The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-21

geanc, - Kansas, and tho right TO call yor
my hus nd'
Parse. Jm heard these words sadly
enough, but he thought too much OF 1.-THE
and her resolves to seek hastily TO turn heI
purpose even for his own benefit.
Early in the following summer, toward
sunset, Ethel sat on the porch OF the parson.
aye quite alone. The parson was away, and
| had been away all day, and might not return
until the following evening. One Of the men
from the gulch approached and DOTTED his
hat.
"Parson in, miss"
"No, Zeke he is away today"
"Well, wuz jest a-goin ter tell him that
we've got news that Kansas is likely ter be
up ter mischief way about ten miles along
ther valley ter-night. It's the first time we
Ger got pointer ms to Kansas tricks, an
some ov us thought as like enulf we might
make a little crowd To down his nobs.
Parson' 5 mostly game fer business that's
right an squar', so kim up ter tell him"
Ethels eyes flashed, and tho warm blood
coursed quickly through her veins, as n wild
| thought occurred to her. She could ride
like an Indian, and she was dead shot;
Parson Jim had taken a special delight in
making her good horsewoman and clever
with pistol.
Il will co." she said "rm not going to
ask if may go; I'm going, Zeke."
IAN right, miss; only it's risky work, an
not fit fer ladies' Mebbe ther parson
wouldn't like fer yer to go."
YES, he would, Zeke-yes, he would
Don't you know-dont you remember all
al, Zoe I ,.,tn
get within range of Kansas will shoot him
without mercy"
SO Ethel joined the party of fifteen or
twenty armed men who rode out that night
for the purpose of capturing, if possible, Kan
sas and his desperadoes They rode in as
wide a line as the valley would permit, so
that no company of horsemen might pass
them unnoticed and this plan proved good
one About 10 o'clock at night they espied
four horsemen, evidently awaiting the coach,
and closed III upon them. Zeke insisted on
keeping Ethel Winship back, and made her
promise to stay with him if the boys could
effect quick capture. But, no; the outlaws
knew that certain death awaited them should
they be captured, and resolved to fight dearly
for their lives There was a sharp, quick
interchange Of pistol shots. Three of the
robbers and three of their pursuers fell from
their saddles. The fourth desperate put
spurs to his horse and dashed right through
the crowd of miners, who, in their surprise at
his action, allowed him to pass. The desper-
ate man emptied all the charges Of his re-
volver behind him as he galloped, threw the
pistol down and drew another from his belt.
He rode in the direction of Ethel and Zeke,
and they could see that he was a magnificent
man, with long black hair and black mus
tache
'Kansas" muttered Zeke.
Ethel no sooner heard that detested name
than she leveled u revolver at the man rid
ing rapidly past. II required steady arm
and sure eye to hit such a mark but she
did it, Click-bang-and a bullet logded in
the brain of the highwayman. A dozen men
rode up and lifted the man. He was dead.
They laid him back on the ground, and one
Of the men, more curious than the rest, pro-
ceeded to examine the wound in his temple.
To do so, he brushed back the long black
hair, and discovered that it was false. Then
he looked closely at the heavy mustache,
that also was false; so he pulled both wig
and mustache from the dead man. As he
did so. a long and piercing scream rent the
air, and Ethel Winship threw herself upon
the corpse Of the highwayman.
''Oh my GodI my poor Jim! my poor
Jiml have murdered your And then she
tainted.
"Parson JIM" almost whispered q dozen
men
One Of the slightly wounded ruffians who
also stood near, between two Of his captors
nodded his head and said: eyes, Parson
Jim. He fooled you boys badly We called
him Kansas
When they lifted the girl from the dead
body Of Parson jim, or kansas-Ethel Win
ships lover and the slayer of her father-she,
too, was dead Kansas was punished, and
Ethels father was avenged Chambers
Journal.