Connecticut western news., 1884-07-30
VOL. XIV.

voice. "Anything will do, am very hungry. IT have had nothing to eat since last night"
 SCome in," said Sacramento gravely. In her voice there was neither kindness nor unkindness, she trying to realize the situation she was in. "Come in and sit down l"
 Then she went into closet near by, and began taking down 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 $500 was offered, in her own kitchen. Five hundred dol lars Exactly the sum she had been wishing for-the sum that would take her down to San Francisco to school and make lady of her. And this sum may be hers if she could in some way secure this stranger or somehow keep him in the house until help arrived. Helpl Why she hardly needed help. He was weak and exhausted, and in the drawer of the kitchen table there was loaded revolver, which she well knew how to use.
 She came out presently, and set the things before him, bringing also the fteapot 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. It was almost a boyish face, worn, but not wicked, with the curling hair lying in dark clusters upon his pale brow. In the hands, small and we'll shaped, and in all his motions and manner, 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 left their lux urious homes and found their way out to the ranches of the Pacific. 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 womanly sympathy, and her feel ing found expression before she was able to restrain herself.
 "Oh, 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.
 'I didn't do it. Upon my honor I did not" he said. "It was that man Dennis" Sacramento breathed great 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 popular estimate of grave nature.
 "Oh, am glad of that T" cried she. ''But-" she hesitated, and then went on doubifully, "But, then, how was it ? Why did you run away?"
 "It was Dennis doings, their laying it to me. He did that to clear himself. And after that you know as well as do that there would have been no use in trying to prove myself innocent. They always hang horse thief first and then consider his guilt afterward. I had to run to save my life"
 ''Do you know that there is reward offered for your capture ?"
 S'I know that the regulators are after me" answered the young man sullenly. ''They came near catching me, too, this noon. I just escaped them, and came down the canyon by the mountain trail. I have had hard run for it, and what with no sleep for twenty-four hours, l am about used up. felt as though l could not go another step when l saw your house. Now--yeu have been very good to me. I shall never forget"
 "But what are you going to do now ? interrupted Sacramento. "You are not safe here."
 "I know it. But threw them off the track this noon, and do not think they are within five miles of me. Now, have had some thing to eat, will take to the woods again. I hope I may get clear away. If I don't" his voice trembled and tears came into his eyes. eff don't I shall get hanging, SUD- pose. Oh. what a fool was not to pre- fer home to this sort of thing And yet, I wouldn't care so much, either. if it wasn't for my poor father and mother. ' And there the poor fellow fairly broke down.
 Clark p Sacramento exclaimed. She had been crying, too.
 They both listened. In 8 moment they both heard plainly the sound ot horses coming down the trail. The girl turned with instant self-possession:
 "Go ia there Quick Quick There is not moment to lose. Here, take your hat p
 After handing his hat to him she hall pushed him across the room and into her own little room that led of from it. Then she hurriedly finished clearing tht table again, barely finishing the tasl as the horsemen halted at the door.
 There were three of them. One wa her father. Sacramento knew the othe two men by sight. They were rough but of the better sort of those who mad up the dweIlers of Kelly Gulch. Tn faces of all three were hard and forbid ding, and they evidently had been rid ing hard. They dismounted together . ''Sac," began her father, as he entere l the door, "hev you seen anything of t young chap afoot or horseback comin 7 this way P'
 Sacramento had expected the questio