Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-05-15

bullet wound in the flank. The tramp
on hearing of the jailer's purchase, vol
unteerea to cure the wound in very
short sp of time and proved himself
SO exporl..h his treatment that the ami
NAL soon began to recover and followed
him about the prison yard like dog.
Inc tramp, however, modestly dis
avowed all pretensions to horsemanship.
He had given his parole not to attempt
to escape, and for the most part sat ON
heap of broken stones, thoughtfully sur
veying pile Of unbroken ones which
called for immediate attention, or helped
the jailer to excavate two feet of stone
work out of the fit walls of the Jail
parlor The one I sire of the taller s
wife was to have bow windows added
to the parlor during her term of office.
She had been to Ottawa and seen new
house there with this architectural ad-
dition, and could not rest until the Jail
was similarly respondent. Then it was
discovered that the tramp was singular
ly deft with all manner Of carpentry
and trowel work, although not strong
enough to lift heavy masses Of masonry.
Lelota supervised his work, and gave
him good advice as to how it should be
done. Under the circumstances it is
scarcely necessary to add that the tramp
took the greatest possible interest in the
bow window and relinquished his geo
logical studies in the jailyard without
an atom of regret. Sometimes if Lelota
were away, his zeal tagged little, but
W eba H., co. ,I 1
late and listened with interest to the
jailer's attempts to convert the i'm
mortal part of him into something that
should rise superior to the allurements
of tang lefoot whisky and his former dis
reputable mode of life
eff l was you" said the jailer to
him one evening as they enjoyed pipe
together on the porch, eff ] was you, I'd
shave off my beard now the hot wealth
er's comm on The inspector'll be down
the day after tomorrow, an I'm afeared
I'll have to shet you up till he's gone
You see, it's bit irregular my lettin you
90 round like this, but you're such
peaceful chap when the drink ism in
you l hain't the heart to keep you in
the yard. You'd better git inside now
Here's Little John, an you an him amt
the best of friends, reckon. He's bit
heavy with his fist John is. "
"Oh, We'll square that up some day"
said the tramp carelessly. "I'd ruther
keep my beard on. Sides l amt got no
razor. You see, my times up Thursday
night an it might stop my gittin work
if people saw me here 'ithout beard an
knew me outside agin.
He knocked the ashes out Of his pipe,
nodded and went off to his cell as Little
John came and sat down dejeotedly by
the iailer. ''Who's that" the sheriff
asked, catching sight of the tramps re-
treating form.
Only the man you i'll treated when
he was too drunk to defend himself, "
said Lelota quietly as she Joined her
father. Drunkenness seemed to her
much less offensive than brutality, and
she knew Little John to be an overbear-
ing bully.
The sheriff WINGED beneath her scorn.
"Ain't that fellows time up yet? He'd
better keep outen my way when it is. -.
IF were you, >" said the girl quiet
ly, I'D keep out Of his. He might get
the drop on you. Your fist mayn't save
you then, John Baines"
The sheriff turned the conversation.
"To think, " he said, Il let Bud Apple
ton slip through my fingers whilst was
'tendin to that fellow. II hadn t vast
ed half a day over that tramp, might
have tracked Appleton. They say he
was hit an couldn't git over the border.
expects he's just hid somewheres in
the bush till he's got his strength up
again. The rewards ont for 81, 600,
dead or alive, to whoever brings him
in.
Lelota turned from him in disgust
you'll die with blood on your soul
yet, John Baines, she said
"a thousand dollars would furnish
my house nicely, said the sheriff mean
ingly.
You needn't expect me to live in it,
then" she said, with fierce directness.
"l'd see blood on the walls, eat blood,
drink blood. I'd rather be a store loafer
than a sheriff any day"
Without waiting for reply, Lelota
went into the hall. AS she passed the
AoOA SPNAA4ik OuN vi thC kAbCnCI lnt
tramp stood lazily Longing in the Jail
corridor waiting for his supper. The
girl stopped irresolutely, then darted
swiftly into the kitchen. where's the
hired girl!" she asked
"Out at the we'll, said the tramp
Courteously, fetching me the nectar
which is to wash down my frugal re-
past D."
The girls cheek paled. "Have you
heard?" she asked.
"What?"
"The Jail inspector comes. down for
his annual visit OH Wednesday. Don't
let him see you whatever you do. Keep
in bed all day. You must be taken VIC
lently i'll. Collie or anything, but, ;" and
in the midst of her apprehension she
laughed softly at the handsome scamp
before her, don't take off your beard "
With one swift movement of his fin
gers, the young man pulled it off, and
his firm jaw stood revealed in all its
massive force. you've only to call in
the sheriff, - he said, "and the 81, 600
will enable you to enter upon your mat
rimonial career as deputy sheriff with
II Is