Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-10-17

heart West seems years off!
Vas, an yere am, a-doin'
70 no good an stealin' every ono O yer
horses I kin git my hands Oh. In my
case. ye club together an offer a re-
ward Nv two hundred dollars jist to git
me. Give him starvation wages M
have him all the time, an offer two
hundred dollars jist to have me a few
hours. That's reason, haint hitp''
Then he turned to the unfinished
answer to the letter. Though simply
told, It was Q story with world of
pathos in it, and the reader snuffled
suspiciotlsly once or twice and rubbed
q rusty sun-burned hand across his
eyes. It dwelt but lightly upon his
trials and spoke most hopefully Of the
happy future when they should meet
again. There was pathos in his very
hope, hoping as it was against almost
absolute certainty. 1t told Of the
religious enthusiasm of. the Worship
pers who nightly listened to the teach
lngs of the Good Book, but said not a
word OF the scanty pittance they paid
him for his labor, not enough to per-
NIT him to buy or hire a horse to ride
to and from his labor of duty.
When he reached the abrupt ending
OF the letter, the reader again shook
his fist at the imaginary listener and
cursed him roundly. ''Two hundred
dollars fer me an nuthin' fer this man
this hero!' he half shouted.
Suddenly, a thoughts seemed to strike
him, and he brought one hard fist
down on tho table with q sounding
thump. " -
'I'll do hit!'' he said, earnestly.
Then, as he seized pen and q piece
OF paper, he muttered again: T.,
s1'll do hit; blamed if don't! He
shall have his sweetheart, an that, too,
mighty quick!'
1t was after midnight when the
preacher returned and it seemed to
the other that he looked paler and
limped more painfully than usual.
my friend, the preacher said. pres
emily, II am glad you have so nearly
recovered. for this house can shelter
yen but q few days longer"
''W'y?" asked the invalid; s.air We
gittin' tired O. me?''
"Certainly not. But the owner of
this house has warned me to leave be-
cause I am unable to pay the rent
and
us he member Nv yer congrega-
tion?''
He is"
.'How much does he give toward
payin' yer salary?' 1885,.
1T seems as if he could be q trifle
more liberal, but the fact is, he gives
just one dollar per month, and I am
almost forced to beg to get that"
''What'll We do now?'
II do not know. Doubtless I'll see
my way out of it. all, but I do not,
now, l."
''Parson, will ye do me favor, one
more on top o all you've done fer
me?"
GLADLY, if I can," the young
preacher replied.
''Take this note to the leader of the
Protective Association" -..rx
''Amos Hudden?''
''That's him! He's Il partic' lar
friend o. mine. an IL be mighty clad
to see me. Do this right now an
hit'll be the last thing I'll ask Nv ye."
When the young preacher had
limped YEARLY away in the darkness,
the other thumped the table with one
hard fist and chuckled audibly: "Oh,
you bet yer life Amos Hudden'll be
glad to see me! Soil all the balance
of the vigilantes. Two hundred dol
lars reward fer me an nuthin' fer the
preacher! Wal, he'll have the two
hundred fer givin' me up an the vigil
lantes'n have me-" Then he sat silent
~ thinking. II could skin out Wit an
give 'em the slip" he muttered, pres
emily. This means penitentiary or
lynch; most likely lynch!" He picked
up the letter from the preachers
sweetheart, and read it again in his
stumbling way.
1.-TWO hundred dollars'll mako them
pore souls happy" he mused. This
yere means lynchin' fer me, reckon.
Wal, let 'em lynch! Mebby-neb-
by" He faltered and paused as if
trying to recollect something.
Carbohydrates that thar verse
in the Bible I yeared the preacher re-
peatin' t'other night: Greater love
hath no man that he lay down his life
fer his FRIEND That's hit, an meb-
by" ..5....
The door opened softly and half q
dozen men with weapons in their hands
entered without word. Not a move-
ment of the invalid's face showed that
he understood the errand that had
brought these stern, silent men to the
cabin. " ses~Gs r., F.
'Howdy!'' he saluted. ''Take cheers.
gentlemen" .a. N