Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-04-30

| Ion.
You are in close corner, young
| nan" said the stranger.
Did you come here to tell me that?"
4 No. 1 am going to save you, II
| AN, and am pretty sure that cam"
But I can save myself
II sincerely wish you could, my boy,
but 1t may be a long and tedious oper-
alton. and l think l may be able to oil
\ the wheels of Justice
| Barnett stared at the stranger, Won
dering what sort of a man he had to
deal with, and why man he never
| saw should take such an interest in his
case.
| Who are you?" he asked bluntly.
"As 1 said before, am man SIM
ply who is ready and able. think. to
| do you good turn. What my name 10
don't matter just now. You know that
there Is quite pile of circumstantial
I evidence against you?"
| Yes, 80 1t seems
with foundation to build on they
may erect pyramid that will crush
| you"
you think SOP" for there was an
| earnestness about the stranger that did
not fail to make an impression on the
school teacher
Nov, Justice seldom miscarries to
| the extent Of hanging an innocent man,
but you may have good deal Of
trouble before you clear yourself of the
| charge"
Barnett's face became grave. He
was beginning to realize that what the
| stranger told him must be true, and
that his position was fraught with
peril.
There; didn't come here to depress
you, but rather cheer you up. my
boy-to point out that you must not
treat the matter carelessly. I wanted,
| too, to make your acquaintance"
Was the man mad? Barnett Won
dered, but he dismissed the idea as
absurd, for the stranger spoke sensibly
enough, and his eyes were clear and
bright. Well, he was not so burdened
with friends that he could afford to re-
fuse the friendly offices Of even
stranger. Perhaps the man was a
| type of those eccentrics that spring up
often when a crime Is committed, and
lend sympathy and funds to the cause
they have espoused.
1 The fellow might do some good since
he spoke so confidently; at least, he
could do no harm. Let this eccentric
person have his will, IL 1t amused him.
You don't seem to much of pris-
oner. with nothing but those wooden
bars between you and liberty" remark
| ed the stranger. "A good wrench, and
out they would come.''
AS far as am concerned, they shall
remain as they are" said Barnett. II
have many privileges here that
should lose If l tried to escape. so
shall just let matters run along as they
are, confident that, az l am innocent,
l need have no fear"
And what of her?"
The young man cast an inquisitorial
\ look at him.
What do you mean?"
II mean Grace-Miss Ellison, should
say. She knows, of course, what has
taken place."
You know her. then?" feeling fresh
interest in the unknown.
mo, I don't know her, but 1t is pos
sible that may see her. If there Is any
message that can carry to her coming
| from you"
Man. If you do that, am your
friend for life!" exclaimed the young
school teacher. Just wait and I will
jot down a few words" and he turned
hastily away from the window.
Make haste!" called the other in a
loud whisper.
Barnett, filled with desire to set
down the thoughts that had been up
permost In his mind since the tragedy,
had no trouble In making start on his
| letter. To be quick and concise was
another thing. Though his pen dashed
over the paper a warning "Hist!" was
d HOllCe 10 uFdW TIE eplSlle 10 Il close.
He folded 1T, and. without stopping to
set down the address, went back to the
4 window and passed 1T to the stranger
by tying 1T to the end of poker
which happened to be standing by the
/ fireplace.
You will be sure and deliver it?" h.
said. earnestly, wondering if he was
doing right in trusting the note to a
man he had seen for the first time in
tbs life.
'Deliver 1T? To be sure will, unless
4 l should happen to have an accident
that would lay me up. Hush! Go
back! There is some one coming!" he
whispered, warningly, and then sudden
ly dropped out of the tree and disap-
q peared among some bushes on the other
side of the garden.
"a queer character, that" muttered
Barnett, as he watched the small man
disappear, and noted that he was very
agile for a man of his years. WELL he
managed to cheer me up, and relished
his visit. How did he manage to get
into that tree in broad daylight with
Is not the first time that he has had
occasion to make surreptltions call.
should not be sorry to see the old fell
low again.
The subject of these remarks had
wriggled his way through the densall
growing bushes, just as the village
constable came around from the front
of the house with party of friends.
Job Hendricks, for such was the name
the stranger had given to the innkeeper,
peering over the top of the hedge,
grinned and wagged his gray head.
"Ah, there's an ideal keeper Of a pris-
oner. l wish there had been one Of his
kind way back in the past. 1t might
have changed everything"
10 rs =
thoughtful mood after that as he
turned and made his way to the high
road, leaping the fences mechanically.
Immersed in (What seemed to be from
his expression) very bitter thoughts.
For moment he stood in the mid
die of the road looking up and
down. as IL undecided which way to
required some consideration, but
presently he nodded. and, turning,
made his way along the highway that
led in northerly direction.
Il promised to take that letter to the
young lady. I wonder II 1 shall have
any trouble In seeing her. Perhaps
am altogether too sure of what l can
bear on others. None too sure of my
own liberty, for that matter. Go slow.
Job, slow, or you will spoil every
thing!"
He had reached a little brook
spanned by wooden bridge, and he
stopped for moment to wipe the per-
SEPARATION from his face, for the day
was oppressively hot.
AS he leaned there for a moment,
with his hat off, resting and cooling
himself, peculiar ringing of bell
reached his ears, coming from the di-
rection of the town he had just left.
Job thrust his hat on his head, and
turned TO see an old man approachinp.