The Newtown bee., 1900-01-26

life out in the great world, of which she had caught glimpse fr om her copy of the Illustrated story until she finally drifted away into dreams. Toward morning she roused suddenly, broad awake, with 8 feeling of uneasiness.
 She knew her father and Stewart were to start out again before dayhreak, and had left breakfast prepared for them. She could hear them now, moving softly about the kitchen. They talked in low, guarded tones, but she had no thought that they had secret to keep from her, until she heard Ste wart ask question, to which her father answered "Yes." Then he stole to her door, softly unclosed it, then closing it as softly, returned to tbe table.
 With sudden impulse Dolly slipped out of bed and put her ear to the keyhole, in time to hear her father say, "Sleepin like log. She won't wake up till we ve been gone hours. Dolls safe anyway. but I've never let her know & word. Sbe thinks Pm just prospector and some. times make flnd.'
 Stewart laughed in low gutteral chuc- kles ss he said, 1T reckon she'd be little afraid of heE own pap if she knew him ae well as do. But now about this affair, Bill, we've got to settle it sure. If they catch that teller, he's bound to swing no gitten out O that ss see, is ther'?"
 "No," answered Wade, slowly. SI hate 1t the wust kind. Wisht could 8 helped it, but they was so hot on our trails ther' was no way but to put the houn's on some one else's track. hope he'll get off though"
 "Well," said Stewart, "When it's my neck or another mans, I'll save my own every time. An ye mustn't get equeam' ish like ye did about elps,-!hought ye'd give us away shore that time."
 "You shut up!" growIed Wade. ''Nc use bringin' up ol' things. I'll own weakened when they strung up Phelps He war sich young feller, looked like g boy; an then knowin' he wusn't gully but twas just like it is now--his neck ol our'n. ain't a-goin' to be in at the hangin', though, this time; don't believe l could stand it, he looks to much like my little Willie, jist sich blue eyes, an yellel curly hair"
 "Bill," /" said Stewart with an oath. s'Ii thought ye were reely goin' back on il I'd plug ye right now this minnit. I've got the drop on ye, an want ye to un. derstand if ys don't keer fur yer owr neck, keer precious sight for mine, an ye ain't a-goin' to put no moose aroun' it. ,
 ''Pas up yer iron," answered Wade ''They couldn't hang wus scoundrel il they tried, than you are, but I'm not a-goin' to help lem do if. Come, WI needn't quarrel now, long as we've worked it together, but this is our last job, ye remember The drove we sent down this time paid big, an I'm satis fec now with my pile. I'm a-goin' to immi grate when things quiet down ag'in Coin where Doll kin hev chanct." There was some more talk planning fol the day, and the search; but Dolly had crept back into her bed. so overcome with fright and horror at what she had heard that she shook ss if in chill. She knew intantly what the conversation she had ! overheard meant. Her father, whom she had always trusted and wed, was pro. fessienal horse-thief, and, worse, he was murderer, for he had let innocent mer ! be hung for his crime, knowing them to be innocent, had even helped to hunt them down.
 She remembered about Phelps, two years ago she had seen him once, slim, pale little fellow, who, as her father had said, looked sslike boy" She had pitied him then, thinking him guilty, and now to find that he was not only innocent, but had been deliberately sacrificed to hide the crime of others, and her own father one of them, filled her with unutterable horror. As it all ran through her startled ] mind she felt as if she could never bear \ to see her father again.
 l Ever since her mothers death. wher she was 12 years old, she had lived alone with her father. He had never seemed toscare to be friendly with his neig ghbors 50 her acquaintances were few. but shs had not been lonely, and had nevel thought of how they lived. Her father had never engaged in the occupations usual to the country. He would bs gons from home for days at s time. and talked Ia good deal about prospecting, and some times spoke Of making lucky anda.' Now 1t appeared that ne had been 1ol