The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-11-23

sake don't lay your hands on fayther.
He's wrong, but remember you are young
and his son, and something is due to
old age"
"For your sake. mother. l will desist
but l leave this house, and never shall
he see my face again. If / stay 1t will
mean-murdcr." And picking up his
hat he left the house, stridng rapidly
down the hill, going in the direction of
Eliza's home.
At the click of tho garden gate n
pretty. demure looking maiden, clad in
a pink frock, ran down the walk to
greet him, but started in dismay at bis
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
raised her tear-wet face from his shoul-
der and gazed steadily towards the road
way.
Look, joe" she whispered, "sec that
man."
BY the roadside stood pony, un-
hitched, and close beside him, seated
upon n fallen tree. was n man with n
blue stocking across his knee, intently
riiling 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 Texasw he
brcathed. HE has followed father and
stolen. not only the market money, but
all father has-let me CO." and he un-
clasped the young girls arms tiercey
from his neck.
There was 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 il you hunt him."
| Again her arms sought his neck.
Pushing her from him he iiercely cried:
Hunt him! I'll hunt him into his
grave! Good-by-explain to mother"
and he went like the wind in the direc-
tion of the village Two hours later n
pony was found upon the green, grazing
upon 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 n table. He is
alone in the wilds, and yet is not un-
attended. On the table, close at hand,
lay n 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
wearily:
Two years next month since start
cd my search, and yet no trace of that
man who has wrecked, not only my
Eliza. Strange l can find no trail of
him here in his own hold!"
4 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 snar and a
cry of a human being in distress smote
his ear. Quickly going towards chink
in the beams he saw a sight that al.
most stilled his heart beats. In front
| of his hut human being was lying
face down upon the ground. The wolves
had treed 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 tc
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 Jack!" he cried, looking
contemptuously upon the fellow to whom
he was playing the part of Good Sa
maritan."
Ten minutes later his guest regainei
consciousness, and looking into the face
OF his rescuer, almost wept:
Don't kill me! l will make good tina
money, but do not kill me!'
"All want is my fathers hard-earn
ed money! thundered the young man
Hand tha out and l will nurse yol
hack to life and health. If you refuse
! shall again throw you out to the mere.
Of the wolves"
81 will, ] WILL" groaned the man
feebly. st is down under the oak tire
by the creek. There is hollow in tn
trunk, and there you will find bo,
containing the money | stole from you
home, and many hundreds in god---al
honestly earned in trade-I swear it."
Binding up the torn scalp, Josep
called to the dog, and left the hut, riil
n hand. With rapid strides lie wen
towards the creek, never pausing unit
he stood beneath the bare brow
branches of giant oak. A carefu
search brought to light the heavy bo,