Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-16
THE JAILER'S
DAUGHTER
fOriginal.1

There were but two persons on the
premises. one prisoner, the other the
jailer's daughter, aged eighteen. Her
father had been obliged to leaveSher In
| charge to go and attend to business
| that would not wait. Susie Leadbetter
had seen the prisoner brought in,
| devil may care looking young fellow
| whose appearance had taken her fancy.
| Now she was wondering what he had
been brought there for and what he
was thinking about and whom he
was thinking about She went to the
door of his cell and stood listening.
| Presently she called softly:
"You uns want anythingT
want anything2 Why. yes. It's
| lonesome in here. l want you to talk
to-"
What were you put in fo'?"
Shooting. n man called me liar"
Ibid you shoot him TO that?'
Had to. A gentleman can't stand
to be called liar. l say, If you'll I'M
lock the door I'll come out and tell you
aboutet."
NO" she said thoughtfully. II
couldn't look pop in the face if did 1t.
He'd never trust me agin."
! But she stood with each hand on q
bar of the cell door and listened to his
| story. When he had finished she
thought it very unjust that he should
| be there for resenting an insult. He
| had a winning way with him, making
| light of his misfortune, but when he
! told her that he fancied some of his
| enemy's friends might get up party
| to come to take him out of the Jail and
| hang him serious expression crossed
| his face which was reflected in that of
/ the young girl.
| Then she went away to sit ON the
| doorstep and think about the prisoner.
| She looked out on the moonlight
streaming over the meadow on the
shimmering river beyond, at the queen
of night, and everywhere she saw
those dark eyes, that pleasant smile,
| and thought what a dreadful thing it
would be if d mob should come to hang
| the handsome prisoner.
Presently she saw a dark figure
| emerge from wood and survey the
! Jail. Then another came out and in a
| few minutes half a dozen men Were
moving stealthily toward her.
| Her heart stood still.
| There are faculties that at times seem
| to be set in motion to act independent
| ly; sort of hypnotic condition in
which the mind instead of being under
| the control of another mind is domi-
&AI - ~ 80,
| Susie arose from her seat on the door
step. went inside, took from a corner
of the room her fathers rife and, pull
| ing bureau out into the center Of the
room, took position behind it. She had
| barely time to examine the cartridges
| to see if they were in condition when
| the advancing men came up to the open
| door.
What you want?" called soft voice.
I'VE want that murderer, Roger Dc
Ford"
You can't have him"
wen see about that"
| The man took a step forward.
"Stop thar. If you come a step
| fu'ther I'll shoot your
| Come out of that, Bill" called a
voice from behind. shes goin' to
shoot; kin tell by her voice. Women's
wo'se II men when they git the devil
in 'em. There's been one of us killed
today We don't want no mo- KILN"
| The man in advance drew back and
there was a consultation. The Jail was
not easily entered except at this one
| opening and the problem was a puzzle.
To go In by the door they must shoot
at random, and if they hit any one it
would be girl. But the most effective
argument was that the enemy, being i'll
shadow, could pick off one or more of
those out in the moonlight. The situa-
| ton was not inviting. After a pro
longed discussion several who favored
avoiding any shedding Of blood except
that of the prisoner prevailed and it
was decided to give the matter up.
They turned and went away.
| Susie watched them till they passed
| into the wood from which she had seen
them come; then her old self resumed
control. She did not faint, but she
dropped to the floor and leaned for
support against the bureau. She was
revived by the prisoners Hello"
! Rising she went to the cell door.
| Roger De Ford had heard the demand
made for him and the refusal. He was
brave man, but it takes more than
a brave man to hear without quailing
a mob calling for his life. The pris-
4 oner had only recovered from his ter
ror when he called for Susie, and was
still trembling when she came, but the
sight of her brought back his youthful
sang froid.
Come, let me out of this. You're
| the girl for me. Wen run away from
here and not come back till this has
\ blown over"
81 couldn't"
| mot if you knew they'd come back
| again with a big crowd, make ram
of telegraph pole, batter down the
door and"-