The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1905-11-25

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. I'M
hitched, and close beside him, seated
upon a fallen tree, was a man with a
blue stocking across his knee, intently
rifling 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 Texas" 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 hercely
from his neck.
There was a 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--
1t may mean death if you hunt himp'
Again her arms sought his neck.
Pushing her from him he fercely cried:
Hunt himl I'll hunt him into his
gravel 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, a 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 rife; 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 l 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 l can find no trail of
him here in his own holdr'
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 a
cry of a human being In distress smote
his ear. Quickly going towards a chink
In the beams he saw a 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 fred continuously at the
beasts of prey, until their leaders lay
dead and the others in fright took to the
forest.
the wounded man to a place of safety
within the hut.
"Ranchman Jacki' he cried, looking
contemptuously upon the fellow to whom
he was playing the part of Good Sa
maritan."
Ten minutes later his guest regainet
consciousness, and looking into the fac
of his rescuer, almost wept:
Don't kill mel 1 will make good tina
money, but do not kill mel"
"All 1 want is my fathers hard-earn
ed money!" Numbered the young man
Hand that out and l will nurse vol
back to life and health. If you refuse
l shall again throw you out to the mere,
of the wolves"
81 will, l WILL" groaned the man
feebly. at is down under the oak tre
by the creek. There is a hollow in TIL
trunk, and there you will find a boz
containing the money 1 stole from you
home, and many hundreds in gold-al
honestly earned in trade-I swear it."
Binding up the torn scalp, JOSEPH
called to the dog, and left the hut, riff
in hand. With rapid strides he wen
towards the creek, never pausing unit
he stood beneath the bare brow
branches of a giant oak. A careful
search brought to light the heavy box
described by the ranchman. Opening il
the first object that met his gaze wa
the old blue stocking, familiar to hin
from childhood. 1t was now completed
stuffed with crisp. green bills. ReplaC
ing 1t, he took the box in his arms an
| returned to the cabin.
Placing the precious burden upon tn
table, he sat beside the bed, calml
= awaiting the time when his patien
? should awake. An hour thus passed i
gloomy meditation. Two years of hi
9 life had been blasted by the thievinl
helpless wretch now lost in slumber. A
: last the sleeper awoke. Looking at j
seph, he feebly pointed to the box upo
the table. The young man placed it o
:. the bed beside him. Painfully raisin
q himself upon his elbow he opened it an
3 handed him the blue yarn stocking h
mother had knitted with one foot on h
|. cradle.
II The sick man deliberately counted OF
n two hundred dollars. and restored thei
5 to the stocking; then, with nervous hast
Y added another fifty, feebly murmurinl
f "The market money" and he aga
handed the stocking to Joseph. who toe
a ii with a gloomy air.
n "Now get well. Jack, for l want
o take you back to the old Bay State an
IS make an honest man of you"
A week later Joseph and his stranl
/ companion arrived in Boston. TIL