The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-04-08


~ thess gwine take him home, " said
the small one, gathering up the reins
and wriggling his bare feet into the
stirrup feathers. But Cantrell noticed
that instead of turning off up the lane
to Ma'am Wilkeson's the child kept
the road toward the Gap, urging the
horse into gallop as soon as he was
over the rocky hillside beyond Layne's.
Inspector Jaffrays guard duties dur.
ing the remainder of the afternoon were
of kind merely nominal. Layne was
away. and the inspector and his prisoner
had the front porch to themselves. Jaf-
fray said little, but he encouraged An
derson to talk, fitting his chair against
the side of the house and shrouding
himself in clouds of smoke while LATE
told Of his life ON Long mountain with
his old father; Of his counting of Willie
Godfrey; of the young girls loyalty,
and of her fathers contempt for the son
of q mountaineer. The valley folks
don't marry with we uns, mr. we uns
with them, though reckon they amt
no law 'gainst hit, " he said in explains
ton, and Jaffray agreed with him.
When Layne came home, a few words
explained the situation, and the farmers
hospitality was broad enough to cover
not only his friends friend, but in this
case his friends prisoner The inspector
unmanacled Late when they went i'll TO
supper, but he put the handouts on
again afterward, and when the early
bedtime of the family came he led the
young mountaineer into the porch bed
room and took additional prccaution Of
swapping another set of irons on his
ankles.
Not very pleasant for you, my boy, "
he said, "but can't help it. 1 mustn {
give you chance to slip through rly
fingers.
After which the inspector went back
to his chair on the porch, where he
smoked many cigars and communed
with himself for want of Il better listen
er. Once his reflections slipped into
speech: "'It all goes back to the same
thing in the end. We've got no manner
of right to take man who has never
been taught the lesson Of responsibility
and put him in place where he has to
rub up against temptation every day.
That's the long and short of it. just the
same l wish l might have given this
youngster shock without catching
him. That might have been the making
Of him, but this is going to ruin him
world without end. "
At 10 o'clock the inspector had seri
GUS thoughts of turning in, but before
the inclination gathered force enough
to overcome the inertia of the tilted
chair. there came Gathering of 4
horses hoofs on the loose shingle of the
Gap road. The rider dismounted al
Layne's gate, and the inspector Lighted
fresh cigar when he saw the figure Of
woman coming up the path TOWARD
the house.
This is the girl III the case q
course, " he muttered. Now, how tn,
devil did she find out?"
In another moment she stood before
him, and though the cigar was burning
well enough he made it the excuse t
strike another match in tho brief far
of which lie got "a glimpse of pair q
flashing eyes set i'll u face wherein grie
and resolution fought for the mastery.
You're Mr.. Jaffray, amt you?" sh,
began,
Eyes, and you are Willie Godfrey
Sit down, Miss Godfrey"
She dropped into "a chair as if thank
full for the permission. II reckon yol
know what I've come for. heard you
all had taken LATE Anderson for rob
hin the mail nndii-
Pardon me, Miss Godfrey" inter
rupted the inspector How did you fin,
that OUT"
Bad news don't wait for an OK team
heard about it, and I've come 23 mile
ON that hawss to keep you all from car
ryin an innocent man to Jail. LAT
new did take anything that didn't be
long to him, Mr.. Jaffray.
The inspector smoked in silence for
full minute. Surprising We're 10 tel
you that he has confessed?"
ut don't make any difference. II
amt the thief. -
"Then why should he say he was?"
"Cayn't you see? He just told You
heap Of lies TO cover up the real one. F"
"And who is the real one, Miss God
frey"
II am. p"
| 1t was we'll for the girls peace q
| mind that she could not see the inefiacC