The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-02-26

Suddenly thought seemed to strike
him, and he brought one hard fist down
Oh the table with thump.
"I'll do it, l 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, II 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
am unable to pay the rent. and"
"What'll we do now?"
II 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 can" the young preacher
replied.
Take this note to the leader of the
Protective association"
"Amos Huddin?"
That's him. He's partic'lar 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 a
dozen men with weapons in their hands
entered without a word. Not move.
ment of the invalid's 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
vlgilantes, ''we want you'll"
"Wal, amt you got me?" asked the
other, quietly.
"Yes," muttered the leader, "and we
are a-goin' to keep YET"
"Wal, 1 don't reckon / blame ye," Har-
ris answered. TITS been long time
since ye got a chance at me, an don't
wonder ye want to keep me. Did the
preacher give We information"
Eyes"
HAS he got the reward yit?"
mo, of course not. We amt goin' to
do no cash-in-advance business"
There was the sound of struggle nj
the door and voice crying:
LET me in! will go in!"
Its the preacher" some one said
"Bill's a-holdin' him outside"
A pistol cleaned from beneath the
table, and Jack Harris hard hand
lcveled it at the leaders head.
LET him in!" 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
! done? What have l done?"
Delivered my note, reckon"
Eyes; and sold your liberty fol
money! But God knows am innocent
OF any intent to do So" He buried his
face in his hands.
"Now," said Harris, sternly. "Hudden
moneys in his hand I'll drop this gun
While it's up you know how safe your
life isl
The vigilantes conferred together TO,
moment. Then each produced his
pocketbook and dropped sum Of
money into the leaders, SLOUGH hat. Al
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 t.
the young preacher. "Parson," he said
"that'l make you and the leetle girl il
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 tn,
| horsethief's sacrifice. The little grouI
shuf1led about uneasily when he hat
finished.
"Boys," said the leader. suddenly
I'm boss O. this yere association, ain
II"
"An' what say goes?"
at does, jist that!"
"An' horse stealin' means hangin'?'
"It does"
wal, l sentence the prisoner, Jacl
| Harris, to be hung this day week. In thu
meantime place him in the keepin' u
Shortey Meyers, the leetlest man in thu
crowd; an II he let's the prisoner es
cape I'll fine him 81. So"
Shorty Meyers extracted $3.50 from
his pocket and handed the money to tn,
| leader.
"Yere's my fne." he said.
"And the preacher keeps the re
ward 2" Jack Harris asked the leader
"He doesl" chorused the vigilantes
"Wal, anyhow. I'll get my rent now
/ reckon" said mop-headed vigilante
| Two weeks later. when the ceremony
was over that made the young preache
and the bright-faced eastern girl moi
and wife, the bride looked fondly int<
her husbands eyes as she said:
"How much these people seem I,
think Of you, and how generous the,
are toward you'll Have they been so eve
since you came out here?"
mo; the change took place only I
few weeks ago."
"And who were those stern, rough
looking men who shouted 80 when tn
seremony was doDe?"
'"They are the vigilantes."
"As I entered the state" the younl
wife said, presently. "just such rough
looking man asked my name, and whel
] told him he said: Tell the parson v
saw Jack Harris. an tell him hop
he'll be happy Then he disappeared
Heroic Jack!" the young wife ex
claimed. when the minister had told he
the story.-Petaluma Courier.