Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-12-20

vicious 5ab of his knife he ripped open
the mailbag
Dick Hunt quickly found the pack
ages for which he was looking, and with
an inarticulate sound thrust them i'll his
pockets. He was about dropping the bag
when he saw something which made
him start
Staring up at him from the pile of
letters in the bag was his own name
traced in a feeble, old fashioned hand
The sight Of that handwriting almost
stopped his heart. With a mighty effort
he lifted the cheap yellow envelope and
broke it open. The letter ran:
MY DEAR BoY-I cannot sleep for thinking
of my son so Par away. 1t has been so many
long, dreary days since heard from my Dick.
Oh, my son, come home and gladden. my eyes
before l die. am very feeble. do not think
/ can live many years. / must see you once
more. Never mind if you are not rich. Never
mind if you have not succeeded in securing
great fortune. love you just as much
Your MOTHER.
The terrified boy, bound to the tree
and watching his enemy through IAN
guild eyelids. expecting death every mo-
ment, saw strange sight. The masked
robber suddenly sank upon the ground,
bowed his head upon his hands and
barst into tears. A very storm Of sobs
shook his stalwart frame for few sec
onds, and then there was silence.
What did Dick Hunt see? A little
moss grown, weather beaten farmhouse
way off in northern Illinois, morning
glories climbing over the side porch and
peeping in at the window, by whose
side sat woman, plain, old, wrinkled,
waiting alone for the son who went
away to seek his fortune and never
came back
He, the robber, the murderer, the
coward, had one friend ON earth who
had not forgotten him, and who loved
him lust as much' as if he were rich
and powerful.
With a groan Dick Hunt rose sudden
ly, replaced the packages in the mail
bag, went over to the wondering boy,
released him and said gently: my
boy, was right plumb on the road to
hell, but an angel spoke to me Forgive
me eff ye kin. I'm goin ter put myself
mean, low down, ornery dog that be
right in your hands. Ye kin give me
up ter the laws quick as yer a mind
ter. Only twill break one poor old wo-
mans heart, and then Dick Hunt,
thief, transformed into Dick Hunt, hero,
took off his mask and stood with a
humble, deprecating air before his boy
ish judge.
"Good God, Hunt, was it you?" cried
the lad. tWhy, man, I thought you
were my friendl"
Il were, " said Dick very gently, II
were. reckon I went clean plumb
crazy last night. I"
"Was that letter from your mother?'
asked Jack.
cit were, " said Dick ''She-she'd
like ter hev me come home, but that's
fer you ter say whether I'll go. !"
''Shut up, you foolr' said the boy,
laughing and holding out a trembling
hand. "Of course you II go. won t give
you away. Let me see. I'll fix up some
yarn. I'll say the burro brayed and
scared the road agent off. Go home, Of
coursel Be thankful you've got a home
to go to. Go spend Christmas with your
mother "
Dick Hunt raised his haggard face
and looked at the boy. He tried to speak,
but the words would not come.
'What is it, Hunt?" asked Jack,
"Mebbe you hain't got the cash to 60
with. If that's what's bothering you,
why, here, I've got a little saved up, and
you re welcome to it. You can pay me
back if the Square Deal pans out, :" and
he slipped the money into Dicks cold
hand.
The sunlight quivered on the noun
tains, shot through the pines. and light
ing OH the boys handsome face trans
figured it for the moment into some
thing almost celestial At least it seem
ed SO to poor old Dick as he looked CRATE
fully and adoringly at the lad whose life
he had meant to take and who in return
was pressing the cup of life to his thirst
ing lips
Silently the two men clasped hands
in farewell Dick watched Jack climb
the range, a speck against the rose flush
ed peaks. Then the boy was lost to view,
and Dick returned to his cabin and me-
chanically began packing up his poor
traps, preparatory to going home.
At sundown two men galloped up to
his cabin. 1.-The sheriff. said Dick,
Jacks given me upl''
A loud halloo summoned him to the
door. He answered the call, firmly ex-
pecting arrest But neither one of these
well dressed fellows was the sheriff.
'tHello'' cried one with easy famil-
iarity. 'This Mr. Richard Hunt?"
"Yes, Pm Dick Hunt was the re-
ply.
"Well, we want to talk to you Can
we come IMP
Certainly, strangers, and welcome.
The men dismounted and entered.
The spokesman, handsome, dashing,
young fellow, went on: II may as well
speak right out, Mr.. Hunt My partner
here and want TO buy the Square Deal,
and we're perfectly willing to give you
a square deal in the matter. 1 stand
ready, Mr.. Hunt, to hand you now to-
night $40, 600 for that claim.
''Say. Jim. you ought to have led uE