The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-06-24
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| The Price
Eof Freedom]
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
= HE air of Arizona was dry and
sitting and the doors of Davis
County mil stood omen TO the

County jnil stood open to the
four winds of heaven. but
there was one padlocked cell in the
board shanty, scarcely good enough
to pen a sheep in but quite good enough
for horse thief. and it held Jim
Flack. The sheriff and his deputy We're
playing poker and Jim was watching
them through his barred window. when
woman walked init was Martina
Jim Flack's wife-and with ore loving
glance and "howdy" to her husband
threw q loaf of bread on the table be-
tween the sheriff and his companion
The sheriff drew n formidable knife
from 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
said; never left dull spot on the
blade. Mis- Flack. you're prime good
baker Give him this loaf, dep"
Martina turned her back on the two
men, and like flash her eyes telc-
graphed something TO Jim, but his
keen, handsome face gave not the
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 prls-
oncr.
"Peart" Martina's eyes filed with
tears. She was picturesque in her
youth and strength, with her sun
burned hair tumbling about her round.
honest face. Her cheeks glowed with
there hung around her that indefina-
BILE 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 listen
ing. Even desperadoes have their mo-
ments 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
hev'
You'll spoil yer pretty eyes. Mis-
Flack," said the lear!ng deputy.
Jim Flack doubled his brawfy fist
and there was murder In his heart rs
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 a
horse trade, and he had stolen to get
even, not remembering that two wrongs
can never make right. But he would
not have kicked an enemy when he
was down, and his reverence for wOm-
en- and children was Unborn. He had
hard work now to control his temper
but at look of caution from his wife
lie managed to maintain sullen
silence.
Eat the middle OF the loaf first"
she said as she touched the bread. sit
are slack baked, as you like 1t. jim"
When she had gone Jim took that
section of the loaf and broke 1t In
two. 1t was well that the sheriff and
In quarrel over their game, other
wise they would have heard something
fall from the prisoners hand and roll
noisily on the floor. 1t was a $50 gold
piece.
"She hev sold poor Jnny's colt"
thought Jim as he picked up the
money. 1T hev been baked inter the
bread, an 1t means bribe-yes, 1t do
but whether for the sheriff or dep-or
hold on-mebbc both. Hello! Eff
She amt writ somethin' on 1t then I'm
sucker
The crooked white letters on the gold
piece had been written with a creased
stick after method known In the
Civil War-just few words which.
ueciphered easily by jim, read:
Jinny-Witches hill-to.night. dep"
HE understood. Martina would have
jimmy, the finest and fieetest mare In
all the country round. at Witches Hill,
ana he was to bride the deputy TO help
him escape. That mare was Martina &
An she owned in. the world-eScept
,he children-and 1t had escaped con.
nscation at the hands of the law by her
proven right Jim knew the sheriff
had personal dislike for him and
<'~e w tAsbtt, but ut uiu ITO lea
of Inc deputy. That officer would have
oartered his soul-had 1t been of com.
mercial value-for $50 and had felt the
jingle OF many brIbe in his uncleai
palm.
That night. covered by a revolver In
'he hand OF the deputy. Jim walked on,
free man. He had NO intention ol
getting or without paying over the
money. but he had no confidence IL
tne man who was helping him and wa,
ustermined that he would not pay thu
price until he was sure OF freedom
nc had promised the amount wher
eney reached Witches Hill. and had
gwen no intimation OF being In nos
session Of any money.
arrived ut the lnll. they found Jinny
snete' tied to tree. She whinnIet
WIN Joy at ths sight Of Jim. Their,