The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-12-14

ranch hc had gone TO three times a
week. If he had found work there,
as he expected, he could easily have
could easily have notified her. So'
late III the afternoon OF the fifth day.
she threw her shawl over her hcad and
went down TO her fat hers to ilnd IL
they Ind heard anything Of Sam.
The old fellow was standing In the
doorway Talking to couple OF s,ran-
gers.
"No," hc was saying, "hcy hnint
ben no person long ycrc las few
days, but what b'longs ycrc. Mcbbc,
though he mout ben sccl over we're
& Dacpn's. Ben thar? No? Wa-al,
my boys comm IN I'm thar purity
soon, un' lac en- tell yc. Come In an
feed; .Iack'l be ycrc right soon."
Mat stayed to help her mother with
the supper, aud during The course of
the meal learned that the two strangers
were officers trailing u horse thief,
who had stolen valuable horse nj
ranch forty miles east aud sold II at
Pickett Station, aud who was believed
TO have come this way.
As she listened Ia the conversation,
n sudden nnmclc,s fear came upon her,
making her feel faint aud III. A.
soon as supper wns over, she took her
shawl and hurried home.
Somehow she was not surprised to
find the door open. She entered
hastily. Sam was in bed, asleep aud
breathing stertorously. lie had evil
dcnlly been drinking, rs his clothes
were scattered about the floor, aud
Mat, looking out the back door, could
see his pony standing patiently where
sam lad left him, waiting for some
one to como and feed him. Mat
leaned over the sleeping man and
kissed him gently, her eyes full of
love. Then she turned to pick up his
clothc, aud put them away. The
trousers were heavy, aud something
| iingcd in one of the pockets. ln-
s,iuctivcly Mat thrust her hand into
it, aud drew il forth, clasping several
gold pieces. As she did 80 her eyes
opened wide, aud she stood as IT
stunned for "a time, her heart chilled
with the same strange fear that lud
stricken her awhile ago aud impcllc
her to hurry home.
She rushed TO the bed and shook
Sam roughly. "Sam! Sam = wake
up" she almost screamed.
The mau turned over aud looked ut
her stupidity, "ll'lo, M-Mai! Ycic,
be yc? Gimmc kiss" hc said, in a
dull tone.
"Not twcll We tells me whar yc done
got these ycrc things" Mats voice
sounded broken aud shrill.
Sam sat up aud rubbed li' head,
looking at her in drunken wonder.
"W-w'y, thcm-thcm thar, honcy?'
She shook him licrccly, aud said in
Il lower touc--a tone Of earnest force:
"Tell me. Sam Toms, whar yc done
got these ycre coins! Quick, nowr
Her ,onc partially sobered the man.
whose eyes opened wider as he asked,
querulously.
"What yc so all. fired fussy bout
| hain't done nothin'.' Aud he
laughed in half-drunkcn, half-ncrv
Gus way.
"Saln! whar did We git 'cm?"
lie sat dumbly staring at her.
"Sem!" her voice was full Of hor-
ror, "did you steal that thar hoss!'
No answer; but Mat saw by his eyes
she had guessed the truth. Slowly
tho coins fell from her hand to the
floor; slowly her head bent forward
until her face touched the pillow. For
minutes she did not move-not Until
Sam, who had been staring at her
wonderingly, reached out his big hand
aud laid il caressingly Oh her head.
Then she sprang TO her feet, her hot
eyes glarIng, aud her form trembling
with anger and horror. She did not
speak, but fixed her gaze on his face
for few seconds. lie did not meet
her look, and, presently, she turned
and ran out of the door.
Sam. almost sober now, called after
her, but she did not answer. lie got
out of bed slowly and started to dres'
himself. He had almost finished,
when Mat, accompanied by her father
aud the two strangers, returned.
!.Thar he is-an' tiiar's tn money. =