The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-03-18

ON Une UAOlc WIN b Uuump. t.ts-.f
"Tn do It, wilt He shall have izis
sweetheart, an that mighty quick"
It was after midnight when the
preacher returned, and it seemed to the
other that he looked paler and limped
more painfully than usual.
''My friend" the preacher said, pres
emily, 81 am glad to have you SO nearly
recovered, for this house can only shell
ter you few days longer"
"W'y?" asked the invalid; "air ye
gettin' tired o. me?"
"Certainly not; but the owner Of this
house has warned me to leave because
am unable to pay the rent, and"
"What'l ye do now?"
IL do not know. Doubtless I'll see
my way out Of it all, but do not now.
-
"Parson, will yer do me favor-one
more ON top o. all you've done for me?'
"Gladly, If can" ;" the young preacher
replied. piled; -.
Protective association"
"Amos Huddin?'
'That's him. He's partic'lar friend
O. mine, an IL be mighty glad to see
me. Do this right now, an it'll be the
last thing I'll ask Nv ye."
The door opened softly, and half
dozen men with weapons in their hands
entered without word. Not a move
ment Of the invalid's face showed that
he understood the errand that had
brought these stern, silent men to the
cabin.
"Howdyl" he saluted. "Take cheers.
gentlemen"
slack Harris" said the leader Of the
vigilantes, I'VE want youi"
"Wal, amt you got me?" asked the
other, quietly.
EYES," muttered the leader, "and we
are a-goin' to keep vel"
"Wal, I don't reckon blame ye," Har-
ris answered. "It's been a long time
since ye got chance at me, an don't
wonder ye want to keep me. Did the
preacher give ye informationP"
eyes"
HAS he got the reward yit?"
"No, of course not. We aint goin' to
do no cash-in-advance business"
the door and a voice crying:
"Let me in! will go int"
"It's the preacher" some one said.
"Bill's a-holdin' him outside"
A pistol cleaned from beneath the
table, and Jack Harris hard hand
leveled 1t at the leaders, head.
"Let him in!" he said, sternly.
The preachers white face was flushed
and there were tears in his eyes as he
limped across the room to Jack Harris
side.
"Oh, my friend" he cried, "what have
done? What have I done?"
Delivered my note, reckon"
eyes; and sold your liberty for
money! But God knows am innocent
OF any intent to do so." He buried his
face in his hands.
"Now," said Harris, sternly, "Hudden,
give the parson his reward. Wen the
moneys in his hand I'll drop this gun.
While it's up you know how safe your
life is"
The vigilantes conferred together for
a moment. Then each psoduced his
pocketbook and dropped q sum Of
money into the leaders slouch hat. As
the money was poured on the table,
Harris laid the pistol beside 1t.
"Thar," he said, stake me-"
Then, as handouts we're quickly
snapped upon his wrists, he turned to
the young preacher. "Parson," he said,
''that'll make you and the leetle girl in
the east happy. Good-by."
The young preacher sprang forward.
"Men," he cried, zone moment!"
Then in tones that thrilled the hearts Of
the listeners, he told the story of the
horsethief's sacrifice. The little group
shuffied about uneasily when he had
finished.
"Boys," said the leader, suddenly,
SIN boss o. this yere association, ain't
~"
"You air." they answered.
"An' what say goes?"
"It does, jist that!"
"An' horse stealin' means hangin'?''
"It does"
"Wal, sentence the prisoner, Jack
Harris, to be hung this day week. In the
meantime place him in the keepin' Nv
Shortey Meyers, the leetlest man in the
crowd; an il he let's the prisoner es-
cape I'll fine him So So"
Shorty Meyers extracted $3.50 from
his pocket and handed the money to the
leader.
"Yere's my fine" he said.
sand the preacher keeps the re-
ward?" Jack Harris asked the leader
"He does!" chorused the vigilantes.
oval, anyhow, I'll get my rent now,
I reckon" said mop-headed vigilante.
Two weeks later, when the ceremony
was over that made the young preacher
and the bright-faced e. stern girl man
and wife, the bride looked fondly into
her husbands eyes as she said:
"How much these people seem to
think of you, and how generous they
are toward you! Have they been so ever
since YOU came out here 2"