Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 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
manP'
By the roadside stood a pony, I'M
hitched and close beside him, seated
upon a fallen tree, was a man with
blue stocking across his knee, intently
riiing Its contents. Joseph Sloan In
stantly recognized the homey 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 UNI
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-
It may mean death If you hunt him.
Again her arms sought his neck.
Pushing her from him he fiercely cried
"Hunt hlml I'll hunt him into his
gravel Good-by-explain to mother"
and he went like the wind in the dlrec-
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 wllds, and yet is not I'M
attended. On the table, close at hand.
lay a 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 | 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 holdp,
A fierce blast almost shook the log
|
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 n
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 stlled 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
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 a 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, and looking into the face
of his rescuer, almost wept:
Don't kill mel l will make good that
money, but do not kill mev'
"All / want is my fathers hard-earn-
ed money! Numbered the young man.
Hand that out and l will nurse you
back to life and health. If you refuse,
l shall again throw you out to the mercy
of the wolves"
| r.~tn 1 nil ii a.
feebly. 1T Is down under the oak tree
by the creek. There is a hollow in the
trunk, and there you will find a 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, rifle
in hand. With rapid strides he went
towards the creek, never pausng until
he stood beneath the bare brown
branches Of a giant oak. careful
search brought to light the heavy box,
described by the ranchman. Opening it.
the first object that met his gaze was
the old blue stocking, familiar to him
from childhood. 1t was now completely
stuffed with crisp, green bills. Replac-
ing 1t, he took the box In his arms and
returned to the cabin.
Placing the precious burden upon the
table, he sat beside the bed, calmly
awaiting the time when his patient
should awake. An hour thus passed In
gloomy meditation. Two years Of his
life had been blasted by the thieving,
helpless wretch now lost in slumber. At
last the sleeper awoke. Looking at Jo-
seph, he feebly pointed to the box upon
) the table. The young man placed It on
the bed beside him. Painfully raising
himself upon his elbow he opened 1t and
, handed him the blue yarn stocking his
mother had knitted with one foot on his
cradle.
! The sick man deliberately counted out
/ two hundred dollars, and restored them
S TO the stocking; then, with nervous haste,
) added another fifty, feebly murmuring.
( '"rhe market money" and he again
handed the stocking to Joseph, who took
1t with a gloomy air.
] "Now get well, Jack. for I want "a
D take you back TO the old Bay State and
5 make an honest man Of you"
A week later Joseph and his strange
companion arrived in Boston. Thai
night he telegraphed Eliza: