Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-10-04

his INST at the imaginary listener and
cursed him roundly. Two hundred
dollars fer me an nuthin' fer this man
this heror' he half shouted.
Suddenly, q thought seemed to strike
him, and he brought one hard fist
down on the table with q sounding
thump.
I'm do hit!'' he said, earnestly.
Then, as he seized q pen and piece
Of paper, he muttered again:
.sI'll do hit; blamed II I don't! He
shall have his sweetheart, an that, too,
mighty quick!''
It 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, 81 am glad you have so nearly
recovered, for this house can shelter
you but a few days longer"
"W'y?" asked the invalid; lair ye
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"
'tIs he member Nv yer congrega-
tion?"
He is
"How much does he give toward
payin' yer salary?"
''It seems as if he could be a tri1e
more liberal, but the fact is, he gives
just one dollar per month. and | am
almost forced to beg to get that.
''What'n ye do now?"
az do not know. Doubtless I'll see
my way out of it all, but I do not,
now, L"
''Parson, will We do me a favor. one
more on top o. all you've done fer
me?"
''Gladly, if 1 can," the young
preacher replied.
Take this note to the leader of the
Protective Association"
''Amos Hudden?" .
THAT'S him! He's a particular
friend O. mine. an IL be mighty glad
to see me. Do this right now an
hit'n be the last thing I'll ask Nv We. -
WheL 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 vigi-
lantes'll have me-" Then he sat silent
ly thinking. II could skin out yit an
give 'em the Slip" he muttered, pres
emily. This means penitentiary or
lynch; most likely lynchn' He picked
up the letter from the preachers
sweetheart, and read 1t again in his
stumbling way.
1.-TWO hundred dollars'll make them
pore souls happy" he unused. This
yere means lynchin' fer me, reckon.
Wal, let 'em lynch! Mebby-meb-
by" He faltered and paused as if
trying to recollect something.
"Mebby-what's 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" !.
The door opened softly and half a
dozen men with weapons in their hands
entered without word. Not move
ment of the invalid's face showed that
he understood the errand that had
brought these stern, silent men to the
cabin.
"Howdy!" he saluted. Take cheers,
gentlemen"
TJack Harris said the leader of the
vigilantes, 1--WE want you!"
"Wal, haint We got me3r asked the
other, quietly.
Eyes" muttered the leader, IAN
we're a-goin' to keep vel"
"Wal, don't reckon 1 blame ye,"
Harris answered. "Hit's ben a long
time sence We got chance at me an I
don't wonder We want to keep me. Did
the preacher give We informationp"
Eyes"
"Has he got the reward yitp"
mo, of course not! We want goin'
to do no cash in advance business"
There was the sound of struggle at
the door and voice crying:
''Let me go in! aoill go in!r
"Hit's the preacher" some one said.
BILLS a-holdin' him outside"
A pistol CLEAN ed from beneath the
table and Jack Harris hard hand
leveled it at the leaders head"
"Let him in!'' he said, sternly.
The preachers white face was flush
ed and there were tears in his eyes as
he imped across the room to Jack
Harris side.
stOh. my friend" he cried, "what
have Idone? What have Idone?"
Delivered my note. reckon"
eyes, and sold your liberty for
money! But God knows am innocent
of any intent to do SOP He buried his
face in his hands.
''Now," said Harris, sternly, "Hud-
den, give the parson his reward. Wen
the moneys in his hand I'll drop this
gun. While hits up you know how
safe your life is!'
.-'ae7E7 lallllj