The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-09-16
JAILER'S
DAUGHTER
tOriginai.l

had seen the prisoner brought I'm, a
devil may care looking young fellow
whose appearance had taken her fancy.
Now she was wondering what he bad
been brought there for and what no
vas thinking about and whom he
was thinking about. She went to the
door of his cell and stood listening.
Presently she called softly:
you N want anythjngf"
"Want anything? Why, yes. It's
lonesome in here. l want you to talk
to-"
"What were you put I'm fol-"
shooting. A man called me a liar"
Did you shoot him fo' thatf"
Had to. A gentleman can't stand
to be called a liar. 1 say, IL you'll un-
lock the door I'll come out and tell you
about it,"
NO." she said thoughtfully. al
couldn't look pop in the face IL 1 did ii.
He'd never trust me ag'in."
But she stood with each hand on q
bar Of the cell door and listened to his
story. When he had finished she
thought 1t very unjust that he should
be there for rcsenting 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 a party
to come to take him III of the Jail and
hang him q serious expression crossed
his face which was reelected 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 OH the
shimmering river beyond, at the queen
Of night, and everywhere she saw
those dark eyes, that pleasant smile,
would be IL n mot should come to hang
the handsome prisoner.
Presently she saw n dark figure
emerge from a 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 independents
ly; n sort of hypnotic condition in
which the mind instead Of being under
the control Of another mind Is domi-
mated by a force of circumstances.
Susie arose from her seat on the door
step, went inside, took from n corner
Of the room her fathers rifle and, pull
ing n bureau out into the center Of the
room, took position behind 1t. She had
barely time to examine the cartridges
to see il they were In condition when
the advancing men came up to the open
door.
"What you want?" called n soft voice.
1--WE want That murderer, Roger De
Ford"
you can't have him!'
"We'n see about that"
The man took a step forward.
stop thar. If you come n step
fu'ther I'll shoot your
Come out of that, Bill" called n
voice from behind. "She's goin' to
shoot; I kin tell by her voice. Women's
wo'se III men when they git the devil
In 'em. There's been IL of us killed
today. We don't want no mo- kiliin'."
The man In advance drew back and
there was Il consultation. Tho Jail was
not easily entered except MT this one
opening and the problem was n puzzle.
To go In by the door they must shoot
Mt random, and if they hit any one 1t
would be n girl. But the most effective
argument was that the enemy, being In
shadow, could pick OFF one or more of
those out In the moonlight. The situa-
ton was not inviting. After n pro-
longed discussion several who favored
avoiding my shedding OF blood except
fhnf IF tln nrfsnnnr nrpynjln1 opI -
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
a brave man, but 1t takes moro than
a brave man to hear without quailing
n mob calling for his life. The pris-
Oncr had only recovered from his ter
ror when he called for Susie, and was
still trembling when she came, but the
n'Sht VI htl uiOuShl DuCh Ills yOutnTul
sang froid.
Come, let me out of this. You're
the girl for me. Well run away from
here and not come back till this has
blown over"
II couldn't"
Not If you knew they'd come back
again with n big crowd, make n ram
of a telegraph pole, batter down the
door and'-
BEFORE lie could finish the key was
turned In the lock and In another mo-
mcnt the two were speeding over the
moonlit meadow. Though che man
was fleeing for his life, 1t was the
girl who in her heart experienced a
wild gladness. She had met and loved
and saved the life Of her lover all
within a few hours.
Half a. dozen years later, when, Mt
the ciose Of the war, the Confederate
Colonel Roger De Ford returned to his
native town, his shooting was for
given If not forgotten, while in the
new south his wife, the jailer's daugh-
Ter, was not refused admittance AMONG
her husbands friends, as she would
have boon under the old regime.
WINSLOW T. JENKINS.
ADJEwELRy