The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-07
Stories of an inland State.

problems which besef his poor Old mind.
The dawn wihked a; him from ;ae cas-,
| with an animated knowledge Of his down
fall He feared the day and wished that
it might never come, for hereafter he was
a thief and night was his dominion.
The leatheru bag of jewels was hidden
away. but he turned now TO the place where
he had secreted It and it seemed 20 reveal
| itself. and II any one had entered the room
then he would have expected TO have seen
the visitor walk to the place and expose
| the plumber.
| The knowledge that he was a thief came
| to him with cruel ins;stence. and he tried
vainly TO turn his mind to it's old 1ustifca-
| ton OF retaliation-that the whole world
| had robbed him. Then the fear of the law
| came to him with frantic demands for the
surrender of every remaining bit Of cour-
age In his breast Honesty began TO grow.
as an essential wool in the texture of c;v.-
| Nzation and which withdrawn would let all
unravel into shreds, thence to chaos. He
had violated this essential law. II was
essential that that law should be enforced.
The thief must suffer or civilization would
cease. He felt his impotence and the re-
sistless progression of civilization. and set
ting one up to stem the other. sickened at
the thought of the inevitable disastrous re-
suit He was certain TO be run down ard
punished. His life was hereafter to be lie
and he felt that the Creator reserves the
exclusive privilege Of making a character
consistent, so that John Wright or any
other man was not capable of being al
ways that which he was not. Ane SO. some
day splint, a chip, an atom of the true
self would accidentally fall and reveal his
artificial self, and punishment would fol-
low.
John Wright felt this keenly. He knew
he was to be over-taken by the law. Escape
was impossible.
There was one road to freedom from these
haunting thoughts. the destruction Of the
booty. This comes to all conscience
stricken. law-fearing thieves. but not one
in all the thiev1ng horde. ever applies the
test.
He could not destroy his wealth. There
was here twenty thousand dollars. Halt
Of II was his. Half Of 1t and he would live
in idle comfort. There was a time. too,
he said. when theft ceased to be theft-for
one can quiet his title in time. The statute
Of limitations would run against him, il he
could only elude the law long enough. He
would elude the law. The re-actionary
emotion Of cupid,ty was intense. He would
keep the money. The law could not en-
compass him. It had caught other male
factors. but it could not catch him. Fate
had not willed that he should be taken.
He would be exempt II was SO written.
He felt heroically certain Of that. For IN
truth let It be spoken that the absolute
immunity which saturates the Individual
In danger and bestows upon him the stolid
confidence that he shall escape what all
nyh hox or,Aa &c ~ ha nct
wonderful things complex nature ever
breathed into the soul Of man.
So strong this confidence grew within
that he felt an audacious inclination to tell
his hired man joey that he was going to
work no more; that he was going to the
city an take it easy the rest of his Efe and
exciting Joey's curiosity. satisfy it with a
slow wink and let it end there. 1t is that
confidence which has ensnared many a thief
Joey late in the day was standing at the
fence along the roadside and Madge Bar
rett was talking to him. In these inter-
ruptions by Madge, Joey always kept hoe
ing with an idea Of giving his employer
his entire time, but now as Madge spoke he
stopped suddenly and stared at her.
''Detectives?" he asked. "Where?'
They're at Peter Wattles' now, hunting
for some one. They think he's concealed
somebody. they said. who was in hiding in
this neighborhood. Why Joey!' she cried.
you're not sick, are you?"
"Madge," he cried, What else do you
know"
They're searching the whole neighbor-
hood, that's ALL
The man dropped his hoe and stared at
the young woman blankly
She was at his side quickly and placed
her arms about his neck, her voice soften
ing next to a whisper.
TT Is you. Joey, they want. I know. I
have always known. You do not belong on
a farm. Oh, please let me help you
Hush, Madge," he said unmindful of the
implied confession.
Joey" she said with winsome intensity.
81 love you. truly, honestly. I love you.
Let me help you. If you go. take me.
VIII your
"Madge." he cried pettishly. For Gods
sake, let me think. You can help me. Do
you 80 up to the house and tell old man
Wright that must have the roam mare,
that / VIII leave her at Jones' in town, and
tten come to the barn and tell me whether
he says / may. I will be saddling her.
Go now, quickly"
Madge ran breathIessly to the house
John Wright's eyes frightened when he
saw her tall, graceful form in the door. She
had always pleased him. What errand now?
She repeated Joey's request John Wright
hesitated why does he want to go?" he
asked suspiciously.
Il don't know" cried Madge with a tor |
tured effort TO find an excuse for him.
Yes you do, Madge," Wright said con- |
scious now that he concealed something and |
suspicious that everybody was like him, |
What is it?''
Madge knew that time was precious. The !
better plan were to tell him.
There are detectives in the neighborhood, |
at Wattles' now and searching everywhere |
for"
Joey? Joey?" Queried the old man with |
his head in a whirl. And then: Tell hun |
yes. Quick Madge."
Madge darted on; of the door. Wright |
had turned deathiy pale They would /
search his house and they would find the |!
jewels-but what did joey known
He looked TO the bag OF jewels The
present hiding place would not do at all.
He must tear Up a board under the carpet |
n the front room and put the bag under
The floor. Would he have t.ne7 He must
COX UP the road toward Wattles' and see
4 they were coming yet He walked out
1f the house slowly. forcing himself TO take
Tine fearing he was watched. There was
40 one in sigh; and he started back tos the
house.
Meanwhile Madge had returned to the
stable and joey. She placed her little
hume against the mares teeth and opened
Ter mouth and placed the BIZ.
You are not fl to travel" she said.
II know H." he said.
Wat" she cried. You must wait"
In the i.t,le closet at the foot OF the bed