Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-08-27
THE JAILER'S
DAUGHTER

There were but two persons on the
premises one prisoner, the other the
juiler's daughter. aged eighteen. Her
futher had been obliged to leave her in
charge TO 20 and attend TO business
that would not wait Susie Leadbetter
had seen the prisoner brought In, n
devil may care looking young fellow
whose appearance had taken her fancy.
Now she was wondering what be had
been brought there for and what he
was thinking about and whom he
was thinking about. She went to the
door of his cell and stood listening,
Presently she called softly:
You uns want anythlngT
Want anything? Why, yes. It's
lonesome In here want you TO talk
to"
What were you put In fo'?"
Shooting A man called me a liar."
did you shoot him 70 thatY
Had to. A gentleman can't stand
to be called a liar say, If you'll un-
lock the door I'll come out and tell you
about it."
NO" she said thoughtfully. 81
couldn't look pop in the face if l did it.
He'd never trust me agin."
But she stood with each hand on a
bar Of the cell door and listened to his
story When ne had finished she
thought IT very unjust that he should
be there for resentng 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
cnemys friends might get up party
to come to take him out of the jail and
hang him a serious expression crossed
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 on the
shimmerlng river beyond, at the queen
those dark eyes, that pleasant smile,
and thought what a dreadful thing 1t
would be if mob should come to hang
the handsome prisoner.
Presently she saw a dark figure
emerge from a wood and survey the
Jail Then another came out and in q
few minutes half q dozen men were
moving stcalthily toward her.
Her heart stood still
There are faculties that at times seem
to be set In motion to act independent
ly: Il 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 a corner
Of the room her fathers rifle and, pull
ing a bureau out into the center Of the
room, took position behind It. She had
barely time TO examine the cartridges
TO see If they were In condition when
the advancing men came up to the open
door
What you want?" called soft voice.
1--WE want that murderer, Roger De
Ford"
You can't have him"
Wen see about that"
The man took a step forward
"Stop thar, If you come n step
fu'thcr I'll shoot you
Come out of that, Bill" called a
voice from behind. She's goiu' TO
shoot | Kin tell by her voice. Women's
wosc n men when they git the devil
in 'cm There's been one OF US killed
today We don't want no mo- KILN" !"
The man In advance drew back and
there was Il consultation. The jail was
not easily entered except at this one
opening and the problem was puzzle.
To 40 in by the door they must shoot
nj random, and If they hit any one 1t
would be Il 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-
tlon was not inviting After q pro
longed discussion several who favored
avoiding any shedding Of blood except
that of the prisoner prevailed and II
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
n brave man, but II takes more than
n brave man to hear without Qualling
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
sight Of her brought back his youthful
sang froid
Come, let me out of this. You're
the girl for me. Wen 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 a big crowd make a ram
Of q telegraph pole, batter down the
door and
Before he could finish the key was
turned In the lock and In another mo-
ment the two were speeding over the
moonllt meadow. Though the man
was fleeing for his life, 1t was the
girl who in her heart experienced q
Wild gladncss She had met and loved
and saved the life Of her lover all
within n few hours
Half a dozen years later when, at
the close 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, az she would
have been under the old regime.
WINSLOW T. JENKINS.
The Rrturt Discourteous.