The Press., 1896-07-16
' agln the reQgerIatlons. :

The kind old jailer hustled off to get food for his prisoner, and that worthy was left alone.
 When the iron gates had changed noisily to, he raised himself on one el- bow and laughed. ''That was the only way out of it." he said "I'd trust that girls honest eyes till death"
 The sheriff, although animated by the best intentions, did not find Bud Apple ton. That worthy was reputed to have got clean off to the States with his booty. leaving behind him valuable thoroughbred black horse, which was sold at auction and purchased cheap by John Grey, owing to its having nasty bullet wound in the flank. The tramp, on hearing of the jailer's purchase' vol unteered to cure the wound in very short space of time and proved himself so expert ill his treatment that the ami nal soon began to recover and followed him about the prison yard like dog. The 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, thoug ghtfully sur veying a pile of unbroken ones which called for immediate attention, or helped the jailer to excavate two feet of stone work out of the front walls of the jail parlor. The one desire of the jailer's wife was to have bow windows added to the parlor during her term of office. She had been to Ottawa and seen a new house there with this architectural ad dition, and could not rest until the jail was similarly resplendent. Then it was discovered that the tramp was singular ly delft 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 ill the bow window and relinquished his geo. logical studies in the jailyard without an atom of regret Sometimes if Lelota were away, his zeal Jagged little, but when she was there he toiIed early and late and listened with interest to the jailer's attempts to convert the inn mortal part of him into something that should rise superior to the allurements of tanglefoot whisky and his former dis reputable mode of life
 "If I was you," said the jailer to L.m one evening as they enjoyed pipe together on the porch, "if ] was you, I'd shave off my beard now the hot wealth CTS comin on. The inspectCr'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 go round like this, but you're such a peaceful chap when the drink isn't in you hain't the heart to keep you ill the yard. You'd better git inside now. Here's Little John, all you an him ain t the best of friends, I 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 ain't 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 dcjectedly by the jailer. "Who's that?" the sheriff asked, catching sight of the tramp's re- | treating form.
 "Only the man you i'll treated when he was too drunk to defend himself, y said Lelota quietly as she joined her 1 father. Drunkenness seemed to her 1 much less offensive than brutality, and she knew Little John to be an overbear- ! ing bully.
 The sheriff winced beneath her scorn. "Ain't that fellows time up yet? He'd l better keep outen my way when it is. "
 "If were ycu,' said the girl quiet ly, "I'd keep out of his. He might get the drop on you. Your fist 1nayn't save you then. John Baines.
 The sheriff turned the conversation. "To think" he said, II let Bud Apple ton slip through my fingers whilst was 'tendin to that fellow. If l 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. I expects he's just hid somewheres in the bush till he's got his strength uI again. The rewards out for $1, 900, dead or alive, to whoever brings him | in.
 Lelota turned from him in disgust. You'll die with blood on your sou yet, John Baines," she said.
 "A thousand dollars would furnish my house nicely" said the sheriff mean. ingly.
 "You needn't expect nc to live in it. then," she said, with fierce directness. 'I'd see blood on the walls, eat blood drink blood. I'd rather be store loafel than a sheriff any day"
 Without waiting for reply, Le1ota went into the hall. As she passed the door opening out on the kitchen the tramp stood lazily lounging in the jai corridor waiting for his supper. Int girl stopped irresolutely, then darteC swiftly into the kitchen. "Where's the hired girlf" she asked.
 "Out at the well," said the tramp courteously, fetching me the nectar which is to wash down my frugal re past. "
 The girls cheek paled. "Have yor heard?" she asked.
 l W naGS
 "The jail inspector comes down fol his annual visit on Wednesday. Don't let him sec you whatever you do. KeeI in bed all day. You must be taken vio lently iIl Collie or anything, butt" and in the midst of her apprehension sht 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, anc his firm jaw stood revealed in all itl massive force. You've only to call il the sheriff." he said, land the $1 ,OOC will enable you to enter upon your mat rimonial :areer as deputy sheriff witt cheering rocolleotions of me In every article of furniture.
 The girl laug tSed somewhat conscious ly. Then her consciousness gave way to terror. "For heavens sake, put it on againp' she implored.
 II might for yours" he rejoined carelessly