Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-04-04

like to have you do"
Then they had long talk, and Flicker
began to understand how miserable such
a bad life was, and why Miss Mabel was
so anxious to get him away from it; and
he told himself that she should never be
disappointed in him again.
| The next few days he devoted to pro-
curing his outfit; then one night he came
to say good-by, wondering sadly when
and where they would meet again, for
who should say how long he might be
gone?
"Tll say one thing" he said; 'this
moneys loaned ter me. I'm a-goin' ter
pay it back. The first streak O luck
get, I'll come ter you ter pay my debt if
hev ter hunt you all over the United
States"
And then he tried to thank her and
promised that she should not find her
trust in him misplaced and, though he
could find but few words, she understood
and was satisfied The next morning he
went away.
More than three years had passed
when one day fine looking young man,
riding strong pony, drew up in front
of what had been Wing Luns hotel and
looked about in confused way. OF the
bustling camp nothing was to be seen
but few dilapidated and deserted cab.
ins. The only signs of life were at the
hotel, now apparently roadside inn. A
number of horses stood saddled and tied
to the fence, while their owners talked
on the porch SO excitedly that they did
not notice the newcomer until he called
out greeting and asked:
''Is this Sykesburg?"
"Waal," drawled a tall man, evi.
IDENTIFY the proprietor, coming forward,
''it's what's left of it. Was yer pertike
lerly anxious ter find Sykesburg?" he
asked, looking up inquisitively. "Why,
he exclaimed; "ef it amt Flicker-little
Flickerl Shake hands, sonny. Don't
yer remember Long Jim? Say. bub, he
continued, growing grave and speaking
rapidly, "hev yer struck luck? Becase
eff yer hev, ye've come in the nick o
time. There's friend o yourn in
trouble"
Yes, I've had luck" said Flicker, lay.
ing his hand on leather pouch that
hung from his belt. "Who needs help?
THAT thar Miss Kennedy" Jim re.
piled, as somehow Flicker had felt that
he would. Git on yer horses, boys. he
shouted to the men, setting the eXampl,
by jumping on his own, and in a few
minutes a cloud of dust enveloped the
party as they took the road to San Lui,
at full speed, Jim explaining to Flicker
as they went
A year and half ago the mine had
suddenly ceased to produce anything:
the company disbanded and the camp
was deserted Mr.. Kennedy and his
daughter shortly afterwards removed tc
San Luis Mr.. Kennedy had been utter.
ly ruined by the failure of the mine. He
and Senior Hernandez had quarreled be.
fore this and were not on speaking terms,
and. knowing the senor's character,
every one was surprised when he how
came forward and renewed his friend.
ship with Mr.. Kennedy, advising him tc
open a store in San Luis and insisting
upon loaninG him the money needed; and
Mr.. Kennedy accepted gratefully, little
dreaming what terrible revenge the
willy Mexican was planning for his fan.
cied wrongs
Among the old Mexican statutes was
the infamous one which enabled person.
If he could not obtain money that was
owed him, to make his debtor a peon-
that is, a servant-until the amount oweG
was worked out, a servitude that is moth.
ing but wretched slavery.
Hernandez, therefore, had pressed his
loans on Mr.. Kennedy, knowing that
they could not be paid and intending t.
make him a peon. Just as this was about
to be done his unsuspecting victim died
suddenly. 1t was an easy matter to make
his daughter responsible for the debt
and before she realized what had occur.
red she found herself threatened with
this terrible fate unless the money could
be produced on this very day of Flickers
return.
"These fellers," said Jim, indicating his
companions. ''just come from thar, an
they sez ole Hernandez is sayin' as he
means ter send her inter Mexico. hope
we git thar in time ter stop that off; she'll
be skeered half ter death. We was think.
in wot to do wen yer come up" he con
tinued, "but we amt got much money
an thar amt enough on us ter take her
out o that nest o Mexicans by force:
sides, the ole feller's got the law back Of
him."
Flicker's blood rushed like fire through
his veins; he was almost beside himself
with pity and Indignation; and he could
not even think of her having perhaps
started in captivity for Mexico, for,
though, of course, they would follow and
bring her back, he thought the anguish
of terror would be enough to kill her.
His horse was a swift one, but only wings
could have carried him fast enough.
They were in time, however; the crowd
of Mexicans in the street scattered before
the flying hoofs and Miss Kennedy saw a
figure spring toward her and heard a
voice cry triumphantly:
Don't you know me? I'm here to pay
my debit" And in few minutes the
senor's intended peon rode away with her
friends.
She had written to Mr.. Lanyon some
time since, but he did not receive the let.