barn was broken into about midnight and my
horses Velox and Dolly stolen from it. We are almost sure the thieves
headed this way down the river, for where the county road meets the
river road we examined the hoofprints as best we could, and decided the
horses turned this way."

"Yes, Judge, I'll help you all I can, and will be down in a hurry."
Honest Hester left the window and was soon down in the yard, followed
presently by his sons, wife and daughter Henrietta, all greatly excited
by the news.

Judge LeMonde continued: "We three have ridden our horses very hard,
and cannot hope to overtake the thieves without fresh animals. They
were careful to take my best blooded stock, and had considerable start
of us. Will you kindly favor us with the loan of some of your horses?
With them I think we may overtake the rascals."

"That I will, Judge," said Hester, "and my boys and I will go along to
help capture the rogues. I am sure you are on the right track, for half
an hour ago I saw two men riding past on horseback, and I suspicioned
one horse was your Dolly, for it had a white star in its forehead, but
I was not dead sure."

The men now hurried to the barn, and Jim was taken out to do something
besides pawing in his stall. Other horses were brought out and soon
seven men vaulted into saddles,--Judge LeMonde, his son George, his
servant Mose, David Hester and three of his stalwart sons. One son
remained behind to care for the three horses, which were covered with
mud, foam, sweat, and were badly winded.

Though in such haste, Judge LeMonde could not forget his duty to the
ladies. He apologized for so rudely disturbing their slumbers, and
thanked them for their interest and sympathy in his undertaking. They
lifted their hats and were away down the road. Madam Hester and her
daughter waved them adieu, watching the riders as far as they could in
the dim light.

As they were passing through the hamlet of Bridgewater Mose saluted his
master by lifting his hand to his wooly head (in the hurry of starting
he had not thought of his hat), and said: "Mas'r LeMonde. I 'spect we
mus' ride like de win' in dis stretch ob de race; fer I had hearn der
is a byroad ten miles furder on which leads inter a mighty wild place
wid many windin' paths; an' ef de tiefs gets dar, dey'll sho' give us
de slip."

David Hester, having traveled this road before, corroborated the
negro's words.

Judge LeMonde replied: "The advice Mose gives is very good, so we must
travel with utmost speed, for we must make every effort to capture the
scoundrels."

With this they all gave rein to their horses and made rapid progress
down the road. The men were so intent on watching the road and guiding
their horses that few words were spoken as they went along.

Those who are acquainted with the river road below Bridgewater will
remember that the knobs come very near to the river and the road runs
close to the foot of the hills. Hence there is not much chance for a
horseman to escape from his pursuers except by outriding them.

Sam Wiles and Zibe Turner had come within three miles of the place of
which Mose had spoken. They were congratulating themselves on their
good fortune, when the quick ears of Turner heard the sounds of horses'
hoofs some distance in the rear. "Pard," he said, "hear dat? Da air on
our track, sure as shootin', an' by de sound I know der is sev'ral on
'em."

"What can we do?" asked Wiles. "De knobs air too steep to climb, for
der ain't no roads about here, an' de ribber is near us on de left. Our
only chance is to reach de forks of de road 'fore dey can overtake us.
But Dolly is purty well played out. Der ain't much go in her. How is
Velox standin' it?"

"My hoss shows his blood an' trainin'," said Turner. "He's all in a
sweat an' lather an' he breathes fast, but I tink he's good for de
distance. You'uns must gib Dolly mo' whip and spur. Better to kill her
dan to be tuk."

Wiles thought the monster dwarf's words sensible, and he drove the
cruel spurs into poor Dolly's sides without mercy and lashed her with
the whip. The gallant mare responded with increased speed. But it was
like the flicker of a candle almost consumed.

Just at this time, the morning now beginning to break, the thieves were
discovered by their pursuers, who, thus encouraged, sent up a shout
together and urged their horses to greater speed. The animals, still
comparatively fresh, increased their gait and gained rapidly upon those
ahead. It was now a desperate race. Horseflesh was not considered by
either party,--only a wild desire to escape by one and a determination
to bring the outlaws to justice by the other.

Strange to say, the dwarf became the leader in this terrible emergency,
perhaps because he felt there was yet considerable reserve power in his
mount, Velox. "Hang to her a leetle longer, Sam," he cried. "One
quarter mile mo', an' we can shake 'em off. Speak to Dolly, gib her her
head, an' spur her in a fresh place."

This Wiles did. "Go it, Dolly! Good girl! Show 'em your heels! A few
rods mo'."

But it was no use. The limit of her strength was reached. Her breath
came in gasps, her flanks trembled, she began staggering as she ran,
and when within a hundred feet of the turn she fell head foremost,
throwing her rider to the ground and falling heavily on her side.

Even in this predicament the monster dwarf did not lose his nerve; he
halted Velox a second and said to his chief: "I'll git away on Velox
an' cum to yer help ef I can. Keep a stiff upper lip. Nevah say die.
Dat's my holt. Good-by."

