The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-13
Our Daily Sbcft Story

 i east in few days What I had heard lookout on him and one day found the two in earnest conversation in Bilrs cabin.
 Bring all your belongings. darling.' heard Dick say. We will leave this hole and all the old life behind us and
 go out into the great big. beautiful
 world of life and light and sunshine Dick could talk like a parson when he tried.
 T have arranged it all with Squire
 Easton." he said in parting. We will bo
 married tomorrow night and catch the
 train at Buena Vista" Squire Easton! He could no more per-
 form legal ceremony than I. and Dick
 knew it. He had been a justice of the peace, but his term had long since ex- pired and he was now little moro than camp hummer. I saw through Dicks scheme at glance. He was going to make Sis the victim of mock marriage, get her little pile and then desert her. joining Belle in the east, where she had gone some time before. What was to be done? Ten Sis? She
 would not believe me. She would only say that was jealous. for she knew loved her. She was completely under the influence of the smooth young scoun- dreI, who could explain everything to
 her and who. if the worst came to the
 worst. had actually legal right to marry her.
 The boys were furious when they learn ed of the plot against Sis, but they put the rope away-at least, thought they had--when Jack Roberts, Jim Peters and put our heads together and thought out plan.
 If there was anything that Squire Eas- ton loved better than another 1t was a drink of whiskey. and if there was any thing he liked better than drink of whiskey 1t was another drink. So 1t was a very convivial judge" that faced Dick
 and Sis in the dingy little badly lighted office of Squire Easton. Sis looked sweet
 and pretty in her plain gray dress and
 she looked happy after a fashion. Dick
 looked uneasy and in hurry. The ceremony was brief. The judge clumsily raised volume of the Colo l rado statutes and read the legally pro- scribed marriage rite in a hoarse thick and unnatural voice that his best friends 1 would not have recognized. The solemn words of the closing came. By the authority invested in me pro- | nounce you"
 Then the tipsiness vanished: the judge suddenly strengthened up and in a loud, stern voice-I-cried: q pronounce you, Dick Dugan, the d--dst scoundrel in the State of Colo | rado!"
 Dick started toward me with an oath, while Sis stood speeches. with terror and amusement.
 Little sisr' I cried. turning to her. | Don't you see? Won't you see? This man knows that Squire Easton cannot perform a legal ceremony. He meant to trick you, get your money and then de- sert you. Come. little Sis, let me take you home!"
 For Q single minute she still had faith | in Dick, but his guilt was written in his face. She half threw herself in my arms and led her away. | Dick uttered snari and darted through ! the door. As Sis and left I heard Jim Peters voice call out:
 "Iore he comes. boys! Hold up your hands, there!'
 | thought the rope had been put away | don't think Sis heard the words. She seemed in a dream. I hurried her away and the last thing I heard was Dick Duggan doing something I had never heard him do before.
 | He was praying!