Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-03-29
Saint Nafq 5 Beacon.

be captured, anyhow-and soon-by
some one who will never think oI
reward. Then well. don't think
badly of re, jim, dear: two things
would make me happy girl; ven
ge4ncs on Kansas, and the right to
call you my husband"
Parson Jim heard these words sad
Iy enough, but he thought too much
Of Ethel and her resolves to seek
hastily to turn her from her purpose
ever for his own benefit.
Early in the following summer,
toward sunset, Ethel sat on the porch
Of the parsonage 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.
PEARSON in, miss p
mo, Zeke; be is away to-day"
"Well, wuz jest goin' to 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 e'er
got pointer as ter Kansas tricks,
an some nv US though as like enuff
We might make up a little crowd to
down his nobs. Parsons mostly game
fer bizness that's right an squar, SO l
kim up ter tell him"
Ethel's eyes flashed, and the warm
blood coursed quickly through her
veins, as a wild thought occurred to
her. She could ride like an Indian,
aad she was a dead shot; Parson Jim
had taken a special delight In making
her a good horsewoman and clever
with a pistol.
II will 60" she said. I'm not
going to ask if l may 60; I'm going,
Zeke."
"All right, miss; only it's risky
work, an not fit fer ladies. Mebbe
Their parson wouldn't like fer yer to
60;
Eyes, he would, Zeke-yes, he
would; don't you know-don't you re-
member all about my poor father? /
will go, and if get within range Of
Kansas l 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 captnr-
ing, if possible, Kansas and his des,
peradoes. 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 a good one. About 10 o'clock
at night they espied four horsemen,
evidently awaiting the coach, and
closed in 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 De
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 10
pass. The desperate man emptied all
the charges of his revolver 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 mustache.
kansas" muttered Zeke.
Ethel no sooner heard that detested
name than she leveled a revolver at
the man riding rapidly past. 1t re-
quired a steady arm and a sure eye to
hit such mark; but she did it. Click
-bang-snd a bullet lodged in the
brain of the highwayman. y 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, proceeded 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 50 a long and piercing
scream rent the air and Ethel Win
ship threw herself upon the corpse Of
the highwaymsn.
20 my God my poor Jim my
poor Jim! have murdered YOU -
and then she tainted.