Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BONNY JEAN. : 41 since it would be deemed the act of the famous vigilantes, the secret band of desperadoes whose fearful deeds had long caused the hearts of the people to thrill with horror and alarm. More than one dead body had been discovered ere now dangling from a giant tree, blackened, distorted, and cold in death ; the horri- ble buzzards crowding around for their awful feast. And upon each body the one word ‘‘ vigilantes” would be found, in great, black letters, staring the passer-by in the face. They reached the foot of the tree upon which they proposed carrying out their fearful intention,.and were about to com- mence operations, when suddenly from a thicket of pines and scrub oaks near by, a hollow, sepulchral voice was heard. ‘* Gabriel Black !” The villain started as though he had been struck, and turned deadly pale. | ‘Who's there?” he cried, half fearfully. ‘‘ Gabriel Black,” the voice repeated, ‘‘ deware /” He laughed tneasily. ‘‘Some fool is trying to frighten me,” he cried; ‘‘it will not be well if I discover his identity !” ‘¢Gabriel Black !” repeated the voice for the third time, ‘‘ be- ware! The day of retribution is drawing nigh !” ‘String him up!” shouted Black, wildly, ‘‘string him up! lll see Phil Randall hanged if I give my own life to do it !” Obedient to the summons, the vigilantes surrounded the tree, and all hands made ready to carry out their murderous design. The young man was pale and quiet; he saw that death was very near him, but he did not flinch. His hated enemy should not have the satisfaction of seeing a trace of fear in Philip Ran- dall; he would go to his death as a brave man should. Slowly they drew him up, while some one rolled an empty barrel from the old cabin and placed it beneath the feet of the unfortunate man. Raised to that height, Philip could easily discern the sur- « Eomicbooks.co