The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-04-21


George Washington Gulch The robber
had evidently not forgotten his promise to
provide for the girl, for at odd times a
packet of money had been found on the par
sons window sill marked 'sFrom Kansas
1t had always been placed there over night
in mysterious manner, for no one was
ever seen to do it. Parson Jim himself
still preached every Sunday in the Sample
Rooms, and was still a prime favorite with
the miners, though they sometimes wonder
ed why man who was evidently so well
"fxed' as the parson should elect to stay
in rough, out-of-the-way place like the
Gulch.
Ethel Winship had grown into beauti-
full woman, and was as good as she was
pretty. Parson Jim perceived this. Par
son Jim was in love with his ward
One evening in the springtime he told
Ethel of his love, and asked her to be his
wife.
IL cannot answer that question, dear
Jim" said the girl. "Myself is the only
reward which l can offer to any man, be-
cause 1 have naught else. So have long
ago made up my mind to keep myself to
offer, if needs be, as reward to the man
who shall kill or capture Kansas. If it
were not for that firm resolve, would say
Yes at once-for, Jim, you deserve my
love and all | can give you. But do not
ask me dear. Perhaps Kansas will be cap
tured, anyhow-and soon-by some one
who will never think of reward Then
well, don't think badly of me, jim, dear:
two things would make me happy girl:
vengeance on Kansas, and the right to call
you my husband"
Parson Jim heard these words sadly
enough, but he thought too much of Ethel
and her resolves to seek hastily to turn her
from her purpose even for his own benefit.
Early in the following summer, toward
sunset, Ethel sat on the porch Of the par
sonage 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
doffed his hat.
"Parson in, miss ?"
"No, Zeke; he 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 thought as like enuff we
might make up little crowd to down his
nobs. Parsons mostly game fer bizness
that's right an squar, SO 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, and she was a dead shot;
Parson Jim had taken special delight in
making her good horsewoman and clever
with pistol.
81 will go" she said. 'Tm not going
to ask if l may go; Tn going Zeke
"All right, miss; only it's risky work,
an not fit fer ladies'. Mebbe ther parson
wouldn't like fer yer to go?"
eyes, he would, Zeke-yes, he would;
don't you know-don't you remember all
about my poor father? 1 will go, and if |
get within range of Kansas I will shoot
him without mercy"
So Ethel joined The Marty of fifteen or
twenty armed men who code out that
night for the purpose of capturing. if pos
sible, Kansas and his desperadoes. They
rode in as wide 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 in upon
them. Zeke insisted on keeping Ethel
Winship back, and made her promise to
stay with him if the boys could effect a
quick capture, But, no; the outlaws knew
that certain death awaited them should
they be captured, and resolved to fight dear
ly for their lives. There was a sharp,
quick interchange Of pistol shots. Three
of the robbers and three of the pursuers
fell from their saddles The fourth despe-
RADIO 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 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 d.
rection of Ethel and Zeke, and they could
see that he was magnificent man, with
long black hair and black mustache.
"Kansasl" muttered Zeke.
Ethel no sooner heard that detested
name than she leveled revolver at the man
riding rapidly past 1t required steady
arm and a sure eye to hit such mark; but
she did it. Click-bang-and bullet
lodged 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, proceeded to examine the wound in
his temple. To do so he brushed back the
black hair, and discovered that it was false.
Then he looked closely at the heavy mus
tache; that also was false; so he pulled both
wig and mustaehe from the dead man, As
he did so long and piercing scream rent
the air and Ethel Winship threw herself
upon the corpse of the highwayman.
20 my Godl my poor Jiml-my poor
Jiml have murdered you!'' and then she
tainted
aParson JimI" almost whispered dozen
men.
One of the slightly wounded rufians who
also stood near, between two of his captors,
nodded his head and said: eyes, Parson
Jim. He fooled you boys badly. We
call him Kansas"
When they lifted the girl from the dead
body Of Parson Jim, or Kansas-Ethel
Winship's lover and the slayer of her fa-
ther-she, too, was dead. Kansas was
punished and Ethel's father was avenged
There are three great breakwaters in the
world-at Cherbourg, in France; at Ply
mouth, in England, and at Lewes, Del.