The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-05-16
FOR HIS HONOR



R FREAK of fortune made Flor
IN ence Early an inmate of the gray
house in front of the Washing
ton County Jail. The sheriff, burly
man of 40, had his mother and Grip
pied son of s years living with him.
Ihe Old mother was continually afraid,
and 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 sta ton. He be
lieved 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 a 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 60 away at night he could
sleep knowing that the old mother and
delicate Willy had a stay and COM
fort.
! One day he took her into the Jail. 1t
was fearful place. One story was
above ground. In this were kept the
prisoners held for minor offenses; in
the other. a veritable> dungeon. was
man confined for a capital offense.
He was the son of a wealthy farmer
and accused Of the murder Of both
father and mother on the evidence
that he had had 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 heavy door. ushered
her into dark corridor. He lighted a
lantern and led Florence to the far end
OF the passage, paused before n barred
grating. and called. in voice not UNI
kind. johnson, here's your new jailer."
1 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. l have to be away until late to-
night. This lady win give you your
dinner and supper"
There was no word in reply. The
sheriff returned to the doorway.
Miss Florence" he said, II must
60 over to Berlin township after a man.
cannot be back before midnight. /
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 just
before dinner. when the servant came
to tell her some one wanted to see her.
She found.a rough man In the hall. ner-
v0us and awkward.
! 'sThey say sheriff's gone over to Ber-
lin, miss. How long will he have
gonef'
"A few hours" replied Florence,
tersely.
The man looked at her, and whisper
ed quickly:
! Tin friend Of his'n. 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 ndght
and not half mile from the farm"
Florence Early felt an awful chill al
!, her heart. Then the strong, kind face
Of the sheriff came before her. With
an effort she replied:
III You have horse and know the
way, ride to Berlin for your life. You
shall be well paid. Don't lose minute
Bring him here: will keep the man
until he comes"
She went to dinner calmly. and after
! wards gathered up some delicacies and
added them to the meal for Martin
She threw light shawl over her head
The jailer was In the hallway wher
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 It and thrust into It the basket
A hand took 1t.
Eat your dinner" she said gently
| then have something 10 say to you.
| In ten minutes he came to the graf
mg.
~They win try to take You from thu
jail tonight" she said, simply. Guilt,