The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-14
The PRICE OF FREEDOM.

The air OF Arizona was dry and sitting
and the doors OF Davis county jail stood
open TO the four winds Of heaven but
thsre was one padlocked cell in the board
snanty, scarcely coed enough to per
q sheep III, but quite good enough for a
morse thief, and it held jim F'lsck. The
sheriff ana his deputy were playing poker,
and Jim was watching them through his
haired window, when a woman walked
init was Martina, jim Flacks wife
and with one loving glance and a
howdy 10 her husband threw a loaf
OF bread on the table between the sheriff
and his companion.
The sheriff drew a formidable knife
from The back of his leather belt and
With two sharp motions OF the blade cut
the loaf into three pieces.
Nary file nor shootin' iron there ne
sald; never left a dun spot on the
blade Nj Flack. you're d prime good
baker Give Jim his loaf. dep
Martina turned her back on the two
men, and like fash her eyes telegraph
ed something 10 Jim. but his keen. hand
some face gave not the slightest token
% response. The sheriff had his eye on
him, and he wasn't going TO give any
thing away. He was allowed 10 speak 10
his wife with the two men watching and
listening
Hows the kids?r asked the prisoner.
'Peart' Martina's eyes filed with
tears. She was picturesque in her youth
ana strength, with her sunburned hair
tdmbling about her round, honest face.
Her cheeks glowed with exercise and the
heat of the day. and there hung around
her that indefinabie something that is
the religion of women who love She
looked at her jim with longing and tears,
but she could not talk with those men
ara
moments of delicacy. but this sheriff and
his deputy had none.
Don't whimper, little woman said the
sheriff. rudely there's as good fish in
the sea as was ever caught He-he,"
You'll spoil yer pretty eyes. Mis-
Flack.' said the leering deputy.
Jim Flack doubled his brawny fist and
there was murder in his heart as he heard
the men chatting his wife True. he had
stolen horses, but that was his only
crime, and IL had come about through
his being cheated in horse trade. and he
had sworn 10 get even. not remembering
tlGt two wrongs can never make a right
But he would not have kicked an enemy
when he was down, and his reverence for
women and children was Unborn. He had
hard work now TO control his temper. but
az look OF caution from his wife he
managed TO maintain a sullen silence.
Eat the middle of the loaf first" she
said, as she touched the bread, 1T are
slack baked. as you like it, Jim
When she had gone jim took that sec
ton Of the loaf and broke il in two
1t was well the sheriff and his companion
mad become involved In a quarrel over
their game, otherwise the would have
heard something fail from the prisoners
hand and roll noisily on the floor. II
was 81 gold piece.
she hev sold poor Jinny's colt.
'hought Jim as he picked UP the money.
1t hev been baked inter the bread. an
II means bribe-yes, it debut whether
Tor the sheriff or dep-or-hold on-mebbe
noth Helioi Ef she amt writ somethin'
on II then I'm a sucker"
The crooked white letters on the gold
piece had been written with a creased
stick after a method known in the civil
War-Just few words which. deciphered
easily by Jim, read
Jlnny-Witches hill-tonight. Dep"
lie understood. Martina would have
jimmy the finest and heetest mare If. all
the country round, at Witches Hin and
ne was 10 bribe the deputy to help him
escape. Ihat mare was Martina sail she
owned in the world-except the children
and IL had escaped confiscation AT the
hands OF the law by her proven right
jim knew the sheriff had a personal dis
IKE Tor him and could not be brfbed. but
ne had no fears of the deputy. That
oHlcer would nave bartered his soul-had
l. been OF commercial value-for $50 and
had felt tho Jingle Of many bride in his
unclean palm.