The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-05-10


rode away, and Becca was once more
| alone.
To run home was only the work Of a
few minutes, but as she approached
their shanty she heard loud voices
| within.
Its that dreadful, swearin' Josh
Lowery, an he an pop ar quarreIin'.
Pop must be heap better"
Becca crept up softly and peercd in
at their one window. The sight within
and the words she overheard almost
| froze the blood in her veins.
There on the table, in the center of
the room, lay a pile of money-gold
and bank bills.
Il tell you what, 81 Scott" growled
Josh, "'twas me planned the hull af-
fair an carried it out, and now you
squeal because l want the biggest
sheer. We've jist got to get this here
settled before that gal o. yourn comes
back. She's deuced sharp, if she was
good enough to play into our hands to-
| night"
''You speak the truth when you say
twas you planned this affair. never
would eff it hadn't been for you. SO
divide up even, Josh; the doctor was
| amazin' kind to come out with five hun
dred on his person"
"I'll not do it," Kissed Josh, snatch
ing up the entire pile and thrusting it
in his pocket, at the same time making
for the doorway swiftly.
But he did not get out as easily as
he hoped, for ST raised his revolver and
fired, and, wild as his aim was, it sent
Josh sprawling on the floor, with the
blood gushing from wound in his side,
his life blood, as was evident at
glance.
At this same instant, with wild
shrek, Becca leaped in over his pros
trate form.
Horrifed, painting, she stood before
her father.
my God, Becca!"
"Oh, pop, what have you done?" she
gasped, noting Josh's white face and
dull eyes, in agony and terror.
"Killed the meanest snake an rob-
Der in these here mountains. He-he
got me into scrape an then was
a-clearin' out with the whole pile. l
had to shoot him."
"Oh, no, you didn't! - and-and--
they'll hang you-the-Judgc Lynch"
81 started and grew pale, his real
situation dawning upon him.
you'll have to take the money and
fly; it's your last chance, pop. Oh
how could you do it?"
81 had to-" repeated ST, doggedly;
"but I'll clear out fast enough. How
bright you are, Becca. you'd better
keep hundred yourself"
"Me! wouldn't touch it for mil
lion dollars! / only want you ter save
yer life. Better hurry"
you're like your nanny" NUT
tered 81, "a leetle too honest. Well,
good-by, Becca, child. You deserved
better pop than I've been to you"
and tear tremblcd in the old mans
eye; he knew he might never sec her
again. "What'll you do, Bccca? what'H
become o. your"
"I--never mind about me. Reckon j
kin work, and there's plenty of places.
Do hurry and starti tn be morning
fore long"
The next day at early dawn party
of men out searching for traces of
the road agents who had robbed the
doctor, came across Becca.
"Old ST Scott's little gal-the very
one that came after the doctor for her
father. How's the old man by this
time, lass?" inquired one of the men,
kindly, but white-faced Becca failed to
answer, and tainted away at his very
feet.
"The old mans dead, maybe" said
another of the party. 'Some one take
the child home = that isto town, for
she's going to be sick, looks like"
They carried poor Becca straight to
the old doctors Office, and there by the
side of his bed she regained conscious
ness, and managed to explain that her
father had disappeared in the night,
she could not tell where.
The man-hunters failed to get any
trace of the highwaymen, but they
found Josh dead in 81 SCOTS cabin,
and naturally supposed there had been
violent quarrel and fight, and Sis
absence was explained, but they never
connected their two neighbors with
the road agents.
Nobody but Becca could have ex-
planned, and Becca held her tongue.
She remained with the doctor and
his wife in the capacity of maid Of all
work, but with more than a servants
fidelity.
Five years from that awful night
handsome young miner fell deeply in
love with Becca and asked her to be his
wife, and she consented.
Five years." she unused. ''is bout
long enough. Pop never was hung
but died. sorry and repentent, year
ago, and I've tried to pay his debt,
though the doctor never knew-and
never shall. Poor old pop!"
But the doctors surprise, when
Becca refused any wages for all those
years. of faithful service, was un
bounded.
"You silly girl" he said, you've
been kinder to us than daughter;
we've learned to love you just like a
daughter; we're rich, and you refuse
to be paid for your work."