The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-09
For His Honor.

crippled son OF ) years living with MIN.
| The old mother was continually afraid,
and the helpless boy needed teaching. The
| sheriff advertised in the papers of the
state for a companion and governess- A
| teachers agency sent Florence Early to
/ Riverdale
! The sheriff stared at her when he met
| her at the railroad station. He believed
| she had not been well fed His impulse
! was 10 take her into the first eating house
and feed her up a little. She was too
much Of lady for that, and he bundled
| her into his buggy in awkward silence
| Florence improved so much in few
| days that he was sure about the eating
! He gave her the piece OF steak next the
bone as his most delicate attention. When
/ he grew less shy he looked into her face
! and met the steadiest pair of eyes he had
| ever seen.
| The sheriff knew humanity. He looked
| al her, and felt that when he was obliged
| to go away at night he could sleep, know
! ing that the old mother and delicate Willy
| had stay and comfort
One day he took her into the jail. It
was fearful place. One story was above
| ground. In this were kept the prisoners
| held for minor offenses; in the other. a
veritable dungeon, was man confined
| for a capital offense. He was the son of a
| wealthy farmer and accused of the muir
der Of both father and mother on the evil
| dence that he had a dispute with them
| the day before the foul deed
Johnson Martins was the strongest,
most remote cell of the dungeon; ne was
| allowed to see no one. and the Sheriff him
self carried him his food.
! On the day the sheriff showed Florence
Early through the jail she met the jailer,
a man with settled, stubborn look. Fin
tolIr h. nr;N la6 q
dark, close stairway, and, unlocking a
heavy door. ushered her into a dark cor
rider. He tighten a lantern and led Flor
| ence TO the far end of the passage, paused
| before a barred grating, and called, in a
voice not unkind. Johnson, here's your
new jailer.'
Florence started. Some one crawled TO
| the bars
For the love of God. Terrence. how
| long is this to last?"
There is nothing new this morning,
John. I have to be away till late tonight.
| This lady will give you your dinner and
supper"
There was no word of reply. The sher-
| if returned to the doorway.
Miss Florence" he said. II must go
over to Berlin township after a man. [
cannot be back before midnight. 1 want
you 10 take care of Martin
An hour later he was gone, and she had
the key and his instructions.
Miss Early was reading aloud just be-
| fore dinner, when the servant came to tell
her some one wanted to see her. She
found a rough man in the hall, nervous
and awkward.
They say sheriff's gone over to Berlin,
miss. How long will he have gomez"
"a few hours" replied Miss Florence,
tersely.
The man looked at her. and whispered
quickly.
I'm a friend of his'n. come to tell
him all McVaigh townships coming to-
night after Martin. They've located Al
| lens hired girl and she says she saw
Johnson about Z o'clock that night and not
half a mile from the farm
Florence Early felt an awful chill at her
heart. Then the strong, kind face of the
sheriff came before her. With an effort
she replied:
IF you have horse and know the way,
ride to Berlin for your life. You shall be
well paid Don't lose a minute. Bring
| him here; 1 will keep the man until he
comes
She went to dinner calmly, and after
wards gathered up some delicacics and
added them to the meal for Martin. She
| threw a light shawl over her head.
/ The jailer was in the hallway when she
went down the steps. He looked troubled.
She did not doubt he knew. The corridor
seemed darker than ever. She set the Ian
tern by the grating, opened it and thrust
into ii the basket. A hand took it.
Eat your dinner" she said gently,
then l have something to say TO you"
In ten minutes he came to the grating.
They will try to take you from the jail
| tonight" she said simply. Guilty or not
guilty, if 1 save you, will you give your
self up to Sheriff Terrence for trial?'
He looked her in the eyes.
Il am an innocent man." he cried
hoarsely, but before God I will stand
| trial if you save me from that mob
Swear" she said. Swear it to me-"
He made the oath and she left him.
Eleven o'clock came. Outside there was
utter silence, then came the sound of
many footsteps. The men of Mcvaigh
| township were not out for vain parade.
| They meant business.
A terrific battering came at the doors,
the one level with the yard attacked first.
The jailer looked out from a small win
| dow in the old roof. 1t had been used for
such purposes.
I'VE want Martin" cried voice. land
we know Terrence isn't here. Open the
! door or throw out the keys"
! / can 90 II, shouted the 1aleT.
We'll fight it out, He's my blood kin
With a great shout the assault on the
| door began. The prisoners above the
dungeon were wild with terror. What
( would not a mob do?"
''Mesl" ne cried. help me to barricade
| this door! The sheriff will come We
| must gain time"
| 1t took a good many minutes to pass
| the barricade and TO chop in the heavy
| door father on. 1t took more to wrench
! and chop and pull out the cell door. A
| dark figure was crOUched in the corner.
! silent as death.
| Mighty still. are you?" shrieked the
/ leader. Johnson Martins own cousin. and
| the heir 10 the farm If he was hung.
! Come out here, you murderer"
| A dozen hands laid hold on the crouch
| ing figure. 1t was dragged, hauled. car
! ried. forced up the stairs, out into the
| yard.
String him up! Here's a rope! Quick
Then a woman's shriew-awful blood
| curdling-rang out once, again. again. The
crowd fell back. Good God! What did
! this meant"
They stood the figure up and raised Ian
| terms high over II a second. Il was a
woman terror-stricken woman-vith
! her brown hair unloosened, falling over a
mans suit Of clothes.
mighty shout. and In among them
| dashed horsemen. the bury sheriff al the
! head. He threw himself from his horse,
: he snatched the woman In his arms.
Are ye men? This woman has saved
my honor" he cried. on hands. Thank
| God. Martin Is safe. He is no murderer
I The negro ! tracked to Bear Swamp to-
day is the man. He had tire old mans
watch and money. For shame. go home, -
The crowd SUNK away into the shadows
/ Tae sheriff carried limp form into the
! house. ard while be lsvished every fond