during which there was a pointed argument between Wall and a “Z——­” man whether the city scales or the stockyards arch gate would be the best place to hang him.  There were a hundred men around him and hanging on to the rope, when a druggist, whom most of them knew, burst through the crowd, and whipping out a knife cut the rope within a few feet of his neck.  ’What in hell are you varments trying to do?’ roared the druggist.  ’This man is a cousin of mine.  Going to hang him, are you?  Well, you’ll have to hang me with him when you do.’

“‘Just as soon make it two as one,’ snarled George.  ’When did you get the chips in this game, I’d like to know?  Oppose the progress of the town, too, do you?’

“‘No, I don’t,’ said the druggist, ’and I’ll see that my cousin here doesn’t.’

“‘That’s all we ask, then,’ said Wall; ’turn him loose, boys.  We don’t want to hang no man.  We hold you responsible if he opens his mouth again against the bonds.’

“‘Hold me responsible, gentlemen,’ said the druggist, with a profound bow.  ‘Come with me, Cousin,’ he said to the Anti.

“The druggist took him through his store, and up some back stairs; and once he had him alone, this was his advice, as reported to us later:  ’You’re a stranger to me.  I lied to those men, but I saved your life.  Now, I’ll take you to the four-o’clock train, and get you out of this town.  By this act I’ll incur the hatred of these people that I live amongst.  So you let the idea go out that you are my cousin.  Sabe?  Now, stay right here and I’ll bring you anything you want, but for Heaven’s sake, don’t give me away.’

“‘Is—­is—­is the four o’clock train the first out?’ inquired the new cousin.

“’It is the first.  I’ll see you through this.  I’ll come up and see you every hour.  Take things cool and easy now.  I’m your friend, remember,’ was the comfort they parted on.

“There were over seven hundred votes cast, and only one against the bonds.  How that one vote got in is yet a mystery.  There were no hard drinkers among the boys, all easy drinkers, men that never refused to drink.  Yet voting was a little new to them, and possibly that was how this mistake occurred.  We got the returns early in the evening.  The county had gone by a handsome majority for the bonds.  The committee on entertainment had provided a ball for us in the basement of the Opera House, it being the largest room in town.  When the good news began to circulate, the merchants began building bonfires.  Fellows who didn’t have extra togs on for the ball got out their horses, and in squads of twenty to fifty rode through the town, painting her red.  If there was one shot fired that night, there were ten thousand.

“I bought a white shirt and went to the ball.  To show you how general the good feeling amongst everybody was, I squeezed the hand of an alfalfa widow during a waltz, who instantly reported the affront offered to her gallant.  In her presence he took me to task for the offense.  ‘Young man,’ said the doctor, with a quiet wink,’ this lady is under my protection.  The fourteenth amendment don’t apply to you nor me.  Six-shooters, however, make us equal.  Are you armed?’