The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-04-09
$1,000 REWARD
ny VICTOR wEsTERN

| One thousand 0OllafB reward lie
could read the heading in the big type
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
ly road and listened. There was no
sound. lie 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 $50 and now they we're offer
ing $1,000 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. II he could get that
money and give 1t to Hannah It would
make her rich for life. He was tired
of hiding anyway
A thousand dollars. II sounded like
untold riches to the man who never
had possessed a hundred in his most
prosperous day.
His keen ear caught the sound OF
horses hoofs and he scuttled back to
cover like a rabbit He knew the man
that rode by. II 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 a hat with feathers
and ribbons on It. He had envied
that man.
Il reckon he never had thousand
dollars, though he murmured, half
triumphantly. II touched his pride
to think that he was worth thousand
dollars, dead OF alive" The more he
thought about IL the more it 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 handblll. "One Thou.
sand Dollars Reward"
What a joke it would be on the
sheriff II he could beat him out of that
money and get It for Hannahl
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 a just man and a man of
his word When Arch said he would
do thing he might be depended upon.
lie would surrender to Arch King II
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.
II 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 bride with
his left hand, while with his right he
leyeled the pistol at the horseman's
breast
The horse swung backward and the
rider stared at him with frightened
eyes.
Don't be afraid, Arch. won't hurt
you" he said soothingly.
What do you want?" asked King.
81 want to surrender to you"
The man on the horse smiled not
withstanding his fear.
1T doesn't look much like surrender,
Ike he said.
Don't joke with me, said Ike, -four
lshing 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 see that?" he asked. lone
thousand dollars reward. Dead or
alive | want to surrender to you.
Dead or alive. You can suit yourself
about that. 1t will be the same in the
end. You will get the money and give
1t to me-"
You won't have much use for
money, Ike, II the sheriff ever gets his
hands upon you You couldn't hire
enough lawyers to get you free"
Il don't mean that Arch. The money
is to go to Hannah"
20, see. To Hannah"
"Yes, she hasn't ever had any too
good time. 1t will be a whole lot of
money to her"
DO you quite realize what this
means, Ike?
"Yes. VIII you promise?"