The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1884-09-13
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. 1884

rive hundred dollars Exactly the
sum she had been wishing for-the sum
that would take her down to San Fran.
cisco to school and help her make 8
lady of herself. And thus sum might be
hers it 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, end in the drawer
OF the kitchen table there was loaded
revolver which she knew we'll how to
use.
She came out presently and set the
things before him, bringing also a tea
pot from the stove and pouring for him
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 WIS eating. She
could better see what he was like. It
was an almost boyish face, worn, but not
wicked, with the curing hair lying in
damp clusters upon his pale brow. In
the hands, small and well-shaped. and
in oil his motions and manners she felt
that she could read something of his
story. She had heard before this how
young lads in tie East, filled with ro-
mantle notions about Western life and
adventure, sometimes felt their way ont
to the ranches Of the Pacific slope. Per-
haps he was one of these.
As she looked at him, fancyino all
this, and realiz;n" 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
rs his eyes met hers he understood her.
81 did not do it. Upon my honor I
did not !" he said. IS 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 '-,,ans free fsom the
popular estimate Of its grave nature.
"Oh, I am glad OF that T. said she.
But" She hesitated, and then went
on, doubtfully. "Bnt then how wasit?
Why did they say it was you? And
why did you run away?"
ut was Dennis doings, their layinp
it to me. He did that u clear himself.
And after that, You know as well as I do.
there would have been no use in trying
to prove myself innocent. They always
hang horse thief first, and then con-
slider his guilt afterward. I had to run
to save my life."
"Do you know that there is q reward
offered for your capture p
: l know the Regulators are after me-"
answered the young fellow, suddenly,
They came pretty necr catching me.
too, this noon. I just escaped them and
came down the canon by the mountain
trail. [ have had hard run for it. and
what with no sleep or food for twenty
four hours l am about used up. felt
as though l could not go another step
when l saw your house. You-yoa
have been very good TO me. I shall
never forget"
8 But what are yougoing to do now?"
interrupted Sacramento. "You are not
safe here"
II know it. But threw them of
the track at noon, and I do not think
they are within five miles of me. Now
have had something to eat will take
to the woods again. hope I may get
away. If l don't"-his voice trembled
and tears came into his eyes. "lf I
don't, l shall get hanging, I suppose.
Oh, what fool / was not to prefer home
to this sort OF thing. And yet, I would
not care SO much either. if It wasn't for
my father and mother" And then the
poor fellow fairly broke down.
"Hark y So"-anento exclaimed She
had been crying, too she could not help
It.
They both listened. In moment
they heard plainly the sound of horses
coming down the trail. The girl turned
with inetant self possession.
"Go in there Quick! Quick! There
Is not q moment to be lost Here, take
your hat ~
And handing his hat to him she half
pushed him across the room and into her
own little room that led off from it.
Then she hurriedly cleared the table
again, barely finishing the task as the
horsemen halted at the door.
There were three of them. One was
her father. Sacramento knew the other
two men by sight They were rough,
but OF the better sort of those who made
up the dwellers in Kelly Gulch. The
faces OF all three were stern and forbid
ding, and they evidently had been riding
hard. They dismounted together.
"Sac," began her father as he entered
the door, "hev ye seen anything of a
young chap, afoot or a-horseback, COM
ing this way y?'
Sacramento had expected the ques-
ton and was ready for it. And she
meant, if it were possible, to answer it