Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-19

ness, he knew that the boy was trying to
cover his face with his hands.
Cause didn't have no better sense.
reckon"-the INSPECTOR heard some thing like
sob, and then the hoy went OH. Il wish
to God you'd thess PIT me out O. my. misry,
Capn Jaffray!"
How"
ANY ways-I, don't keer how. Thess
lemme git outside, an then We can make
out like L was a-tryin' to git away, an
turn loose on me with you-un's gun"
And you'd rather die than stand triaI?"
For shore l would-for Willies sake; hit
wouldn't be nigh as hard on her.
Lord. Lord" groaned the inspector be-
hind his teeth, did anybody ever hear of
two such young fools"'-then to Anderson
You mean that do you?"
Fore God. do, Cap'n Jaffray; thess you
try me an see"
Then as the Lord liveth you shall have
your CHOICE, said the Inspector, so!emnly
Get up
Anderson obeyed
Now climb out of that window-no. hold
on till take the irons off; don't want the
name of having shot a handcuffed man.
Now, then. out with YOU
LATE climbed out and dropped to the
ground. Then he took deep breath of the
free night air and began to realize dimly
mat 1t was going to be hard TO die in the
full flush of youth and health. None the
less. he turned quickly and faced the in
spector, who stood with cooked pistol at
the open window. I'm ready" ne said
firmly.
Jaffray snorted. Run, YOU damned fool,
DO you suppose I'm going to commit n cold
FLOODED murder and shoot you Standings
Lafe hesltated a moment, as if in doubt
as to whether he had heard Alright: then
he turned and walked slowly away AT the
third step the pistol barked thrice. and
Layne's dog, chained in the barnyard. set
up sympathetic howl After that all was
porch bed room with light The jnspec+-
or was standing at the window peerin.r>out
INTO the darkness, and he put back his hand
for silence. Layne heard rapid footballs as
OF some one running over the dry leaves in
the grove; then there was a glad littIe crv
and the impatient slough of a horse. ouicx
ly followed by a diminishing clatte, of
hoofs and silence.
bet hen worth fifty dollars that I never
so much as winged him." said the inspector
coolly.
How d. you reckon he got Ioose:' asked
the farmer, eXcitedly.
Jaffray held up the locked handouts.
You can see for yourself: | got here inst
in time to hurry him little"
Layne put the lamp down to examine the
letters. BY Jacks! l wouldn't have be-
lieved it; but then Lafe's hands new was
no bigger than woman's. Shall l saddle
the hawsses?'
ITO chase him tonight ?-not much. I'll
know where to find him when l want him
Go YOU back to bed and tell the women
there's robody killed. And saw. Iayne.
when this thing gets itself talked about
just tell the facts as you know them. Good
night"
The next morning Layne looked to see
the chase organized in due form. but he
was disappointed. Inspector Jaffray ate his
breakfast leisurely, never once referring to
the events of the night, and afterward took
the train south. The farmer wondered at
this lack of zeal until he went around be-
hind the porch bed room and saw three
bullet scars on the, brick walk under the
window.
well, by Jacks" was all he said at the
time; but later in the day he went down to
the Cantrell boys store and lied to the
corps de loisir until Inspector Jaffray's rep
utation for daring bravery was second only
to that of Buck Brinnan. the revenue col
lector. whose deedsAbut they are recorded
ale