Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-04-23
A Change Of Purpose.

Two hor8emen, broad-hatted and
heavily armed, rode swiftly along a
dim trail that threaded level stretch
of wild Western prairie. 1t was night,
but the moon shone round and full
from clear sky, giving to the plain,
with its tall, breeze-swept grass, the
appearance of a calm summer sea.
Jim, spoke one of the men, break
ing a long silence, "are you sure it's
all right about that money |"
Cali right how?" the other ques-
toned.
care you sure the man has got itH"
"Sure as I am that we are here, Joe.
He sold his claim yesterday an re-
ceived the cash in hand for it. There's
no mistake this time, sure.
"Well, that's alright. jim. If he's
got three hundred dollars, that means
hundred an fifty for each Of US.
Pretty good pay for one nights work.
provided there amt too much risk.
Just about as much risk as there
would be in robbin' prairie-lark's
nest. Why, there's nobody but a man
an child there, an the man don't
look like be had lite enough to kill
flea. Guess he's about dead with con-
consumption or something,
He won't be apt to give us much
trouble, then, Joe replied. "An'
even if he shows fight we can soon
quiet him.
There was short silence, broken
only by the gathering of the horses
feet on the hard, dry ground as the
horsemen galloped on. Directly Joe
spoke again:
Jim, he said, that three hundred
dollars is all the money an property
that feller owns, ain'tit ?"
"Yes; about all. He's got an old
wagon, a couple Of dplug horses, an
a few old traps in bis cabin"
can you say he's most dead with
consumption or something"
Yes"
"Tben, don't it seem like its kind
Of mean to rob him, JIM"
jim INDUCED in a long and bois-
terous laugh.
"Joe, he cried, what's comm over
you all at once? Whoever heard Of
a highway robber talkin such stuff as
that? I hope you amt got no notion
of givin' up our business on the start,
an turnin parson.'
mo, I amt got no such notion as
that, jim; but it does seem kind Of
mean and unfeelin to steal from
man that's most dead. But, then,
we amt responsible for his bad health,
an in this business everything goes.
If the feller is goin' to die soon be
won't need that money very long any
how, an the chances are that it will
do US more good than it would him.
That's the talk, agreed jim. Il
pity the sick an distressed, but at the
same time if they happen to have any
loose cash about where it's handy to
get at feel that it's our duty to re-
Ieve them of it"
Away across the prairie, at the foot
OF lonely mound, dim speck of light
came into view.
That's the place" Jim announced.
That's light in the cabin where the
settler lives, an he's still there. 1
was little afraid he might have gone
away, though I knew it wasn't his IN
tention IN 90 before tomorrow.
can tomorrow be won't have much
to go away with" Joe added.
mot much" Jim agreed.
They rode on in silence, and in a
few minutes halted in front Of little
desolate looking cabin. There was
saddled horse standing tied to post
near the door. They waited mo-
ment, listened breathlessly, but no
sound reached them from the cabin.
q don't know what that horse
means here, Jim finally remarked in
a low tone. "It'squeer that anybody
would be here at this time o night"
at is" Joe assented more espe-
cially as it amt neighbOr."
How do you know it amt neigh
bOr?" Jim asked.
"Know it by the horse. There amt
settler in this section that owns a
horse like that"
That's fact, Jim agreed. That's
fine animal, an whoever he belongs