Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

7 24 THE DOOMED HUNTER. leniency, but their voices were drowned in the tumult raised by those who were anxious for what they deeméd to be summary justice. Even threats of personal violence were not wanting toward those advocating mercy to Ralph. This Rufus had foreseen, and his words were expressly cal- culated to inflame his hearers. Seeing that their feelings were brought to a pitch where all reason was set at defiance, he slightly changed his tone, professing reluctance to take any further part in the execution. | “Tm sure every scoundrel ought to have his pay for what | evil deeds he cuts up, but for my part I can’t bear the idea of — hangin’ a man, any way. If you insist on that, some of you will have it to do.” “Then out o’ the way!” growled a gruff fellow, who had been impatiently swinging the end of a rope in which he had made a noose. “If you darn’t swing the feller up, hyar’s one what ain’t afeard.” } _ With a satanic leer he threw the rope over the limb above, and brought the noose down to a convenient hight. Ate. “ Jest bring on the feller!” he shouted. ‘“ We'll soon show him anew mode of dancin’ ; let him dance on nothin’ awhile.” | The pale victim was led forward. A group of the latter’s friends had gathered at a little distance, and for a moment they even contemplated force in attempting to defeat the pur- posed execution. But they readily saw that all such efforts on their part must be in vain. They were outnumbered, more than four to one, and hey had no positive grounds upon which to claim the doomed one’s innocence. Determined not to wit- ness the last fearful struggle, they turned away toward the set- tlement. Ralph was led beneath the fatal noose, and the rope adjust- ed to his neck. Thus far he may have entertained hopes that his doom would be averted, or at least postponed. But now all hope was ended. He felt the rough cord passed around his ee . neck, and drawn to an uncomfortable tightness. He attempt- ed to speak, for he wished to repeat his entire innocence, but an angry clamor drowned his words, and a broad palm was placed over his mouth. Since he could not speak to his fel- low-men, the doomed one turned his thoughts heayenward, and breathed a silent prayer for strength to bear the last trying ordeal. COMICHOOKS.COM