The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-10
For His Sons Sake.


| We called the boy Jim, because his
father did. We knew his father TO be
| Col Weston, banker. cattleman and
| mine owner. The colonel wasn't a man
| TO whom a stranger would take at first
glance, and even after four days OF his
| company none OF US could say we liked
him. When you came TO study him
closely you saw that he was revengeful
and relentless. The boy was frank.
chpper and good natured and you took
liking to him as soon as you looked
into xis big blue eyes. His age was
about TO- and he had wit and knowl-
edge beyond his years. We had yet
twenty miles to go TO reach the ter
minus. and the hour was about 2 o'clock
in the afternoon, when the coach came
TO a sudden halt as it toiled up hill.
Next moment the driver called TO us:
"All you folks what don't want your
heads blown off had better get down
and line up. We've been stopped by a
road agent"
We had arms in plenty, but no one
moved TO resist. Every bullet fired by
the robber would bore it's way through
the coach and find "A target, while the
robber had the cover of the horses and
was safe from our fire. 1t seems cow
ardly when you read OF IL, but TO get
down and submit to be robbed was the
wisest thing to do under the circum-
stances.
Little Jim was not a bit frightened.
On the contrary, he rather enjoyed the
situation. 1t was not so with the col
onel. / saw him turn pale and heard
him cursing under his breath, and he
was the last man TO get down.
The robber had a double-barreled
shotgun in his hands. He cautioned
the driver to hold the coach where IL
was. and then advanced upon us. He
glanced carelessly into each face until
his eyes rested on the colonel. Then he
gave a sudden start, drew in his breath
with gasp, and we realized that there
was a recognition. The colonel grew
white under his look and began to
tremble. The boy had no sooner looked
into the road agents face than he cried
out:
why, it's Mr. Pelton-Mr. Pelton,
Say. Mr.. Pelton. I'm awfully glad to
see you. where've you been this long
timer"
80 it's you. Jimmy" laughed the
robber, as he held out his hanu for a
shake. "Well, you have been growing
since / saw you last. It's wonder you
knew me at first sight"
"Oh, / used TO like you so well
couldn't forget your face" replied the
Pelton?"
With gentle hand the man pushed the
boy. back into line, and then stepped
back a pace or two. AS he did so his
face grew very sober, and saw q fash
in his black eyes / did not like. His
voice was low and steady as he finally
said:
I'm much obliged for your prompt
ness i'm climbing down and lining up,
and / think I'll let you off this time.
The four of you may go back into the
coach and go on. I'm leaving your
guns with you, but don't attempt to
play any trick"
The colonel took his son by the hand
and attempted to enter the stage with
us, but the robber motioned him back.
"W-what do you want of me?' asked
the colonel, in voice which quavered
"I'll tell you later" was the reply
AS the coach started on we looked
out to see the three standing in the
road. Little Jim still had hold of his
fathers hand. but had reached out the
When>we had gone 200 feet the road
turned and shut them from our view.
AT the disappearance of the stage the
man turned on Col. Weston and point
ed to the hillside on the right and said:
Move on that way. Jimmy. give me
you hand and I'll help you along"
The white-faced colonel entered the
pines and held a straight course up the
hill. Behind him came the rObber and
his son. The boy had been full of Gu
rosity at first. but presently he was
awed and frightened by the looks cast
upon his father.
Two or three years before he and Mr..
Pelton had been great friends Mr..
ItltOU idu DttI lIldIdktT ID1 Ills
father. one day there had been a Bit
ter quarrel-pistols had been drawn
the sheriff had rushed i'm and Mr., Pel-
ton had fled to escape arrest. He re-
membered his father calling the fugi-
tive thief. and Of men being sent out
TO hunt him down. All ths came back
TO him as they followed the father up
the rough way. and though he knew
nothing of mans vengeance there was
feeling OF dread in his soul. Now and
then the robber ordered the colonel to
the right or left. but these were the
only words spoken until they finally
reached rude camp high up among
the powders. BY and by the robber
half turned To look the colonel in the
foce and said:
I've waited for this for two years.
I could ne ther die nor go away until
/ had killed you"
1T will be murder-cold blooded mur-
der" replied the colonel as he folded
his arms.
If il was a murder a hundred times
over I'd do Il. DO you suppose | can
forget Rose Harper? Who separated
us? Who maliened me? Who wrecked
my life and sent her II suicide $
grave? Who drove mo TO be fugi
| tive from justice on false charge