The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-03-16

90
tend to everything. You've got cattle
and things to look after, l suppose.
I'll feed 'em for you, and then@ II bring
in another log or two for the fire."
How good you are, sir! I know
father will thank you :; q thousand
times" x;4~s. -.s
"Thank me yourself, child! I'm not
doing it for your father. It's long since
I've had occasion to be thanked, and
the words have sweet sound"
He opened the door and went out
through the binding snow.
Returning half hour later, he care
fully replenished the fire, raking the
Goals together till the red blaze
mounted high in the great chimney.
Then he caught Tony in his arms
once more, making him laugh with q
merry story, before Jenny carried him
off to bed. ="
"Thcre's no use expecting your folks
tonight" said the stranger, when
Jenny reappeared, having left her lit
tie charge quietly sleeping. ''The
storm grows harder every minute.
But they'll be here bright and early in
the morning, never fear. You go and
lie down with the boy, and III just
camp here in front of the fire"
"But you won't be comfortable, sill"
"Comfortable! I'll get the sweetest
rest I've had for many. long night"
Jenny did as she was hidden. Still!
dressed, she threw herself upon the bed
beside her little brother.
1t was long before she slept. for as
the snow beat against the window
4panes she could not repress q sharp
anxiety for the safety of those she
loved.
"What should have done if this man
had not Gomez" she asked herself
again and again. "He seems SO
strange; but he is very, very kind
She lost consciousness at last, and
when she awoke, the SUN was already
shining in at the eastern window.
She sprang up hastily, scarcely able
to collect her scattered memories OF
the night of storm.
Hark! Could it be? It was!-the
sound of slowly tinkling bells ap-
preaching through the still air.
"They are coming!" she cried, joy.
fully, and ran into the adjoining room.
It was empty. and the fire smoldered
low upon the hearth. Her visitor had
gone, unannounced and sudden as he
had come.
"And he had no breakfast" mourned
poor Jenny. "How shameful of me tt,
sleep like this!"
She flung open the door just as her
fathers sleigh appeared in sight, the
stout horses struggling bravely
through the unbroken drifts.
A cheerful halloo rang out, answered
by her own joyful voice.
The sleigh reached the door, and in
moment Jenny was in her fathers
arms.
my poor little girl! Thank God.
you are safe! was wild with fear for
you-all alone in the stormy night"
But I wasn't alone. father. A man
came here, and he was so kind! H., fed
the cattle, and made my fire; but-only
think!-I slept so late that he went
away without any breakfast"
The father and son looked at each
other.
"What is that?" cried Jenny. g,anc-
ing at the table. II do believe he left
a letter! Yes--and directed to you,
father!"
Mechanically the father unfolde@l the
bit of paper, and this is what he read:
II knew of the money you took from the
express Office last week at Millvile,
have been watching my opportunity, and
when you rode away to-day I followed you.
and cut down the big trees which you
found across your road as you came back.
could never cut your way around before
morning.
II came here to rob you. Your children
trusted me. The boy is like one that I re-
member. If they had been afraid Vt me.
1 should have found your money ard gone
away. You will think 1t foolish, but it
came to me that If there was som sthing
trust; perhaps 1t was enough for the be-
ginning-just the beginning-of better
man.
JACK CARN1GAN."
The fathers face grew ashy pale,
and the paper fell from his hand.
Stephen picked it up, glancing hurried
ly over it's contents, and the two gael
at each other without power to 81 leak.
The signature was that of desper-
ado long the despair of the officers of
justice, whose name had been for
years a terror among the homes of SOL
itary settlers all the country round.-
Golden Days. .~
A HEADLESS HORSEMAN.