Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-14
sI,oo0 REWARD
Dv VICTOR WEoTGRN

 on the little handbill even from where he lay crouching in the underbrush. He knew for whom the reward was of fered, and yet he felt an irresistible desire to draw near and read the an nouncement.
 He crept to the edge of the gravel Iy road and listened There was nc sound He sprang boldly to the sign post, where among tax notices and an nOuncements of town meetings and scrawling inscriptions of estrays he found the printing that had attracted him.
 Yes. It was him. He had killed a man for $60 and now they were offer ing $1,O0O for his capture.
 Dead or alive" was what the hand bill said. Dead or alive How reck- less the state was with its money. A thousand dollars. If he could get that money and give it to Hannah it would make her rich for life. He was tired of hiding anyway.
 A thousand dollars. It sounded like untold riches to the man who never had possessed hundred in his most prosperous day.
 His keen ear caught the, sound of horses hoofs and he scuttled back to cover like rabbit. He knew the man that rode by. It was one of his most prosperous neighbors--a man that owned his own farm and bought store shoes for his children, and gave his wife money to buy hat with feathers and ribbons on 1t. He had envied that man.
 T reckon he never had a thousand dollars, though he murmured, half triumphantly. It touched his pride to think that he was worth thousand dollars, dead or alive" The more he thought about it the more 1t seemed to his uniformed sense of justice that the money was his rightfully and that he was being kept out of it.
 They would put him in jail certain ly, and perhaps hang him, but no mat ter-he would give the money to Han nah and she could live in luxury all the rest of her life. She might marry again. The thought dulled the edge of his enthusiasm for time, but he still could see the big red capital letters at the head of the handbill. One Thou sand Dollars Reward"
 What a joke it would be on the sheriff if he could beat him out of that money and get it for Hannah!
 Once more he heard the sound of hoofs. Screening himself behind the leafy top of sumach. he peered down the road, and as soon as he saw the horseman his plan was formed. The traveller was Arch King.
 Arch was just man and man of his word. When Arch said he would do thing he might be depended upon. He would surrender to Arch King if Arch would promise to give the money to Hannah.
 He took from the breast of his shirt an old Colts pistol of ancient army pattern and drew back the hammer. It was the weapon he had used when but now was not the time to think of that. He must not permit his nerves to weaken. When King was almost abreast of him the man in hiding leaped into the road and caught the bridle with his left hand, while with his right he leveled the pistol at the horseman' s tbreast
 The horse swung backward and the eider stared at him with frightened eyes. i Don't be afraid. Arch, won't hurt 6ou," he said soothingly.
 What do you want" asked King.
 T want to surrender to you
 The man on the horse smiled not Nithstanding his fear.
 Tt doesn't look much like surrender, Ike" he said.
 Don't joke with me" said Ike. four ashing the big pistol. I'm not in any condition to be joked with
 Then put down your pistol. I'm ready to listen to what you say
 Ike pointed to the handbill.
 Do you sec that" he asked. "'One InOuSduu uOlidiS 1tNdiu. Dtdu VI alive. I want to surrender to you. Dead or alive. You can suit yourself about that. It will be the same in the end. You will get the money and give it to me
 You won't have much use for money, Ike. if the sheriff ever gets his hands upon you. You couldn't hire enough lawyers tsp get you free" T don't mean that Arch. The money Is to go to Hannah"
 Q. sec. To Hannah
 "Yes, she hasn't ever had any too good time. It will be whole lot oi money to her.
 Do you quite realize what this means. Ike?'
 Yes. Will you promise?'
 The man on the horse thought 8 moment.
 T would rather not do 1t. Ike. Il looks too much like taking blood money. even if l don't use it myself still. if you have set your heart or st--"
 Then you promise. Arch?' said the other eagerly. T know you will keeI your word. I'm going iO give up tC somebody and l would sooner trJs; you. That money is mine by rights I'm worth it. One thousand dollars y1e.a o- aIfvr If Szys an in ,1rf-r