Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1907-02-09
$1,000 REWARD
BY VICTOR WESTERN

| OHt AuOuShUu uOlldIS EtWdIu- he
could read the heading in the big type
on the little handful 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. 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
man for $50 and now they were 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.
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 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. 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 It. He had envied
that man.
Il reckon he never had a thousand
dollars. though" he murmured. half
triumphantly. II touched his pride
to think that he was worth thousand
dollars, dead or 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 handful. "One Thou. |
sand Dollars Reward"
What a joke II 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 a 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 JfdSt man ard man Of
his word. When Arch said he would
do thing he might be depended upon.
He would surrender to Arch King IL
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
Il 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 ,
MS left hand. while with his right he ,
eveled the pistol at the horseman's
breast.
The horse swung backward and the
-ider stared at him with frightened
Eyes.
Don't be afraid, Arch. won't hurt S
-Ou," he said soothingly.
What do you want?" asked King.
Il want to surrender to you"
The man on the horse smiled not.
his fear
1T doesn't look much like surrender,
ke," he said.
Don't joke with me" said Ike -four.
shing the big pistol. I'm not in any
condition to be jOked with"
Then put down your pistol. I'm
eady to listen to what you say"
Ike pointed to the handful u
DO you see that" he asked. lone
thousand dollars reward Dead OF Il
live / want to surrender to you. s
bead or alive You can suit yourself y
bout that 1t will be the same in the
nd. You will get the money and give
. to me-"
You won't have much use for
money, Ike. If the sheriff ever gets his
ands upon you. You couldn't hire
nough lawyers to get you free"
Il don't mean that Arch. The money
to go to Hannah"
20. / see. To Hannah"
yes, she hasn't ever had any too
God time. It will be a whole lot Of
honey to her"
DO you quite realize what this
leans. lke?"
Yes. Will you prOmise?~
The man on the horse thought a
loment
Il would rather not do It. Ike. It
,oks too much like taking blood
Ioney, even II don't use IL myself
till, If you have set your heart on
-"
Then Won promigp Arch -" said the