The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-16

| nadn been all mapped out beforehand
Besides, l shouldn't have had quarter sc
much credit for it eff you'd wriggled clean
away. An thar's another thing whar'd
my reputation be. eff I'd emptied my Colt
at boss an rider, scarce ten yards away
an yet never got home with single bead
Come, now, Britisher, do be reasonabie!"
| Reason go hangi" l shouted, in pas
sion. you must own you haven't done the
square thing by me. A bargains a bar
/ gain all the world over"
! Nough said I'm not goin' back on my
word. No, sir You took over all the
| risks; / on'y agreed to do the payin'
Thar's $500 due to you when I'm reelected
sheriff. Thet amounts to come-mebbe-
eff you're Twin then. But I'm willin' to be
| generous. an advance a hundred dollars
nov for today's work.
He slapped roll of notes on the table
| in front OF me.
| Twenty fvesl'' said he Count emf
l refused TO touch the money. That was
not what I'd meant. as he knew full we'll.
Although he was perhaps sticking to the
strict letter of our agreement. he had
broken it in the spirit .ong ago. MY tenn
! per got the better OF me. There ana tner
| let him have the rlsngh side of my
| tongue. telling him what | thought OF him
and his trickery. and what other people
would probably think when I'd had my say
in open court
Now you're ta1kin' foolishness," he said.
sharp and snappy. Il thought you was
white all through But ef you're tn -aten'
to throw me down-wal, 1 reckon two kin
play thet game. The jury to swallow a one
legged yarn like yourn amt born yet. Why.
1t don't stand to common sense, nohow
weren't you caught on the bail-up, red
listed, anyway? How'll you git over tibet?
rs more'n you could do in a year of Sum
days. No; l low you'd best jes' let mat
tiers rub along 'thout worryin yourself
about 1t. The boys'd take a sight more
pains to honour the 'casion, thinkin' twas
Black Jack they was assistin' to switch
OH. n ef they knew twas on'y an ornery
tenderfoot amateur. Both them an you'd
be better pleased with the style of the
ceremony. Now, jes you weigh it up tibet
way. Figure out for yourself how high an
proud Black Jackd have felt. supposin'
he'd been the important party boxed up
hyer instead of you-an' try to pattern
yourself on him aecordin'."
Don't drivel at me- mani" | roared
I'D as lief copy your example as Black
Jacks. in anything"
Then l guess you'd fall bout ez far
short of the samples in one case ez you did.
few hours back, In the other" he barked
back No; you an Black Jack amt built
in the same block. sir. It's pity. mebbe
whinfn' an squirmin' thar waitin' for mir
aeles to como along-leastways not before
he'd tried all he knew 'thout holerin' on
Providence to help him out of hole"
The Sheriff's bony face was solemn and
ffint-hard when / looked up at him, but
l fancied / could see the ghost of a grin
still dancing round the corners of his
mouth.
1T gifts over me what possessed Cousin
Ia a n Pm tn 6w ~,
thishyer particular shanty." said he, throw
ing his eyes round the place. They'd
oughter known faint good enough to hold
desperate hcodlum like Black Jack. He'd
be outside 1t in less'n a twinkle lay But
with you it's different. Yes, I'll grant it's
strong enough for you, SEEM you're inno-
cent an dead stuck on proyin' ii in court
of law. You'd scern to break loose even ef
the way was clear. Amt that so? Now, 1t
sortcr relieves my mind. ez Sheriff, to hear
you talk like tibet. l feels We kin chat
confidential now; 'thout you layin' to take
advantage of anythn' may happen to say
Thet's whar you're most altogether differ
ent from Black Jack again. He wouldl'
l began to have dim notion of what
the man was driving at. II it suited him
to keep up the farce OF having a rag OF
conscience left-especially with me, after
all that had passed between us-I saw no
great harm in humoring his WITNESSES for
nay oxa benefit. So l took my cue from
him, fast enough now
But I don't see how Black Jack could.
possibly escape
81 dessay not! But he'd see. mighty
soon too One thing, he'd have found out
rusted thin. It's scarce q six-foot drop |
inter the yard below. shouldn't wonder. |
neither. eff he didn't light on ladder lynn |
under the far wall-most keerlessly left |
thar by the men who're new-shinglin' the |
roof Black Jack think it nice an ham
dy for climbin over
But he'd be seen or heard by the !
warders. wouldn't he?"
"Mebbe thar'd be nobody on patrol but 1
Dick Ray-an' he's a terrible hard sleeper, |
is Dick. Why. when he was promisin' me |
his vote jes now he owned up to one great /
failiu' ez a watcher-he KNIT keep his eye /
lids shored open a minute after midnight, |
nohow. ! don't blame him myself, for,
after all, it's plump agin human natur't'
You're right Mr. Sheriff." 1 said.
friendly as you please again. And / sup
pose he won't make any extra effort to
stay awake tonight?''
"Mph, Like ez not, he WON'T"
Now. going back to Black Jack" I ad-
led. ''Onee clear of the prison, I war
rant he'd feel safer If he could PIT twenty
or thirty miles between him and Probity
Springs before daylight
Il low he'd show sense eff he did. Yes,
he'd be wise to borrow a boss, too-some
scch animal ez the chestnut bronch 1 saw,
ready saddled an bridled. hi5ched up to
he shed back of Sanders sawmill hyer,
same place whar you found your nag this
Tornin'. Curious thing, but tibet bronch
ooks uncommon like one beiongin' ter
Cousin Jude. Eff anybody loaned it. Jude
would think it rightdown kind for them
% turn the brute loose agin in the first
meadow this side of Louisville Jude lives
IN the ranch thar, you know. I'm purity
lure It's one OF his ponies; they're always
trayin'."
Crossing the floor gripped the sherif's
land and shook it warmly
Il apologize for every word I spoke
gainst you just now, Mr.. Push Fact is.
IN not bred up to your level of honor
ret. and my bad temper cropped out be-
ore I'd sized up the many difficulties of
our official position. But | think I quite
understand now. Nobody can rob you OF
riminal single handed--whether he after
ward escaped or not. That would not be |
our fault, at all events. They couldn'.
xpect you to stop in the penitentiary here |
ay and night. TO keep guard over him
ourself."
''Thet's SOL Ez Sheriff. of course. I'd be
cal mad 10 hear he'd slipped away agin:
ut speakin' ez a plain, emery Individual
d think him a lunatie fool eff he saw an
PENN an didn't jump for it. HowseveT, I
his has not nothin' to do with your case l
on bein' fixed on standin' your trial. hey,
ow? Wal. l on'y hope the boys won't :
tep in an spoil it. Thet's all An now |
d adyies you to turn on a happy dream
toni oh r bav