The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-30

said the man with . fierce struggle
Get thee behind me, Satan!'
So rare was the command, that Satan
affrighted. obeyed, and pretty soon the
reached the outskirts of the town.
'.Now where is your home, littl
violetp" asked Jabed. Point it out t.
me Is quick as you can"
There's my papa!'' was the child
answer, pointing to large house. OF
the veranda of which gentleman wa
walking.
What induced Jabed to the act h
could not tell. He might easily hav'
} put the child down now, and let he
make her own way home; but insteas
of that, he felt driven to make Al
apology for having her in his arms, ant
without the fear of arrest, which has
chung to him so embarrassingly before
he walked boldly up to the steps, il
front of the veranda, and said:
81 beg pardon, sir, for carrying you
little girl, but she went to the woods to
pick violets and lost her way. So. a.
she was tired, l took the liberty O
bringing her home"
"You are very kind, said the gentle
man. looking closely at the stranger
Who was he? Where had he come
from? In what way would it be proper
to treat himp Could he offer him
money? Should he ask him into the
house, or should he simply thank him,
as he would any one who had done him
a favor? But these questions answered
themselves. Jabed put the child down
at once, and without waiting even for
the thanks, turned hurriedly to go.
''May must have run away" said the
gentleman. s.Her mother is sick, and
in the confusion she had not been
missed. do thank you very much!
Good-morning, sirr and as Jabed turned
half round, he saw raised hat and
| caught the word '.sir!''
Treated like gentleman! That's
| new times for you Jabed Jones!' he
said to himself, as he took the shortest
path back into the woods he had left.
"And-and kissed, too, by that baby!
New times! new times, indeedr'
He was flying from justice, but there
was an alertneSs about his step and a
lightness at his heart he had never had
on such trip before. He went speed
uv. wondering over IL.
Years passed, and neither the child S
kiss nor the recognition of the gentle
tleman had been able to arrest Jabed
Jones downward way. He became no.
toriOus for his crimes and for his es-
capes from justice. Photographs of him
were in almost every thieves gallery in
the land. If there had been such a
thing known as a band of brigands. he
would have been the leader, possessing
as he did in a large degree every quail
ticatiOn for the place. Yet. so far. he
had never taken life. Indeed, he had
been known many times to save those
that were in danger, adding to his name
the half-hero glory of Robin Hood.
When his reputation was at its height,
a bold robbery was planned. Mr..
Damon had become VIGOROUSLY rich.
He was past middle life, had retired
from business, and lived in fine, I'M
protected house a little out of the town
of Drummond. His family was small,
consisting only of his wife and one
daughter; and the love and respect of
the whole community among whom he
lived. he had SO far considered sufli-
cient guarantee for the security of his
property.
Nothing could be easier for the evil
disposed to help themselves to almost
any amount of possessions thus inse-
curely guarded, and the only wonder
was that he escaped so long. At last,
however, the time had come. The
gang of burglars over which Jabed
Jones was captain made themselves
fully acquainted with all the surround
ings, appointed night for securing the
easy booty. Jabed Jones had trusted
the arrangements to one of the most
expert men, but was himself to head
the undertaking, in order to secure
just distribution of the gains.
The night proved still and cloudless,
full moon giving them every facility for
rapid and easy work. They were to
approach the house by different ways
and times, more securely to avoid
awakening suspicion, and Jabed had
given the order with little more per-
emptoriness than usual, knowing tho
hardened character of one of his men,
that there should be no bloodshcd, come
what might.
As they came near the town. however,
the men noticed change in Jabcd's
manner. Atfirst he appeared surprised;
then he began to make objections to the
undertaking, and at last fairly declared
his intention to abandon it.
'I-ook here, bossw the man he had
distrus.ed had answered, with his hand
on his revolver. '.You amt givin to
tantrums. but if you think you are going
to begin tonight, and play off on Job
Stout you've got hold of the wrong
fellar. that's all. I'm a-going to carry
it through, come what may"
You re a-going to obey orders, or it
will be the worse for you," Jabed had
answered, sharply. but he followed as
they led the way. dropping step or
two behind.
Yes, it was the very place; Jabed
knew it in the moonlight as well as if
it had been broad day. Here was the
path over which he had carried the
little child in his arms, and there, upon
the yeranda, stood the gentleman who
had lifted his hat to him. and addressed
him for the first and last time as ''sir!"
Account for the coincidence in any
way we please, the fact remains, as
Jabed stood there in these quickly mo-
ments, the moonbeams fell full on q
bunch of blue violets, which Law ON a
small table near the window; back as
fresh as if he still held them in his hand
came the perfume of those flowers, faded
and thrown away SO long ago.
And now! now what was to come of
it ALE The window was slightly Sc