Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-05-06
an offer $500 jist to have me few


It was after midnight when the
preacher returned, and it seemed to the
other that he looked paler and limped
more painfully than usual.
"AIy friend" the preacher said, pres
emily, Il 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 thiE
house has warned me to leave because
l am unable to pay The rent and"
"What'll we do now?"
"I do not know. Doubtless III see
my way out of it oil, but do not now.
/"
"Parson, will yer do me favor-one
more on top o. all you've done fer me2''
GLADLY. if can," the young preacher
replied.
"Take this note to the leader Of the
Protective association"
amos Huddin?"
That's him. He's 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 opened softly, and half q
dozen men with weapons in their hands
entered without word. Not move
mcnt OF the invalid's face showed that
he understood the GRAND that had
brought these stern, silent men to the
cabin.
"Howdy!" he saluted. Take cheers
gentlemen"
"Jack Harris" said the leader of the
vlgilantcs, Eve want you"
oval, amt you got me?" asked the
other, quietly.
Yes" muttered the leader, "lnd VIC
arc a-Goin' to keep vel"
oval, don't reckon blame ye." Har-
ris answered. Its been long time
since ye got a chance at me, an don't
wonder ye want to keep me. Did the
preacher give yc information?"
yes"
HAS he got the reward yit?"
"No, OF course not. We amt goin' to
do no cash-in-adyance business"
There was the sound of struggle at
the door and a voice crying:
Let me inl will go in!"
cts the preacher" some one said
"Dill's a-holdin' him outside"
y pistol CLEANED from beneath the
table, and Jack Harris hard hand
lcvelcd it at the leaders head.
LET him I'M" 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.
ooh, my friend" he cried, what have
I done? What have done?"
Delivered my note, reckon"
"Yes; and sold your liberty for
money! But God knows I 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
q moment. Then each produced his
pocketbool and dropped a sum OF
money into the leaders SLOUGH hat. AZ
the money was poured on the table,
Harris laid the pistol beside it.
Char" he said, "tallc me-
Then, as handouts were 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
shufled about uneasily when he had
finished.
Boys" said the leader, suddenly,
''I'm boss O. this yere association, amt
I?"
"You air." they answered.
can what I say goes"
at does, jist that!"
can horse stealth means hangin'?"
cit does"
"Wal, 1 sentence the prisoner, Jack
harris, to be hung this day week. In the
meantime I place him in the keepin' Nv
Shortey Meyers, the leetlest man in the
crowd; an if he lets the prisoner es-
cape I'll fine him $3.50"
Shorty Meyers extracted $3.50 from
his pocket and handed the money to the
leader.
"Yere's my fine" he said.
"And the preacher keeps the re-
ward?" Jack Harris asked the leader
"He does!" chorused the vigilantcs.
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 eastern girl man
and wife, the bride loolVd fondly into
her husbands eyes as she said:
GLOW much these people seem to
think of you, and how generous they
are toward you! Have they been so ever
since you came out hcrc?"
"No; the change took place only a
few weeks ago"
"And who were those stern, rough
looking men who shouted so when the
ceremony was done?"
They are the vigilnntes."
"As I entered the state" the young
wife said, presently, "just such rough
looking man asked my name, and when
told him he said: Tell the parson We
saw Jack Harris, an tell him l hope
he'll be happy Then he disappeared"
Heroic Jack!" the young wife en-
claimed, when the minister had told her
the story-Petaluma Courier.