With this he again drove the spurs into Velox's side, and was off. It
was time, for his pursuers were shouting, "Halt! Halt!" and then the
sharp crack of rifles was heard, and balls went whizzing by Turner's
head. But he was soon at the turn, and with one wild yell of mingled
triumph and hate he turned to the right, plunged into the thick woods,
and was lost to sight. He had escaped.

In the meantime Sam Wiles, half dazed by his fall, was still lying on
the ground when the Judge and his men rode up. Quickly the Judge said
to Hester: "You hold Wiles and I will attend to Dolly."

They all dismounted and Hester did as requested. The Judge, George, and
Mose drew near to faithful Dolly, and the Judge knelt down and took her
head in his lap and spoke to her in soothing tones. He asked for water
for her and George ran for some, but it was too late. Her eyes were
already becoming glazed in death; but she gazed up into her owner's
face with a look of recognition. Then a shiver went through her frame,
she closed her eyes, and ceased to breathe.

The Judge and George wept, and were not ashamed to show their tears;
while Mose, who had always cared for the horse, sobbed aloud in his
grief, and on a sudden impulse of anger administered a kick to
prostrate Wiles, the "po' white trash," who had killed Mas'r's hoss.

Judge LeMonde gave directions for Mose to bury Dolly's body in a decent
manner, and then the rest prepared to return to their homes.

CHAPTER XVII.

Lynch Law or the Gospel.

Wiles, the captive horse thief, was given Mose's horse to ride and,
closely guarded by the six men, they all retraced their journey up the
river road. Wiles was sullen and morose, having little to say. His look
was that of a guilty and disappointed man, yet he carried a don't care,
half defiant air which was more assumed than real.

Bad news travels fast. The very atmosphere seems to tear it from house
to house. Farmers had begun to pass along the road in their wagons;
they heard and spread the account of the horse-stealing. It flashed
through the hamlet of Bridgewater with incredible rapidity. As men
heard the reports they became wildly excited and grimly determined to
punish the thieves if caught. Some, by nature more excitable than
others, left their work and rode down the road to aid as best they
could in the pursuit. These met the party as it was returning, and
swelled their number. They were not backward in expressing their
opinions of the culprit as they cast black and angry looks upon him.

These people of the "bottoms" were of a higher class than the "poor
whites" who abode in the hills. They lived in far better houses, they
had better school and church privileges, and their sense of moral
values was keener than the others. While as a rule they were not
experts in grammar and rhetoric, their language was much superior to
that heard in the back districts.

"Lynch him," "Fill his carcass with bullets," "String him up high as
Haman," "He's been in many scrapes like this; now we've caught him,
let's make short work of him," "Hanging is too good for him; he ought
to be skinned alive,"--such were some of the expressions which saluted
Wiles' ears, and they did not serve to make his nerves any more quiet.

When the men reached Bridgewater the morning was well advanced and they
were met by a considerable company from the village and surrounding
plantations. There were a few women among the crowd and a few children.
Any one looking upon that gathering could see that they threatened
vengeance. Hiram Sanders, the herculean blacksmith, was their leader.
This was the blacksmith who was a terror to all wrestlers, and who was
never whipped except once, and then by Jasper Very. When Jasper came
into those parts Sanders said: "I've licked all the preachers who have
come around here and I intend to lick this one." The two met on
horseback, dismounted, and began their bout. The blacksmith had found
his match and Very with a desperate effort threw the fellow over an
adjoining fence. Sanders' pride and fighting spirit were both broken,
and he humbly said: "If you please, Mr. Preacher, will you be so kind
as to throw my horse over the fence too?" His defeat put Sanders on
good terms with Very and now they were close friends.

As the men guarding Wiles entered Bridgewater they were met and stopped
by the crowd which had gathered. The mighty blacksmith walked up to
Judge LeMonde and, addressing him in a respectful manner said: "Judge,
we have heard about this bad scrape; but we want to know the straight
of it, and you will obleege us by telling it from first to last!"

Judge LeMonde stated the facts in a clear and simple manner. As he
proceeded with his account the feelings of the crowd became more and
more aroused; and when he closed with a description of Dolly's death a
general cry of denunciation was raised.

Then up spoke Sanders to the people: "Friends and feller citizens, this
is a case which needs keerful thought and treatment. It is a case which
only men should decide, and I ask that all the women and children go
back home and all the men of this company adjourn to the bridge over
Honey Crick near by, that we can quietly give this matter all the
attention it requires."

His request was heeded and soon some thirty or forty men were on the
bridge, with Wiles seated on a log which had been placed in the middle
of the structure. The men disposed themselves in any way they saw fit,
some leaning against the bridge railing, others sitting on the floor
with their legs hanging over the water, and others bringing logs or
sticks upon which to sit.

As this was likely to be mob law Sanders, and not Judge LeMonde, was
elected chairman and the deliberations commenced at once. Sanders said:
"Men, what have you got to say ag'inst the prisoner! Let any one speak
that wants to."

