The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-06-14

Uly HTIEdTTIT5
company. and my head clerk has gone after
IL In q road cart. He's done a most extra
ordinary thng-forgotten his pistols.
There's not much danger for him. but he
might need them. At any rate, am nerv-
about 1t. Now. do you see. can spare
no one here. but / have not lived all my
years without learning whom to trust 1
trust you, jamie. viii you take the pis-
tolls? You will meet the buggy soon after
they leave the depot. It's a dark. stormy
night, and l wouldn't ASH you If it was
noe absolutely necessary. VIII you?"
Jamie was glad 10 do il. The banker
wrapped him up in big waterproof coat
and started him off.
Remember. jamie" he said, as he helped
him on Bolivar, my best wey to look after
my securities when I'm laying out money
mortgages is to keep a sharp eye ON
them. You're my security now, and I'm go
ing to take the greatest care OF you. DO you
know what widower is, sonny2'
YES sir" said Jamie softly.
"l'rn widower. Jamie. and l had a little
son who's dead. too"
lie pressed the boys hand: Jamie pressed
IL z"aiousiy In return and rode off into the
night.
III.
Jamie knew the road; he had often trav-
eled it with his fathers team. lie was In
high spirits, III spite of the rain and the
night. lie felt he had made a friend of
the banker and would take back the best
tidings to his father and mother. No Won
der he dreamed dreams and saw golden
prospects shining ahead through the dark
ness Bolivar galloped on smartly and
willingly.
But at the same moment. and very near
to the boy, was another heart, full OF
grim despair and desperation, the heart OF
u man who hid himself 10y the side OF the
trail glad OF the rain, glad OF the dark
ness which would help him 10 commit
his sin unseen. He had no overcoati ne
aid not seem 10 miss one, but he careSsed
with closest care carefully Kept anu
shining winchester. lie lay very stun ana
motlonlcss. save when ne raised his head
TO peer down the trail toward the toohtty
town, or to listen for any SOUND. ne '45o
knew that the bankers road cart Woul"
be returning soon. and he had qulchlS
rucssed that ii would bring IN niuch money
to paw irrigation men. lie Knew 1'9o'
the ouietness of the country, and how fale
they would feel, who had OFTEN come salc-
ly before the same way. So ne lay IN the
wet with a mind made UP, mlad as
torted by misery and hopeiessness anu
starvation. seeking q hideouS revenge LOT
a iancied WRONG.
He lay by 4 wooden, narrow, uhpiip-
peted bridge the safest place to fire one
shot that would topple men and startled
team into the creek suddenly ne hv''iv
the distant clatter OF horses hoois, ana
was once alert as Il dog. Ihey came from
the wrong direction, and he sheaheu pAcA
into the further shadows, to escape any
chance detection. The rider came on, Inc
night had now turned stormy, Indeed, ana
there were flashes Of lightning one OF
these followed by crash OF lhuhuoi 'l"e
down as the horseman clalIef@L ONO l'e
wooden bridge. The man III hlulns S"" "
thckly wrapped stranger on d mo- "'''''
appearance for moment s'"i ',c" INN
tered.
But the rider IN that hlckeTlhB s'e'''
saw more. 1t was jamie, anu ne l'"I ',0ii
his fathers face, but never never nv" '''''1
face looked SO horrible before Inc "'y
was too startled to cry out, ana ~ Seou"u
Bolivar had borne him far down the tran.
1t took Sim some time To collect ms wis
ca Mortified was ne py the appariton OF
tbat chastity white ana twisted face. l'ut
INNS wits were rcyc - ~ fur from him.
and after "a - E y
there Is one thlHs - :.
can talk OF he can tel"Sou Of "hold-ups'
of fierce men stopping stage coaches ana
wagons which they think hoid treasure
Jamie knew his fathers desperate state
ne knew OF the coming along that lonely
road of money insecurity guarded ana ne
knew two ana two made four lie matted
I;olivar and thought 10 out. lie ia not
dare go back TO his father fer he lelt
with that face i'm his mind, that ne "oulu
be struck and sent nome. ne al" no' "''t
warn the bank people. for that would
hand his father ove~ to the law. blessed
thought came to his relief There was
another trail which was sometimes taken
nv WAGONS longer. but safer when the
roads were bad and the creeks were sWol-
lem. If he could make them take that
his father and the treasure both might De
saved He rode ON 20 meet the buggy.
Tia halted il very shortly and explained
his mission. They greeted him chcerfuly
lanobinelv saving the banker was as merry
o,s as an old woman, but they wouldn't
- Nv mo other trail Jamie implored
Them told them the roads were the worst
80 seen and the creeks raging torrents.
1Io deliberately lied to them. But they We're
ob5,irata and i'm too great a hurry to get
nome TO take another trail. There were
o,,I,, t,yo of them and they had Jamie be-
tween them in front and tied Bolivar TO the
rear So they rode cheerfully on save
Tap,io
,rba how sat silent IN fearful despair.
III fen absolutely certain of what his
e,thor had IN his mind. and he had brought
Win his own hand TO these men the weap-
ons 10 shoot at the poor desperate farmer
Ga far he had faithfully done his duty to
his now friend and banker but further he