Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1889-06-06


o~fense. vas regarded BY them With
extremely Ienient eyes, while the Civ
ing Of information leading to the
capture Of such offenders vas con-
sidered the chief atrocity in the cata-
logue Of mans crimes against his fell
bowman
The girl would have rushed forward.
but Hamlin held her back, almost saw
agely.
Guilty. er not guilty." old Jerry
Pottle was asking Of the group of
stern-faeed men about him
.Guiltyr'
''Shsrpley.- began old Jerry. grave
ly. you've BEN foun' guilty. am"
They'll kill him. the girl gasped.
''Save-save--
The hand Of the mar beside her
closed fercely on her arm.
LET them" he whispered. kissing
ly. He came between-"
But. he was goin' to take me way
from here an make n lady Nv mer'
The girl whispered. p~leadingIy.
$50 will-But / forgot-Ugly-
ugly
You've ben foun' guilty" old Jer-
~ was saying-'guilty nv givin' the
Information that sent the Riggs boys
to prison-tore EN- away frum their
wives an families. left the women {
ill the hungry mouths NV their chill
dren a. best they kin. an sent EN- TO n
Twin death fer half NV their ~Iives,'
The stern-faced mel seemed to
grasp their rifles more firmly.
Il reckon you know what punish
nent sech traitors as you git who sell
mems lives fer a little money. Robbed
en- NV half Nv their lives on this yere
yearth beca'se they made n little con
into juice. stead NV mealI'
Yes; I know answered Sh,rpley.
You'll murder me-
1T h'ain't murder to rid the yearth
Nv n sneakin' houn' Nv a spy. It's
but. I'm not guiltyr' Sharpley in
terrupted. desperately. Indeed. /
did not give the information"
Don't lie. Sharply, The news that
little Sol Bender got in town was
straight You gave the boys Up.
am"
"No-no, Not T." cried Sharp!ey.
In his desperation 1T was"
'Who?" demanded old Jerry.
Jacks Hamlin," cried the wretched
prisoner. as q last resort
You are a liar,r roared old Jerry.
Jacks Hamlin-"
is the guilty mani" uttered a steady
voice.
A little squad Of men who had crept
noiselessly within hearing of the small
group about the fire saw Hamlin stride
resolutely into the light. He strobe
TO where Sharpley was bound 4 re-
volver was in his hand. and with it he
waved back old Jerry and his little
squad Quickly drawing a knife. he
severed Sharpley's bonds
There" he said. steruIy. to the
girl who had followed into the light.
Il have saved him, Go-go with the
man you love. and-and may God
bless you
somehow. n almost seemed that. in
the light Of the great sacrifice he had
made. Jack HamIin's unhandsome face
looked less ugly The girl never once
looked at S~harpley. but kept her eyes
nxed on Hamlin's face. pale. stern and
ugly. and il somehow seemed to her
Just then the noblest face in the wOrld
Come Hanuiers Sharpley said.
eagerly. bestowing scarce n thought
upon the man who had saved his life
a. the o . of the greatest sacrifice that
a man can make. Come. I'll take
you out into the great world you want
ell 20 see. and
Co Hlmlin said 60 with the
man you love. while you IAN, =
But I dOa't love him. cried the
girl Il love you
~Eiannier'
Then she wk sobbing Tn his breast.
and the ugly saee vas bent to her wild
hair. and Hamlin forgot SharpIey, for
Got the desperate men he had dared;
and they. slow-witted always had
stood OPen-mouthed and motionless
during the exciting moments that fol.
lowed his appearance
Then. Sharpley turned to fee The
next instant he was confronted BY a
little squad of men who appeard as
suddenly as il they had risen from the
Garth
Stop the leader cried. as old
Jerrys party closed their gaping
mouths and raised their brown rides.
who air you7" demanded Pottle-
I'll tell your" cried Sharpley. ia
terruptingly. They are United States
Marshal Keenan, and his pos5<@ And.
now that | have such backing-
Our only business Is with Sharp
ley" the marshal said. sternly- We
have listened long enough to gather
the gist OF the story In his capacity
Of spy. Sharpley did good work in de-
livering the Riggs boys to Justice.
The man who just saved his life had
not the most remote connection with
the matter"
1t seemed that Sharpley had re-
manned in the neighborhood on the
plea that he was on the scent of an
other Illicit distillery. Fearing that
he would be recalled before he could
accomplish his purpose. he sent in re-
ports that led the marshal to believe
that there was an important capture
ali ready tn he nade Hence tra rS-hs