The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-01-01
Seleft Stury.
THE PURPLE SCAR.

u6 ntAL tllut UuS NY UUll 10 UlOuSul
before me for some of his numerous
mtsdemeanors will sentence him heav.
lily" .81i6
And Judge Johnson stirred his tea
vigorously, while deep wrinkle grew
between his fne iron-gray brows, under
which glowed his keen, earnest eyes.
His little daughter jamie fingered n
pour his second cup of tea. She was
very fond OF waiting on papa, for jamie,
though only twelve years old, wss,the
old Judges housekeeper, her mother
having died two years previously.
"Who pays his fines for you often
speak of his arrests, papa ?"
"His brother Warren, who ia az fine a
young man as the town contains. / can
not understand Gus; he's handsome,
bright, and might be most anything he
chose. He'll end on the gallows yet"
"Qh, papa!"
But reckless, wild Gus Rybolt was
forgotten when the parlor was reached,
and jamie sat down TO the piano.
A servant entered an hour later and
handed the judge 8 telegram
"Uncle Rube is dying, and has sent
for me
"D,ing! Uncle Ruhe"
YES; are you afraid to remain with
the servants and Mrs. Smithp I feel
uneasy about that money. I ought to
have put it in the bank, but have been
overcrowded with work and business -
Too bad y muttered the Judge trife
snxiously, glancing at his daughter du-
biously.
"Ob, no papa. I'm not afraid. Poor
Uncle Rube! You had better start al
once, Don't worry about me; Mrs.
Smith sleeps in the next room, You re-
member"
But the Judge did worry and fret, and
not only over the danger of his daugh-
ter and his money, but blamed himself
severely for his carelessness.
Even among his graver fears for his
brother, The thought Of thieves and
burglars haunted him.
"I ought to be ashamed of myself to
leave that amount OF money in the house
even for day, for the place is isolated,
be servants such arrant towards, and
cousin Sallie such weak help Only
Janie's brave little heart to be depended
ON. Heaven bless the child Now wha,
can be the matter with Rube I canno,
Imagine; be was we'll enough last week u
Mrs. Sallie Smith, forty-second
cousin of the JUICES, and confirmed
invalid, occupied the room on the right
of Janie's, while that on the left was her
fathers, and in it the iron safe that con
tained the money referred to. T
81 am afraid l am bit nervous
mused jamie, looking around her cham.
her with shuhder. "The servants are
quite way of and cousin Sallie takes
so much laudanum she would never wa
ken I wonder il / womb feel safer
with the money under my pillow"
And foolish little jamie; having tht
com bination of the safe, went to 1t, open
ed It aud took out the roll of bills.
"Oh. no, said soft voice behind
her. "Tha(is exactly what want.
had no idea you would be 80 accommo
dating. Don't scream on your life."
And the bold fellow actually laughed
as he seized her wrist.
JAMIE did not cry out. She gave hiu
one sudden, startled, indignant look, ant
blending her head, buried her white
strong teeth in the exposed wrist Of th,
hard tbat.beli her captive.
sYou little tiger. cat" be cried In ,
rage and intense suffering. 'ssLet go ol
will kill you"
But while the sharp pain had unman
ned him. with the other hand she tbrus
the roll of money into the safe an(
sprung the lock
"Now," she said triumphant, "get /
Il you can; but---ob, Gus Rybolt,
know you" -
"You-no you don't; ah, we'll, yo,
will tell your precious father before an
other day closes. Gene, hand over th,
cash; want to have some chance o
getting awav."
IN }, yon cannot have the money
Oh, Gus Rpbrlt, remen ber your sainet
mother, your good brother, what will
they think, nowY How can. you be Sc
wicked ?''fgs bs
81 have no time for nonsense. HAND
over the cash, or I'll" aud tue click o
a revDlver-hanmer sounded.
Janie's eyes flashed In scnrn.
"You harm 0 helpless little girl! You
who always boasted of bravery! Fo
shame, Gus Ryboit; you are coward /
But in gen,ler tone-"If you will max,
me promise will also make you one
and keep mine as long as you do yours
If you will leave me now and become
better hoy--an honest, honorable one
| will never tell"
The temptation to persist in his under
taking wss great, but down in wicked
daredevil Gus Rybolt's heart there wa
tender spot, which beautiful Jani
Johnson had held ever since she was
mite of child, aud he had taken car,
of her at school.
Harm herp He wouldn't have harm
ed hair on her head to have saved hi
own life, and she knew it.
"You cannot have the money, hu
won't you accept the promise-won'
you make the compactf'a
! s,Yes.'' he said at fast in N bnak q