Catoctin clarion., 1903-06-25

The Price |
of Freedom
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
? HE air Of Arizona was dry and
sitting and the doors of Davis
County Jail stood open to the

four winds of heaven, but
here was one padlocked cell in the
)oard shanty, scarcely good enough
pen sheep in but quite good enough
.or n horse thief, and it held Jim
!lack. The sheriff and his deputy were
playing poker and Jim was watching
hem through his barred window, when
| woman walked init was Martina,
lin Flacl's wife--and with one loving
glance and "howdy" to her husband
Threw n loaf of bread OH the table be-
tween the sheriff and his companion.
The sheriff drew a formidable knife
rom the back of his belt and with
two sharp motions of the blade cut
the loaf into three pieces.
"Nary file nor shootin' iron there he
,aid; never left dull spot on the
blade. Mis- Flack. you're n prime good
baker. Give him this loaf, dep
Martina turned her back on the two
men, and like 4 flash her eyes tcic-
graphed something to Jim but his
keen, handsome face gave not III"
slightest token of response, The sheriff
had his eye on him. and he wasn't
going to give anything away. He was
allowed speak to his wife with the two
men watching and listening.
"How's the kids" asked the pris.
oner.
"Peart' Martinas eyes filled with
.ears. She was picture, que in her
youth and strength. with her sun
burned hair tumblng about her round,
honest face. Her checks glowed with
exercise and the heat of the day. and
there hung around her that indetina-
bic something that is the religion OF
women who love. She looked at her
Jim with 10y ging and tears but she
could not talk with those men listen
Ing. Even deSprradoes have their mo-
ments of delicacy. hut this sheriff and
his deputy had none.
Don't whimper, little woman said
the sheriff. rudoly, there's rs good fish
In the sea as was ever caught. He
he"
You'll spoil yer pretty eyes. Mis-
Flack," said the lcCring deputy.
Jim Flack doubled his hrawny 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 it had come
about through his being cheated In n
horse trade, and he had stolen to got
even, not remembering that two wrongs
can never make a right. But he would
not have kicked an enemy when he
was down. and his reverence for wom-
ell and children was inborn. He had
hard work now to control his temper,
but at look of caution from his wife
he managed to maintain n sullen
silence.
Eat the middle Of the loaf first
she said as she touched the bread. lit
are slack baked as you like it, JIM
When she had gone Jim took that
section of the loaf and broke it in
two. 1t was well that the sheriff and
his companion had become involved
in quarrel over their game, other
wise they would have heard something
fall from the prisoners hand and roll
noisily OH the floor. 1t was Il $50 gold
piece.
"Shc hev sold poor Jinny's colt
thought Jim as he picked up the
money. at hcv been baked inter the
bread, an it means bribe-yes. 1t dc
but whether for the sheriff or dcp-or
hold on-mebbe both. Hello! Ef
she amt writ somethin' on it then I'm
a sucker"
The crooked white letters on the gold
piece had been written with a creased
stick after method known in the
Civil War-just a few words which
deciphered easily by Jim, read:
"Jinny-Witchcs hill-to-night. dep.
He understood Martina would have
jimmy, the finest and heetest mare in
all the country round, at Witches Hill
and he was to bribe the deputy to helT
! him escape. That mare was Martina's
all she owned in the worid-eXcept
The children-and it had escaped con
| fiscation at the hands of the law by hel
proven right. Jim knew the sheriff
! had personal dislike for him and
/ could not be bribed, but he had no fears
of the deputy. That officer would have
bartered his soul-had it been of com
| mercial yalue-for $40 and had felt the