The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-04-10


an offer $500 jist to have nae : few
hoursl That's reason, amt tt?"
Suddenly a thought seemed to strike
him, and he brought one hard hstdown
on the table with a thump.
"In do it, / will! He shall have his
sweetheart, an that mighty quick"
1t was after midnight when the
preacher returned, and it seemed to the
other that he looked paler and limped
more painfully than usual.
shy friend" the preacher said, presA
emily, 81 am glad to have you so neArly
recovered, for this house can only shell
ter you a 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
l am unable to pay the rent, and"
"What'n we do now?"
II do not know. Doubtless I'll see
my way out of it all, but / do not now.
r.
"Parson, will yer do me a favor one
more on top O. all you've done former"
"Gladly, if I car" the young preacher
replied.
Take this note to the leader of the
Protective association"
"Amos Huddin?"
"That's him. He's a particular friend
o. mine, an II be mighty glad to see
me. Do this right now, an it'll be the
last thing I'll ask Nv ye."
The door enERed softly, and half a
dozen men NJ Weapons in their hand
entered without a word. Not a mov
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"
"Jack Harris" said the leader of the
vigilantes, "we want you!"
oval, amt you got me?" asked the
other, quietly.
EYES," muttered the leader, "and we
are a-goin' to keep vel"
"Wal, 1 don't reckon 1 blame ye," Har-
ris answered. tits been a long time
since We got a chance at me, an l don't
wonder ye want to keep me. Did thu
preacher give We information"
"Yes.'
"Has he got the reward yit?"
"No, of course not. We amt goin' tt.
do no cash-in-advance business"
There was the sound of a struggle al
the door and a voice crying:
LET me in! I will go in!"
"It's the preacher" some one said
"Bill's a-holdin' him outside"
A pistol cleaned from beneath thu
table, and Jack Harris hard hant
leveled it at the leaders head.
"Let him in!" he said, sternly.
The preachers white face was flushed
and there were tears in his eyes as Ii.
limped across the room to Jack Harris
side.
"oh, my friend" he cried, what have
I done? What have 1 done?"
Delivered my note, 1 reckon"
eyes; and sold your. liberty for
money! But God knows I am innocent
of any intent 70 do So" He buried his
face in his hands.
SNOW" said Harris, sternlys "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 produced his
pocketboolk and dropped a sum of
money into the leaders SLOUGH hat. AS
the money was poured on the table,
Harris laid the pistol beside it.
"Thar," he said, stake me-"
Then, as handouts were quickly
snapped upon his wrists, he turned to
the young preacher. "Parson," he said,
'"that'n 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
shuf1ied about uneasily when he had
finished.
Boys" said the leader, suddenly,
SIM boss o. this yere association, ain"
~"
"You air" they answered.
"An' what I say goes?"
"It does, jist that!"
San horse stealth means hangin'?"
III does.
oval, I sentence the prisoner, Jack
Harris, to be hung this day week. In the
meantime L place him in the keepin' NV
Shortey Meyers, the l~eetlest man in the
crowd; an if he let's the prisoner es-
cape I'll fine him $780,"
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.
"Wal, anyhow, I'll get my rent now,
reckon" said a ~mop-headed y~igiIante.
Two weeks later, when the ceremony
was over that made the young preacher
and the bright-faced eastern 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 hereof