South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-11-11

big-eycd calf with a withered VEL
low carrot which she picked out OF
. bin.
eff were q farmer" said Jac-
quelIna, az wouldn't let things 90
to wrack and ruin like this. -
With business-like intention, abe
r ached down a huge old fashioned
pistol from its rusty hooks on the
inside of the barn door.
Trigger bent" she said, TO her.
self. "Barrel all dented in, but [
think it could be fixed. Anyhow,
the charge ought to be drawn"
Jacquelins's father had been
gun-smith, and she had acquired
somewhat Of his skill in che craft.
She eyed the ancient weapon with
scornful amusement.
"You couldn't fire it off il You
were to try" thought she.
And suddenly Strengthening up
her slim form, she held the pistol
belligerently at arms length.
"pon't FIRE! For heavens sake.
don't fire !"
There was a rustlipg in q mass
OF dried cornstalks in the corner OF
the barn.
A hollow-eyed man, dressed in
rags that were tied loosely about
him with strings, crept out almost
at her very feet. The pistol drop
ped TO Jscquelina's side.
"Why," who are you ? she cried.
"Ge. me something to eat" he
said, hoarsely. I've been day
and night without food. VINO
am / ? Turn the barrel of that
pistol the other way, and I'll tell
you. ! used to have some nerve
once, but its all gone now. Don't
fire. I'll surrender Pm the fell
low that escaped from Casanova
Jail day fore yesterday. I'm lay
in low until the first alarms blown
over, but l can't starve. CIT me
something to eat for Gods sake 20
Jacquelina held tight to the pis-
toll.
you're sure you're not bur-
glar ? SAID she, little TREMENDOUSLY.
I'm no burglar" he answered.
at was for forgery 1 was sent Up
for. Can you help me? Will
you ?"
81 don't know" said Jacqueli-
ma, great impulse of pity spring
ing upin her heart as she noted the
hunger-glaring eyes, the gaunt
checks. the unshorn beard of the
poor fugitive. "What have you
done with your prison. clothes ?''
"Buried 'em in the barn cellar.
/ found them old overalls and
things in the harness Closet" be
added, piteously.
"I'll try and find you some
thing BETTER" said Jacquelina.
''Stopl" making a grasp at her
as she WAS turning away. "You
won't bstraY me ?"
Jacquelina's brown eyes flashed
indignation at him.
"WhAt Go you take me for ?v
said she.
And he sank back among the
corn-stalks, q trifle easier in his
mind.
Grandfather Gordon still sat on
the porch, smoking, when she re-
turned. Betsey was stirring mush
in kettle.
Both were rather deaf, and JAG
quelina easily distracted few ar
ticles from the milk-room-a vel
low pitcher of buttermilk, the stub
end Of loaf of bread, and some
dyspeptic-looking odds and ends :;
and it was easy to take a suit of her
old grandfather's ginger-colored
homespun clothes from the press
under the stairs and creep silently
away.
It's good thing I'm going away
tomorrow morning, thought Jac-
queline. "But the very first mon
ey earn I'll pay Grandfather Cor
don for these things-yes, and With
interest, too J
She fed the poor, escaped wretch
and gave him clothes to wear, and
ended by sharing with him her
financial all. One bright silver
dollar she kept the other she gave
to him.
"And now, said she "mind You
take a new start in the world
"Pll do my best, sald he, eager
~ drinking the cool buttermilk,
and swallowing the dry bread and
leathery ginger cookies in great
gulps. "And il everybody d been
as good TO me as you have, never
d a been where ] be now.
"Humpb ! muttered old Betsey,
''the gals wus'n a seven years fam
Inc Three ginger snaps an half
q squash pie gone, besides what she
eat at suppertime We should be
ruined il she stayed here long.
"She's q niee-lookin' gal, said
old Grandfather Gordon. 'qf Il
wasn't 80 ALFRED poor, / should
most like to keep her.
In the middle Of the night, Jao-
quelina, who slept the sleep OF
youth and health. quite undis.urb-
cd by any suspicion Of the ghost,
was reused by an awful, crash, a
blaze that seemed to scoroh
her very eyes,
Tho old honuo 80. .t-...i- Il.