William Hester, honest David Hester's oldest son, was the first to
respond: "We on the river bottom have endured this Wiles crowd a good
while. We know they are a curse to this section. They steal our hosses
and whatever they can lay their hands on. They make 'licit whisky in
the hills and knobs. They are lazy and shiftless, and no count in
general. They scare our women, and are a nuisance and pest all around.
I say we oughter make an example of Wiles, the ringleader of the gang,
and put him out of the way of killing any more hosses by making him
stretch a rope from this bridge."

"You have listened to what Bill Hester has said. Has any other
gentleman any remarks to make?" asked their chairman.

Abner Hunt, a fiery little man, whose plantation joined that of David
Hester, spoke in rapid tones, emphasizing his words with vigorous
gesticulations: "I fully agree with what Bill has said. Most all the
people living on these here bottoms are peaceable and law-abiding and
it is too bad that a few desprit villians should keep the county in a
state of terror and alarm. If there were some big rattle snakes in our
midst, we would try to ketch and kill them; and these human rascals are
worse than rattlers. My vote is to string him up quick."

"We want a free and full discussion of this case, and I wait to hear
any one else speak," said Sanders.

Then Hans Schmidt, a large, fair-faced German, arose, and said: "Mine
freunds, dis ist a wery serious matter, und we must consider it with
much deliberation. Gott's Book tells us to luv our enemies, und we
should not show hate und refenge to any man. We all know Wiles is vun
great rogue, und I would give much money to see heem out of the bottom;
but I would not like to haf a hand in lynching heem. I tink it is
better for the law to take its course and for us to deliver heem up to
prison."

These words acted like sparks to gunpowder, and several in the crowd
cried: "No! No!" "Hang him!" "Don't let him escape!" A few others said
they agreed with what Schmidt had proposed.

When quiet was restored, one more speaker was heard. His name was Damon
Craig. He was a hill farmer who made a good living for himself and
family by industry and economy on the thin soil above the river bottom.
All highly respected him and his words had much weight: "Thur is al'ys
danger in takin; a hoss thief to jail. Dey air slick by natur' and der
bizness makes 'em slicker. You'uns can't trust sich a feller as Wiles
ur Turner a minit. Ef you'uns put 'im in jail he mought 'scape, and
aryhow we don't know but sum smart lawyers might cl'ar 'im ur git a
light sentence for 'im. So I'm in favor uv riddin' de kentry uv 'im
right now, and I'll be de fust to pull de rope."

This speech was received by nods of assent and cries of "Good!" "Good!"
"That's the talk!" by many in the crowd.

After Craig had spoken Sanders looked at Judge LeMonde and thus
addressed him: "Judge, you are the most interested person in this
company. You have lost two fine hosses and been put to the most
trouble. It is only right that we should hear from you before we take a
vote. Would you like to say anything?"

Upon this invitation Judge LeMonde arose from the log upon which he was
sitting. His clothing was bespattered with mud and his face showed the
struggle both physical and mental through which he had passed. But even
with these limitations he appeared the typical judge. A serious but
composed look was in his eyes. It was with deep feeling that he
addressed the group of determined men.

"Neighbors and friends," said he, "many of you I have known from my
youth, and I am glad to call you friends. I wish to thank you for the
interest you have shown in my welfare by aiding me in every possible
way to regain my stolen property; and while my good Velox is now far
away from me, probably never to return, and my noble Dolly is buried by
the roadside, you have helped to capture the chief criminal in the
affair. I do not wonder that this dastardly act has stung you to the
quick and that your honest hearts cry out for justice to be visited
upon the guilty. But you will pardon me if I differ from most of you as
to how that justice should be administered. Let us remember that the
sovereign State of Kentucky has laws upon her statute books meting out
just punishment for all crimes. She has suitable machinery for the
execution of those laws--courts, judges, lawyers, police, jails,
penitentiary--and it is the duty of all citizens to abide by the laws
they have made. Therefore I cannot agree with your arguments nor
justify your wish to take the law into your own hands. My voice is, let
the miserable culprit be taken to the county jail, be tried before the
court and receive his punishment in a lawful manner."

Judge LeMonde's speech made a visible impression on the men and
possibly his advice would have been heeded had not Sanders, the
chairman, spoken. These were his words: "With all respect to the
Judge's remarks I think his premises are wrong. We have an unwritten
law in Kentucky that hoss thieves should be put out of the world as
soon as they are caught and proved guilty. It saves time, danger of
escape, and expense to the State. This is a clear case for Wiles was
caught in the very act, and we are quite sure this is not his first
offense. My opinion is the county should be rid of such trash, and the
sooner the better. We will now vote on the case. All in favor of
hanging Sam Wiles at this time for hoss stealing raise your hands."
Thirty hands were lifted up. "All opposed raise your hands." Five put
up their hands and a few refused to vote.

In spite of protests made by Judge LeMonde and others, preparations for
the tragic act were quickly made. A man had cut a clothesline in his
yard and had brought it to the bridge.

Hiram Sanders spoke quickly and with a tone of authority: "Damon Craig,
take this rope, tie a small stone to one end, and throw it over that
big limb of the tall walnut tree standing by the crick."

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