The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-24
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
| The Price
lof Freedom
Observation-Disclosures
~ HE air Of Arizona was dry and
= sitting and the doors of Davis

luc OOOl > VI Laws
County Jail stood open to the
four winds of heaven, but
there was one padlocked cell in the
beard shanty, scarcely good enough
to pen sheep in but quite good enough
for a horse thief, and it held Jim
Flack. The sheriff and his deputy were
playing poker and Jim was watching
them through his barred window, when
q woman walked init was Martina,
Jim Flack's wife-and with one loving
glance and a "howdy" to her husband
threw loaf Of bread on the table be-
tween the sheriff and his companion.
The sheriff drew a formidable knife
from the back Of his belt and with
two sharp motions Of the blade cut
the loaf into three pieces.
Mary file nor shootin' iron there" he
said; never left a 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 a fash her eyes tele-
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.
"Hows the kids?" asked the pris-
oner.
! "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
exercise and the heat of the day, and
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 leeTing deputy.
Jim Flack d.ubled 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 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 won-
en- and children was inborn. He had
hard work now to control his temper,
but at q 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
section of the loaf and broke it in
two. 1t was we'll that the sheriff and
his companion had become involved
III a quarrel over their game, other
wise they would have heard something
fall from the prisoners hand and roll
noisily on the floor. 1t was $50 gold
piece.
"She hev sold poor Jinny's colt"
thought Jim as he picked up the
money. 1T hev been baked inter the
bread, an it means a bribe-yes, it do
but whether for the sheriff or dep-or
-hold on-mebbe both. Hello! Eff
she amt writ somethin' on it then I'm
! O sucker"
The crooked white letters on the gold
piece had been written with creased
stick after method known in the
Civil War-just few words which,
deciphered easily by Jim, read:
"Jinny-Witches hill-to-night. dep"
i He understood. Martina would have
| jimmy, the finest and feetest mare in
all the country round, at Witches Hill,
and he was to bribe the deputy to help
him escape. That mare was Martina s
ali sllt o"ueu llIc "Oilu
! the children-and it had escaped con.
| fiscation at the hands of the law by her
proven right. Jim knew the sheriff
had 4 personal dislike for him and
.ould not be bribed, but he had no fears
of the deputy. That officer would have
bartered his soul-had it been Of com
/ mercial value-for $50 and had felt the
jingle of many a bribe in his unclean
palm.
That night. covered by a revolver in
the hand Of the deputy, Jim walked Out
free man. He had no intention OF
getting off without paying over the
money, but he had no confidence il
the man who was helping him and was
determined thai he would not pay the
price until he was sure Of freedom
He had promised the amount When
they reached Witches Hill, and b@d
given no intimation Of being In pos
session of any money.
| Arrived at the hill, they found Jimmy
there, tied to tree. She whinllc6