The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-08-15

This jury stands adjourned sine
die" called the foreman
Laughing and talking like schoolboys,
now 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 pretty picture
she made. her cheeks glowing from the
ardent kiss Of the fire, while her eyes
rivaled the Goals in brightness.
The snow was falling steadily. Sud-
denly Molly stopped to listen. On the
crisp air came the faint chime Of sleigh
bells. The sound grew louder moment
by moment. Molly went to the window
to watch. Around the turn of the road
swept cutter drawn by a fine team
Of trotters.
A man In big fur coat was driving.
1t was Sam Hawkins. the sheriff. and
the light faded from MOlly's eyes as
she watched the team sweep gracefully
into her fathers driveway and never
stop until 1t had brought up by the
side porch of the house.
The sheriff sprang from the sleigh,
and, without waiting even to blanket
the horses. rushed up the steps and into
the house. With the assurance Of the
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 half I'M
conscious sigh Of relief escaped her
when the young man finally released
her and stood back beaming. to look at
her.
Murray, Molly he cried. ''The grand
jury has adjourned and I'm not in
dicted.
WAS there any danger, SamY 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 danger?" he echoed
well. should think there was. l 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, 1 used to fancy Old John was
sweet on you. but saw my mistake
when 1 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 did?' {.
Sam looked up quickly, for he had
noted the danger signal. "Oh, no, Mol
ly; steal is hardly the word, but
"Did you steal from the countyY'
His face fell suddenly. You won't
let me EXPLAIN he began again. :
did you"
81 suppose some Of them call It
stealing. What Of it? I'm going to
pay it back" Then rage at the men
responsible for this complication over
came him. 1T 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?" he asked.
what Of it?' Her scorn and loath-
ing seemed to crush him.
what of 1t? This much: No Dwyer
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 l want to
tell you why John Kerns got you off
because he thought l 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 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 we'll.