The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-12-09

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boot-legs so as to no longer allow the red
tops of the boots with the makers name
to be seen. It was the horse-thief.
She did not, however, express any sur
prise as she saw him. She was accus.
toned to the sight of rough, evil men;
AMI at the first glance she had felt that
this one could not be either very wicked
or very dangerous. He was not much
more than lad, and had an air of gen.
tleness and good breeding about him that
six months of Western life and the mis-
erable plight he was in at the moment
had by no means destroyed He seemed
to be short of breath, too, and was trem-
bling as if he had been running.
Instinctively he raised his hand toward
his hat, and then bethinking himself,
dropped 1t again.
Gould you give me something to eat
and drink" he asked, in hesitating
voice. anything will do. am very
hungry. II have had nothing to eat
since last night"
"Come in," said Sacramento, gravely.
In her voice was neither kindness nor
unkindness. She was trying to realize
the situation she was in. "Come in and
sit down"
Then she went into the closet near by
and began taking down from the shelves
milk and bread and meat, as she slowly
did SO, turning the matter over in her
mind. Here was this man who had been
stealing horses, and for whose capture
five hundred dollars were offered, in her
kitchen. Five hundred dollars! Exactly
the sum she had been wishing for the
sum that would take her to San Francis
co to school and help her make a lady of
herself. And this sum might be hers if
she could in some way secure this strang-
er or somehow keep him in the house
until help arrived. Help! Why, she
hardly needed help. He was weak and
exhausted, and in the drawer of the kitch-
en- table there was loade revolver which
she knew well how to use.
She came out presently and set the
things before him, bringing also teapot
from the stove and pouring for him cup
of tea. Then she went and sat down by
the window and watched Linn furtively as
he ate.
Tn ita &c he H. To, tn1,a,, 20
his hat while he was eating. She could
better see what he was like. 1t was an
almost boyish face, worn, but not wicked,
with curling hair lying in deep clusters
upon his pale brow. In the hands, small
and well shaped, and in all his motions
and manner, She ielt that she could read
something of his story. Sue had heard
before this that young lads in the East,
filled with romantic notions about West
ern life and adventure, sometimes left
their luxuriant homes and fouud their
way to the ranches of the Pacific slope.
Perhaps he was one of these.
As she looked at him, fancying all this,
and realizing the terrible strait he was
in, and tie probable dark fate that was
before him, her heart yterned with true
womanly sympathy, and her feelings
found expression before she was able to
restrain herself.
"oh, how could you do it? How could
you do iI?' she suddenly exclaimed, her
voice quite full of what she felt.
He looked up to her in wonder; but as
his eyes met hers he understood her.
"I did not do it. Upon my honor, 1
did not!' he said. ut was that man
Dennis" -
Sacramento breathed sigh of relief.
Horse.stealing was held in that section
to be crime worse than murder; and
she was by no means free from the poi
ular estimate of its grave nature
! "Oh, l am glad of that" said she,
"But"-She hesitated, and then went OF
, doubtfully. "But then how was itP Why
, did they say it was your And why dit
t you run away?"
3 at was Dennis doings; their laying i
to me. He did that to clear himself
And after that, you know as we'll as do
3 there would have been no use in trying
to prove my innocence. They alwayi
I hang horse-thief first and then copside
his guilt afterward. had to run to saw
: my life"
"Do you know that there is reward
offered for your capture?"
81 know the Regulators are after me.
: answered the Young fellow, sullenly
A They came pretty near catching me, toe
this noon. l just eacaped them an
=, came down the canon by the mountain
trail. have had hard run for it, an,
what with no sleep or food for twenty
four hours l am about used up. l fel
as though l could not go another ste
4 when saw your house. You--you hav
been very good TO laU. l shall never fol
GET
"But what are you going 10 do nowi
interrupted Sacramento. 'You are nc
safe here"
Il know it. But threw them off th
track at noon, and do not think the
are within five miles of me. Now hay
;, had something to eat will take to Il
woods again. hope may get away
II don't"-his voice trembled and teal
:, came into his eyes. IF l don't sha
!, get hanging, suppose. "oh, what
=, fool l was not to prefer home 10 this sol
= of thing. Aud yet wouldn't care niue
either" Aud there tue poor fellow fairl
broke down.
"Harkl" Sacramento exclaimed. 81
le had been crying too; she could not hel
10 it.
. They both listened. In moment the
he heard plainly the sound Of horses con