The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-11-25

sake don't lay your hands on fayther.
land his son, and something is due to
old age!"
For your sake, mother, will desist,
but leave this house, and never shall
he see my face again. If stay it will
mean-murderv' And picking up his
hat he left the house, striding rapidly
down the hill, going in the direction of
ELIAS home.
At the click Of the garden gate a
pretty, demure looking maiden, clad in
a pink frock, ran down the walk to
greet him, but started in dismay at his
flushed face.
Taking her into small grove adjoin-
ing her home, unmindful of wraps, they
wandered almost to the roadside, he Bit
terly describing the scene just enacted
at his home, she tearfully listening.
When her grief had spent itself she
der and gazed steadily towards the road
way.
Look, Joe," she whispered, "ses that
man,
By the roadside stood a pony, I'M
hitched, and close beside him, seated
upon a fallen tree, was man with a
blue stocking across his knee, intently
rifing its contents. Joseph Sloan In
stantly recognized the homely safe in
which his father had kept his money. His
breath came hard.
"Ranchman Jack, who supplies the
village with cattle from Texasr he
breathed. HE has followed father and
stolen, not only the market money, but
all father has-let me 60, and he I'M
clasped the young girls arms fiercely
from his neck.
There was a scream of terror. The
been observed, leaped upon the pony
and dashed down the road.
Joe, don't follow that desperado-
1t may mean death if you hunt HIM"
Again her arms sought his neck.
Pushing her from him he fercely cried:
Hunt him! I'll hunt him into his
grave! Good-by-explain to mother"
and he went like the wind In the direc-
ton of the village. Two hours later a
pony was found upon the green, grazing
upon a patch Of half-frozen grass, but
the ranchman had taken the first train
out for Texas.
Two years passed, and far away on
the plains of northern Texas, weary
exile il leaning upon a table, He is
alone in the wilds, and yet is not .un-
attended. On the table, close at hand,
lay heavy rife; in his belt glittered an
ugly looking dirk, while at his feet
- III.
mans head dropped and he murmured
YEARLY:
1.-TWO years next month since I start
ed my search, and yet no trace of that
man who has wrecked, not only my
happiness, but that of my mother and
Eliza. Strange 1 can find no trail of
him here in his own hold!'
A fierce blast almost shook the log
house, but he felt secure and paid NO
heed until the dreary, sobbing wall of
a hungry wolf fell upon his ears. There
waS an ominous scratching between the
beams, and he knew the pack had reach
ed his dwelling. A low snarl and q
cry Of human being In distress smote
his ear. Quickly going towards a chink
in the beams he saw sight that al
most stilled his heart beats. In front
Of his hut a human being was lying
had freed him, and overcome with fright
he had fallen from his stronghold into
their midst. The back Of his head was
CORY.
The man In the log house waited to
see no more. Forcing the gun between
the beams he fired continuously at the
beasts Of prey, until their leaders lay
dead and the others in fright took to the
forest.
Throwing wide the door, he dragged
the wounded man to place Of safety
within the hut.
"Ranchman Jackv' he cried, looking
contemptuously upon the fellow to whom
he was playing the part Of GOOD Sa-
marian"
Ten minutes later his guest regained
consciousness, and looking into the face
Of his rescuer, almost wept:
Don't kill me! I will make good that
money, but do not kill mel!
All I want il my fathers hard-earn-
ed money! Numbered the young man.
Hand that out and / will nurse you
back to life and health. If you refuse,
shall again throw you out to the mercy
Of the wolves"
II viii, I will, -groaned the man,
feebly. 'It y down under the oak tree
By the creek. There Ii 1 hollow In the
trunk, and there you will fnd I box
containing the money stole from your
home, and many hundreds IN gold an
honestly earned In trade Il swear II =
Binding up the torn scalp, Joseph