Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-08-02

This jury stands adjourned sine
de-" called the foreman.
Laughing and taking like schoolboys,
aow that the long strain had been re-
moved. the jurors filed out OF the room.
Molly Dwyer was baking bread in the
kitchen OF her home, three miles from
the county seat, and a pretty picture
she made, her cheeks glowing from the
ardent kiss of the fire, while her eyes
nvaled the Goals In brightness.
The snow was falling steadily. Sud
denly Molly stopped to listen. On the
crisp air came the faint chime of s.e!.i-
bells. The sound grew louder momcnt
by moment. Molly went TO the window
to watch. Around the turn Of TIE road
swept cutter drawn by fac team
of trotters.
A man In a big fur coat was driving.
II was Sam Hawkins. the sheriff. and
the light faded from MOlly's crCs as
she watched the team sweep grGccfn.,r
into her fathers driveway and ucve:
stop until 1t had brought up by the
side porch Of the house.
The sheriff sprang from the sleigh,
and, without waiting even 70 hiGi ut
the horses. rushed up the steps aud ia.o
the house With the assurance Of tho
accepted lover he nodded and smiled
genially to Molly's mother in the sit
ting room, but did not pause. Instead
he rushed into the kitchen and with a
cry of delight swept Molly into his
arms He kissed her eagerly on face
and lips and hair Although she sub
mitted patiently TO the caresses the girl
did not respond to them. and hGlf IN
conscious sigh of relief escaped kcr
when the young man finally released
her and stood back beaminS, to look ut
her.
Murray. Mollyr' he cried. "The grand
jury has adjourned and I'm not I'm
dicted
WAS there any danger. Sam| she
asked quietly, although her attitude ex-
pressed intentness.
In his relief from the strain OF self
imposed silence and gnawing anxiety
during the SIX weeks that the jury had
been in session the man was too wrap
ped up in selfish JOY TO notice anything
amisS.
"Was there any dangerT' lie echoed
"Well. should think there was was
caught with the goods. all right. And
who do you think saved me? Old John
Kerns. DO you know, Molly" he bah
bled on, almost drunk with exhilara-
ton, / used to fancy Old John was
sweet on you, but l saw my mistake
when | heard what he did today"
The girl was white about the lips.
but her voice was low. almost gentle.
'Then you did steal from the county
as they said you didr'
Sam looked up quickly. for he had
noted the danger signal. "Oh, no. Mol
"; steal is hardly the word. but
"Did you steal from the county,"
His face fell suddenly. You won't
let me explain he began again.
"Did your
1
stealing. What OF 1t? I'm going TO
pay II back" Then rage at the men
responsible for this complication over
came him. ut serves them right They
put me up to knock me down, and
they'll have to watch things the bal
ance of my term; that's ALL But what
Of it p he asked.
what of it?" Her scorn and loath-
ing seemed to crush him.
what of it? This much: No Dryer
ever married thief, and I'm not go
ing to be the first one. Here's your
ring" - mechanically he took the ex-
tended bauble and slipped it in his
pocket-"but before you go want to
tell you why John Kerns got you Off
because he thought loved you and
that 1t would break my heart If you
were indicted; that's why. And, thank
God, I've found out before it's too late
that John Kerns cares that much for
me. because"-and she raised her head
proudly 81 care for him just as
much" Then she went crimson. for
Kerns stood In the doorway
As John advanced into the room
with face alight the sheriff slipped out
without a word. The chime Of his
sleighbells grew fainter and fainter,
to die out finally in the distance. And
all was well.