The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-04
an offer $500 jist to have me few

| him, and he brought one hard fist down
Oh the table with a thump.
I'll 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.
MY 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 this
house has warned me to leave because
l am unable to pay the rent, and"
"What'u we do now?"
81 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 l can," 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 opened softly, and half
dozen men with weapons in their hands
entered without a word. Not a move
ment of the invaiids face showed that
he understood the errand that had
brought these stern, silent men to the
cabin.
"Howdy!" he saluted. Take cheers,
gentlemen"
Jack Harris" said the leader of the
yigilantes, I'VE want you"
Wal, amt you got me?" asked the
other, quietly.
YES" muttered the leader, "and we
are a-goin' to keep ye!"
"Wal, don't reckon blame ye," Har-
ris answered. It's been a long time
since We got a chance at me, an don't
wonder We want to keep me. Did the
preacher give we information
Yes"
HAS he got the reward yit?'
NO, of course not. We amt goin' to
do no cash-in-advanc business"
There was the sound of a struggle at
the door and a voice crying:
Let ne in! I will go in"
Its the preacher" some one said.
"BilIs a-holdin' him outside"
\ 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.
"Oh, my friend" he cried, what have
l done? What have 1 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, Hidden,
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
pocketbook 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, take 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
shufiied about uneasily when he had
finished.
Boys" said the leader, suddenly,
I'm boss O. this yere association, amt
-"
"You air." they answered.
can what I say goes?"
at does, jist that"
"An' horse stealin' means hangin'?"
at does"
oval, | sentence the prisoner, Jack
harris, to be hung this day week. In the
meantime [ place him in the keepin' Nv
| Shortcy 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.
"Hc does!" chorused the vigilantes
oval, anyhow, I'll get my rent now,
I reckon" said a mOp-headcd 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 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?"
"No; the change took place only a
few weeks ago"
and who were those stern, rough
| looking mon who shouted so when the