The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-05-17

IA\ ence Early an inmate of the gray
I house in front of the Washing
ton County jail. The sheriff, burly
man of 40, had his mother and Grip
Piled son of 8 years living with him.
The old mother was continually afraid,
and the helpless boy needed teaching.
The sheriff advertised in the papers of |
the State for a 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
lieved she had not been well fed. His
impulse was to take her into the first
eating house and feed her up a little.
She was too much of a lady for that
and he bundled her into his buggy in
awkward silence.
I 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
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 a 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.
? 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
I ence Early through the jail she met
the jailer, man with a settled, stub
born look. Finally the sheriff led the
# way down the dark. close stairway
e and, unlocking heavy door, ushereC
t her into a dark corridor. He lighted ;
f lantern and led Florence to the far enc
of the passage, paused before a barret
If grating. and called, in voice not I'm
e kind. johnson, here's your new jailer
Florence started. Some one crawle'
m to the bars.
+ "For the love of God, Terrence, hoy
e, long is this to lastY'
j. There is nothing new this morning
ID John. l have to be away until late t.
night. This lady will give you you
dinner and supper"
If There was no word in reply Tn
20 sheriff returned to the doorway.
- 'Miss Florence" he said. 81 mus
90 go over to Berlin township after a mai
10 1 cannot be back before midnight.
- want you to take care of Martin"
~ An hour later he was gone, and sh
~ had the key and his instructions.
y Miss Early was reading aloud ju:
before dinner, when the servant can
Vi TO tell her some one wanted to see he
~ She found a rough man in the hall. ne
y vous and awkward.
* "They say sheriff's gone over to Be
III lin. miss. How long will he hay
no no gomez"
III "a few hours" replied Florenc
tersely.
The man looked at her. and whispe
IA ed quickly
IN I'm a friend of his'n. come to t.
he him all McVaigh townships comi1
he tonight after Martin. They've loca
The ed Aliens hired girl. and she says 81
lid saw Johnson about O'clock that mig
,at and not half mile from the farm"
of Florence Early felt an awful chill
her heart. Then the strong, kind ia
of the sheriff came before her. Wi
an effort she replied
re- eff you have a horse and know t
RE way ride to Berlin for your life. Y
ars shall be we'll paid. Don't lose minu
ak Bring him here; l will keep the m
.ad until he comes"
,ao She went to dinner calmly. and aft
TO- wards gathered up some delicacies a
~ added them to the meal for Mart
She threw light shawl over her he;
The jailer was in the hallway VIII
she went down the steps. He look
out troubled. She did not doubt he kne
axe 1-bo corridor saemed darker than ev
on She set the lantern by the graft
ing opened it and thrust into it the basB
L A hand took 1t.
Eat your dinner" she said gent
'then l have something to say to 20
In ten minutes he came to the 81
u" ing.
III - fob frnr