Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-11-30

sake don't lay your hands on fayther
Hes wrong, but remember you are young
and his son, and something is due to
old agev'
For your sake, mother, I will desist
but l leave this house, and never shall
he see my face again. If I stay it will
mean-murder" And picking up his
hat he left the house, striding rapidly
down the hill, going in the direction of
Elza's home.
At the click of the garden gate q
pretty, demure looking maiden, clad in
pink frock, ran down the walk to
greet him, but started in dismay at his
flushed face.
Taking her into a 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
raised her tear-wet face from his shout
der and gazed steadily towards the road
way.
Look, joe" she whispered, "see that
man!'
By the roadside stood a pony, IN
hitched, and close beside him, seated
| upon fallen tree. was man with a
blue stocking across his knee, intently
rifling it's 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 Texasw he
breathed. HE has followed father and
stolen, not only the market money, but
all father has-let me co. and he I'M
clasped the young girls arms fercely
| from his neck.
| There was q scream of terror. The
man looked up, and noting that he had
been observed, leaped upon the pony
and dashed down the road.
"Joe, don't follow that desperado-
it may mean death if you hunt him."
| Again her arms sought his neck.
| Pushing her from him he fiercely 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 is leaning upon a table. He is
alone in the wilds, and yet is not I'M
attended. On the table, close at hand,
lay heavy rifle; in his belt glittered an
| ugly looking dirk, while at his feet
crouched a trusty bloodhound The
| mans head dropped and he murmured
YEARLY:
1.-TWO years next month since 1 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 holdv'
A fierce blast almost shook the log
house. but he felt secure and paid no
heed until the dreary, sobbing wall of
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
cry of human being in distress smote
his ear. Quickly going towards a chink
IT. the beams he saw sight that al
most stilled his heart beats. In front
Of his hut a human being was lying
face down upon the ground. The wolves
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
t1,nyp Loo, To-
dead and the others in fright took to the
forest.
Throwing wide the door, he dragged
the wounded man to 4 place Of safety
within the hut
"Ranchman jack he cried. looking
contemptuously upon the fellow to whom
he was playing the part Of Good Sa-
maritan.'
Ten minutes later his guest regained
consciousness. AID looking into the face
Of his rescuer. almost wept:
Don't kill me. 1 will make good that
money, but do not kill me!'
"All l want is my fathers hard-earn-
ed money! Numbered the young man.
"Hand that out and I will nurse you
back to life and health. If you refuse,
shall again throw you out to the mercy
Of the wolves"
Il will. WILL groaned the man,
feebly. sit is down under the oak tree
by the creek. There is 4 hollow in the
trunk, and there you will find n box
containing the money l stole from your
home, and many hundreds in gold-all
honestly earned in trade-I swear it."
Binding up the torn scalp. Joseph
called to the dog, and left the hut. rife
in hand With rapid strides he went
towards the creek, never pausing unit!
he stood beneath the bare brown
branches Of a giant oak. A careful:
search brought to light the heavy box,