The Goodland republic., 1897-08-06


It was after midnight when the
I 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, 4 am glad to have you 50 nearly
2 .recoveBedr-f this house can only shell
! ter yen a few days longer"
Wye" asked the invalid; "sir ye
| gettin' tired O. ms2H
Certainly not; but the owner Of this
house has warned me to leave because
/ ] am unable TO pay the rent. and"
"WbRt'n ye do now?"
II do not know. Doubtless III see
my way out Of It al, but I do not now.
-
"PsrsOn. win yer do me 8 favor-one
more On top o ali you've done for meG'
GLADLY, If can, >" the young preacher
replied.
take this note TO the leader Of the
/ Protective association"
"Amos Huddin2'
THAT'S him. Hes & partic'lar friend
o. mine, an n be mighty glad TO see
me. 10 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 a word. Not q 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"
Jack Harris" said the leader Of the
vlgiisntes, ''we wsnt you'll"
| oval, amt you got me?" asked the
other, quietly.
'"Yes," muttered the leader, "snd We
are s-gOin' to keep vel"
oval, I don't reckon I blame ye, Har-
+ Fis answered. ''It's been a long time
since ye got chance at me, an 7 don't
wonder ye want TO keep me. Did the
preacher give ye information9"
YES"
''Has he got the reward yit2"
mo, of course not, We amt g0in' to
do no essh-lR-advance business"
There was the sound Of a struggle at
the door and q voice crying;
let me in! I viii 60 int"
tits the preacher" some one said.
'Bili's a-holdin' him outside"
4 pistol cleaned from beneath the
table, and Jack Harris hard hand
leveled it at the leaders head.
''Let him inln he said, stsrnly.
The preachers white face was flushed
snd there were tears in his eyes IS he
limPed across the room to Jack Harris
side.
"oh, my friend" he cried, "what have
I dOne7 What have I done?"
Delivered my note, 7 Ireclon."
"Yesi and sold your liberty for
money! But God knows I an innocent
Of any intent to do So" He buried his
face in his hands.
'Now," said Harris, stsrnIy, "Hudien.
give the parson his reward. Wen the
moneys in bis hand I'll drop this gun.
While it's up you know how safe your
life is"
The yigilantes conferred together for
4 moment. Then each produced 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 It.
''TbaF," he said, take me"
Then, ss 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!H
Then IN tones that thrilled the hearts Of
the listeners, ho told the story Of the
horssthief's sacrifice. The little group
shuhled about uneasily when ne had
finished.
Boys" said the leader, suddenly.
"Tm boss o. this yere association, amt
II"
"You air" they answered.
"An' what say goes?"
'It does, jist that"
"An' horse stealin' means hangin'2"
'gt does"
oval, I sentence the prisoner, Jack
Harris, 70 be hung this day week. II the
meantime place him in the keepIn' w /
shOrtey Meyers, the leetiezt man in the
crowd an if he lets the prisoner es-
cape III 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.
Sand tns preacher keeps the re-
waFd7" Jack Harris asked the leader.
Sic does!" chorused the vlgiiantes.
''Wal, anyhow. I'll get my rent How,
/ reckon,SS said a mop-headed yigilsnte. /
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 youl Have they been 80 ever /
since you came out hers2'
'-No; the change took place only q
fsS weeks ago."
"And who were those stern, rough
looking men who Ehouted - when the /
ceremony was doDeg'
''rhey are the vigilaHtes.
rAs I entered the state" the young /
wife said, presently. Just such q rough !
looking man asked my nsme, and when /
[ told him he said; Tel the parson ye !
saw Jack Harris. an tell MIN hope /
he'll be happy Then he disappeared"
Heroic Jaekl" the young wife ez-
stained. when the minister bad told her |
the stoFy.-Psssiums Courier.
Jena. where Napoleon defeated the /