Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1901-05-18


ton County jail The sheriff, burly
man of 40, had his mother and Grip
pied son of 8 years living with him.
1he Old mothe: was continually afraid,
ana the helpless boy needed teaching.
The sheriff advertised in the papers of
the State for companion and gov
erness. A teachers agency sent Flor
ence Early to Riverdale.
The sheriff stared at her when he
! met her at the railroad station. He be-
lleved she had not been well fed. His
/ impulse was to take her into the first
eating house and feed her up little.
she was too much of a 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 eat
Ing. He gave her the piece of steak
next the bone as his most delicate at
tention. When he grew less shy he
looked into her face and met the stead
lest pair of eyes he had ever seen.
The sheriff knew humanity. He look
ed at her, and felt that when he was
obliged to go away at night he could
sleep, knowing that the old mother and
delicate Willy had stay and COM
fort.
One day he took her into the Jail. 1t
was a fearful place. One story was
above ground. In this were kept the
prisoners held for minor offenses; in
the other, a veritable dungeon, was
a man confined for capital offense.
lie was the son of wealthy farmer
and accused of the murder of both
rather and mother on the evidence
that he had had a dispute with them
the day before the foul deed.
Johnson Martins was the strongest
most remote cell of the dungeon; he
was allowed to see no one. and the
sheriff himself carried him his food.
On the day the sheriff showed Flor
ence Early through the jail she met
the jailer, a man with a settled, stub
born look. Finally the sheriff led the
way down the dark, close stairway,
and, unlocking a heavy door, ushered
her into dark corridor. He lighted a
lantern and led Florence to the far end
of the passage, paused before a barred
grating, and called, in voice not I'M
kind, 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. have to be away until late to-
night. This lady will give you your
dinner and supper"
There was no word in reply. The
sheriff returned to the doorway.
Miss Florence" he said, II must
go over to Berlin township after man,
l cannot be back before midnight, l
want you to take care of Martin"
An hour later he was gone, and she
had the key and his instructions.
Miss Early was reading aloud lust
before dinner, when the servant came
to tell her some one wanted to see her.
She found a rough man in the hall, ner-
vous and awkward.
lin, miss. How long will he have
gomez"
"A few hours" replied Florence,
tersely.
The man looked at her, and whisper
ed quickly:
I'm friend of hs'n. I come to tell
him all McVaigh townships coming
tonight after Martin. They've locat-
ed Aliens hired girl, and she says she
saw Johnson about O'clock that night
and not half 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:
eff you have horse and know the
way, ride to Berlin for your life. You
shall be we'll paid. Don't lose a minute.
Bring him here; l will keep the man
until he comes"
She went to dinner calmly, and after
wards gathered up some dellcacies and
added them to the meal for Martin.
She threw 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 lantern by the grating.
opened 1t and thrust into ii the basket
A hand took It,
Eat your dinner" she said gently,
'then have something to say to YOU"
In ten minutes he came to the graf
| ing.
They will try to take you from the
Jail tonight" she said, simply. Guilty
or not guilty, If | save you. will Won