San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-04-20

"Could you give mo something TO
eat and drink ?" he asked ina hesitating
voice. Anything will do. l am very
hungry. II have had nothing TO eat
since last night"
"Come in" said Sacramento gravely,
In her voice WAS neither kindness or
unkindness. She was trying to realize
the situation she was in. Come IN
aud sit down"
Then she went into the closet near
by and began taking down from the
shelves milk and bread and meat, us
she slowly did 80 turning the matter
over in her mind. Here was this man
who had been stealing borses, and Tor
whose capture $500 was offered, IN her
kitchen. Exactly the sum she had been
wishing 'or-the sum that would take
her to San Francisco to school and
make lady of herself And this sum
might be hers il she could in some way
secure this stranger 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 kitchen table there was a
loaded revolver which she knew we'll
how to use.
She came out presently and set the
things before him, bringing, also tea
pot from the stove and pouring for him
a cup of tea. Then she went and sat
down by the window and watched him
furtively as he ate.
In spite of his caution he had taken
off 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 the curling hair lying
in damp clusters upon his pale brow.
In the hands small and well shaped,
and in all his motions and manners she
felt that she could read something of
his story. She had heard before this
how young lads in the east, filled with
romantic notions about western life and
adventure, sometimes felt their way
out 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 the probable dark fate that
was before him, her heart yearned with
true woman sympathy, and er feelings
found expression before she was abe
to restrain herself.
ooh, how could you do it? How
could you do it?" she suddenly ex-
claimed, her voice quite full OF what
she felt.
He looked up at her in wonder; but as
his eyes met hers he understood her.
81 did not do it. Upon my hone I
did rot!" he said. at was that man
Deunis."
Sacramento breathed great sigh Of
relief. Horse stelling WAS held in that
section to be crime worse than MUIR
der, and she was by no means free from
the popular estimate of its grave natu.e.
ooh, am glad of that!" said she.
"But-' she hesita, ed, and then went
on, doubtfully. "But then how was it?
Why did they say it was you? And
why did you run away?"
"It was Dennis doings, their laying
it to me. He did that to clear himself.
And alter that, you know as well as l
co, there would have been no use in
trying to prove myself Innocent. They
always hang horse thief first, and
then consider his guilt afterwerd. I
had to run to save my life"
"Do you know that tt ere is rewarf
offered for your capture?"
81 know the Regulators are after
me" answered the young fellow, sud
denly. "They came p: city near catch
ing me, tc }, this room. L just escaped
them and can down the canyon by the
mountain trail. have had hard run
for it, and what with no sleep or food |
for twepty-fou hours, am about USE
up. L felt as though l could not go
anotl err step WREN I saw your house.
you-you have been very good to me.
1 shall never forget"
"But what are you going to do now!"
inter rup' I'd Sacramento. "You are noS
safe here."
81 krow it. But l threw them off
the track at noon, aud do rot think !
they are within five miles of ne. Now
1 have had something to eat 1 81
take to the woods again. L rope may
get away. If l don't" his voice trem
bled and tesrs came into his eyas. IF
l DON'T shall get hanging 1 suppose.
Oh. what fool l was not to prefer
home to this sort of thing. And yet, L
would not care so much either, if it
W wasn't for my father and mother" And
then the poor fellow fairly broke down.
"Harkl" Sacramento exclaimed. She
lad beea crying too. She could no.
help it.
They both listened. In a moment
Trey heard plainly the sound of horses
co ming down the trail. The girl turned
with instant self possession.
Go in therel Quick Quick! There
is not moment. to be lost. Here, take
your haiti
And handing his hat to him she b llf
pushed him across the room aud into
her own little room that led off from it.