News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1897-11-03

the boys slender wrists. 'They're too
tight, he said. And he loosened them.
SIS that better?"
ga mighty sight better, thank you. -
Jaffray threw up the window at the
head of the bed and listened. 1t was
ralm night, but there was a sound as of
the wind rustling the dry leaves in the
little grove at the side of the house.
The inspector heard it and turned to
take his overcoat from its peg on the
wall.
"What the devil did you do it for?"
he broke out savagely. "Why ON earth
couldn't you be content with the girls
love and let other peoples property
alone?'
The handouts ratified, and though
Jaffray could see nothing in the thick
darkness he knew that the boy was try
ing to cover his face with his hands.
"Cause | didn't have no better sense,
] reckon" The inspector heard some
thing like sob, and then the boy went
on, 81 wish to God you'd thess put me
out of my misty, Cap'n Jaffrayp'
"How?"
"Any ways; l don't keer how. Thess
femme git outside, and then you canmake
out like I was a-tryin to git away and
turn loose on me with you uns gum"
"And you'd rather die than stand
trial?'
For shore I would-for Willie's
sake. Hit wouldn't be nigh as hard ON
her.
Lord! Lordr" groaned the inspector
behind his teeth, did anybody ever
hear of two such young fools?" Then to
Anderson, "You mean that, do you?"
" Fore God, 1 Go, Cap'n Jaffray.
Thess you try me and see.
"Then as the Lord liveth you shall
have your choice" said the inspector
solemnly. "Get up"
Anderson Obeyed.
''Now climb out Of that window
No; hold Oh till take the irons off. 1
don't want the name of having shot %
handcuffed man. Now, then, out with
you"
LATE climbed out and dropped to the
ground. Then he took deep breath Of
the free night air and began to realize
dimly that it was going to be hard to
die i'll the full flush Of youth and health.
None the less he turned quickly and
faced the inspector, who stood with
cooked pistol at the open window, "I'm
ready" he said firmly.
Jaffray snorted: Run, you fool! Do
you suppose I'm going to commit a cold
blooded murder and shoot you stand
ing?"
LATE hesitated moment as if in
doubt as to whether he had heard Alright.
Then he turned and walked slowly
away. At the third step the pistol bark
ed thrice, and Layne's dog, chained in
the barnyard, set up a sympathetic
howl After that all was still until the
farmer came hurrying to the porch bed
room with a light. The inspector was
standing ct the window, peering out
into the da-k ness, and he put back his
hand for silence. Layne heard rapid
footballs as of some one running over
the dry leaves in the grove. Then there
was glad little cry and the impatient
sniff Of horse, quickly followed by a
diminishing chatter Of hoofs and silence
''Layne, he's gone, and I'd be willing
to bet hen worth $50 that I never so
much as winged him, said the inspector
coolly.
'Etow do you reckon he got loose?"
asked the farmer excitedly.
Ja.fray held up the locked handouts
"You can see for yourself. l got here
just in time to hurry him little.
Layne put the lamp down to examine
the letters. "By Jacks, I wouldn' t have
believed It'll But, then, Lafe's hands
new was no bigger than woman's.
Shall l saddle the hawsses?"
ITO chase him tonight? Not much.
I'll know where to find him when /
want him, Go you back to bed and tell
the women there's nobody killed. And
say, Layne, when this thing gets itself
talked about, just tell the facts as you
know them. Good night"
The next morning Layne looked to
see the chase organized in due form, but
he was disappointed. Inspector Jaffray
ate his breakfast leisurely, never once
referring to the events of the night, and
afterward took the train south. The
farmer wondered at this lack Of zeal
until he went around behind the porch
bedroom and saw three bullet scars on
the brick walk under the window.
"Well, by Jacks!" was all he said at
the time. But later in the day he went
down to the Cantrell boys store and
lied to the corps de loisir until Inspector
Jaffray s reputation for daring bravery
was second only to that of Buck Bran
nan, the revenue collector.