The Press., 1890-10-16
CHAPTER III. THE CANVAS JAIL.

GlESs A14AEl' " Father, thts yoassg lady ts Mss Wat
 Iace."
 One of the prairie wagons was made prison for the two captives. The walls were only canvas, and the entrance had nothing more like bars than the cross ings of cord that tied the flaps together. But Deputy Sheriff and Detective Allo- way re-enforced the cloth with human safeguards. Boss Donald was convinced of the prisoners probable guilt, and he felt that it was right to lend four work men to the duty of patroling around the wagon until morning. He had no sym pathy for Jack High, and not much for Old Jugg Brown; and his rude Hndh- ness to Deuce and Will found expression in a brusQne command to clear away from the vehicle containing their de spised fathers.
 I'm sorry for you, Will" he said, gripping the young mans shoulders with his brawny hands and scowling into his facey 'sbutyo can't do anything for the old man to=night.4 As for you, Sis," and he grasped her wrist with scarcely lessened force, "what you want to do is to go to sleep. Now, don't cry"
 There was not the faintest suggestion of tears in her frightened eyes, and the suggestion that they would shut them selves in sleep was 50 absurd that she could almost smile at it.
 Cant stay with dadY' she pleaded.
 Aleck Wiams had been active and in. sistent in helping Alloway to establish sure jail, and to Deuce's request he peremptorily said: "No, you can't. We don't propose to give him your sharp wits to help his own in some scheme tc escape. You nor Will can't go neal them till morning"
 ''Look here, MT. Donald" the girl per. sisted. ignoring Wiams, you're all making mistake. My dad is gam. bier, and he can't be called 8 cireum. spect gentleman; but he isn't counter feiter and he wouldn't cheat any man out of nickel except in the way ot cards. Besides, he hadn't any money, good or bad, when we got here. You know that" and she appealed to Will Brown.
 "It is so," Will assented earnestly. He had to get dollar from me-"
 Wiams laughed viciously. He had not known before how small an amount it had been possible for him to win in the game, and he angrily exclaimed: Your worthless parent-he hadn't a cent either, suppose, but we find his pockets full of counterfeit money just the same. Where did it come from, I'd like to knowy' 'a
 "He says he won it from you," said Will.
 ''Tell me how-in this game that never start into it without cent to play withy' Wiams excitedly argued.
 Better be off to bed, my boy" Boss Donald said; "you can't do anything to- night. Of with you!"
 Will Brown obeyed the last emphatic command, so far at least as to slowly quit the spot. Deuce would have fol lowed him, but the hand of Donald was still on her wrist. "Little girl," he said, with abated harshness, ''you're going to get right into the hammock in my tent and stay there till daylight. can't use my quarters o-night, anyhow, and you're welcome to them"
 There was force enough in his one arm to conquer her hardest resistance, and so she made none by either word or motion, but let him lead her to tent, which was high and square, for it served the boss as daytime office as well as for sleeping quarters. It had no occu pant until they entered. From one end pole to the other hammock was strung It was as high as the mans breast, and therefore about level with the girls chin. Without word he lifted her in his arms and laid her in the suspended couch.
 "Now there's no use fretting," he said, with what was gentleness in such "a man accustomed to giving gruff orders to gangs of laborers; "you go to sleep, do you hearT and he set the hammock to swinging like cradle. Nothing shall happen to your father before morn ing-nor to you. Good night"
 .'Thank you," she responded faintly "Good night"
 She lay alone, gazing wide eyed and sleepless at the canvas roof, with her mind in an absolutely thoughtless con- dition. The blow had stunned her, and she only slowly regained her accustomed mental activity. The sky became filled with drifting black clouds, and 1t was at increasingly rare intervals that they let the moon shine through. At one of these times, following few minutes of darkness, the illumination was so sud- den and brilliant that the change reused her from 8 lethargy which might other wise have lulled her to sleep. An instant of daze, of confusion as to where she was, and then she saw man sharply shadowed on the side of the tent. It was startlingly vivid silhouette. The figures pantomime was that of cautious stealth, and it was her first alarmed be- lief that 1t was inside the tent. But 1t was noiseless and it disappeared as sud denly as it had come. She stared at the blank fabric. Then the clouds shut of the light again and she was left in a gloom that was almost black.
 "Sisstp came to her alert ears as she dimly saw that the entrance to the tent was being cautiously opened. Don't be scared, and don't make any noise," was whispered.
 THEY All. FAiLED.-The following letter from MT '. A. Thomson of Columbus, Wis, is peculiarly in. eresting ssMy wife, says he, "has been treated or her head, stomach and nervous prostration by