The San Francisco call., 1905-03-26

warm and Rutt held on to it. Her
heart opened.
There's a thief In our BARN" she
painted. i've licked him in, I'm go
ing for the corsstableI" A prolonged
shiver shook her but the hand held
close on hers. Oh. she walled,
''he's been after coffeei In the bottom
of the canister there was SO! Help
mel Help me.",
"Surei" said tie man
They stood $sor a moment-she IN
nerved, he comsDrting.
.'I'lI go for fae constable myself,
he suggested
mo, no, no.' she begged Then with
the comradeshiE which comes with a
eonrnon dangerE she added, II couldn't
go back You go and keep watch at
the barn!"
Again she vas on the way. The
streets Of the town were deserted. The
electric lights swung like low hung
stars
The bell on the constable's house
pealed under Iluths hand. A white
figure appeared at the window.
i've got hiInI" she cried It's I,
Ruth Armstrong; I've got him."
Got whc?" The constable's
tones were sleepy.
THE thief! And all the things
from Barnaby's jewelry store. He
tried to get out The truth
stretched under excitement. But I
drove him back And the gunl And
the jewelSl There's man on guard"
'sWh-ewi" the constable whistled.
Ten minutes later he tucked Ruth
into his buggy. Wen stop for the
Sheriff. he said with precaution.
thinking of the gum
The Sheriff had been home but two
hours from the Almaden. He got into
= 4I< F,fT CfoF L. faII
''Yes, siri" The constable brought
his fist into the hollow of his other
hand. And she, single-handed-
mother in the city-not a blamed soul
within call-she wiled that rascal into
the barn and locked him upl Show
fight? I guess SOL"
The Sheriff routed out a deputy.
He knocked her down twicei" the
Sheriff explained, as they turned In
by the lone pine. After she got him
locked in she went fora neighbor-
She could hear him battering the
door an eighth of a mile away!"
Jerusalem. What a girl!' breathed
the deputy.
Two teams emerged from the fog
the law and a girl. white. tense, ex-
pectant. surrounded the barn.
There was no figure on guard.
The deputy whfsked out a pair OF
handouts. At the door he listened
then beckoned to the others. They
came cautiously. their guns ready.
A rhythmic peaceful snore came
from the hay.
The men faced one another and a
breeze rustled a paper pinned on the
door, The Sheriff's hand was unsteady
as he took 1t or. Turning his lantern
on 1t he said:
ITO the constable: You might as well
mosey on. The girl was a good one.
Tell her I'll take care Of the seventy"
'.It isn't true!" Ruth cried, her voice
shrin. He's in there nowl Don't you
hear?"
For answer the constable slipped a
tool under the staple. It squeaked IN
the wood, gave, and the door swung.
The Sheriff shot In his lantern
Tom Foster turned over. "Hellol"
he exclaimed. struggling to his feet
Whats up?"
An open, empty lunch-box and a
gun lay beside him.
Why, gentlemen" he courteously
began; then he saw Ruth.
She was sobbing ecstatically. To
the east, a crimson band lay behind
the Guadalupe hills Unmindful OF
the audience, she turned her face, Ike
a dew-drenched flower to his.
Twas so sure you'd remember
the 9th. Tom" she brokenly whis-
pered. "and come back. So very. very
surei"
And the constable. the Sheriff. and
the deputy, using strange epithets,
rode home in the breaking dawn.