Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-04-29

fingers a ring, the value of which he
knew full well. ''Why not? Why
not?" she was child of rich parents,
beyond doubt, who had strayed away
in search of flowers. There would be q
large ransom offered for her return.
The child, smiling from her high
perch in his arms, noticed that he
stopped, and said. bending her little
body forward eagerly in her impa-
thence:
"Want nv mamma! May wants hel
mamma! Pleaser' patting his cheek
with the back of her violet-tilled hand.
"And May shall have her mamma,
said the man with fierce struggle.
s.Get thee behind me, Satan!'
So rare was the command, that Satan,
affrighted. obeyed, and pretty soon they
reached the outskirts of the town.
Now where is your home. little
violct?" asked Jabed. Point it out to
me as quick as you can"
There's my papa!" was.the child's
answer, pointing to a large house, on
the veranda of which a gentleman was
walking.
What induced Jabed to the act he
could not tell. He might easily have
rnt the child down now, and let her
make her own way home; but instead
of that, he felt driven to make an
apology for having her in his arms, and
| without the fear of arrest, which had
chung to him so embarrassingly before,
he walked boldly up to the steps, in
front of the veranda, and said:
al -
little girl, but she went to the woods to
pick violets and lost her way. So, as
she was tired, took the liberty of
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 him? 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 60.
'May must have run away" said the
gentleman. '.Her mother is sick, and
in the confusion she had not been
missed. do thank you very much!
GoOd-morning, sir!' and as Jabed turned
half round, he saw raised hat and
caught the word ''sir!''
Treated like a gentleman! That
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, indeed!"
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 a trip before. He went speed
lily. wondering over it.
Years passed, and neither the child S
kiss nor the recognition of sthe 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 large degree every quail
fication for the place. Yet, SO far, he
had never taken a 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,
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 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
inc arrangements 10 one OF the most
expert men, but was himself to head
the undertaking, in order to secure a
just distribution of the gains.
The night proved still and cloudless.
full moon giving them every facility for
rapid and easy work. They We're 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 the
hardened character of one of his men.
that there should be no bloodshed, come
what might.
As they came near the town. however.
the men noticed a change in Jabed's
manner. Attirst he appeared surprised:
then he began to make objections to the
undertaking, and at last fairly declared
his intention to abandon, it.
''Iook here. boss.' the man he had
distrusted 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 wronr