Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-01-18

K
the prisoner
| Caldwell recalled himself, he stop-
ped the words that were upon bis
| lips, he would not dig open tho grave
Of the past. He threw Herndley from
him, and left the cell. leaving the
wretched mortal inside to bis doubts
and fears
The sheriff strolled over to Fred
Morgans' inn where TIE principal top
les Of the day were always freely dis
cussed.
A stage coach had just arrived and
some Of its passengers were standing
on the veranda Of the inn The sher-
! iH approached it, thinking that at
last he would be revenged upon the
scouudrel who had first brought grief
into his life.
A young woman standing on the YER
anda, caught his attention. She was
eagerly talking to Fred Morgan, who
stood looking at her and shaking his
head in the negative The sheriff op-
preached them in time to hear Morgan
| say.
WAL now young Teddy, I'm tellin'
We the truth. There amt no one |
know in all Jordan valley by that thar
name
Turning he saw the sheriff and ap-
oaaled TO him.
"Thars the sheriff, If thar's such a
person in the place, he'll about know
| It,"
Thus appealed to, Caldwell asked
the girl for whom she was seeking.
For my husband she replied.
turning to the sheriff as she spoke,
but no one here seems to know him
Sheriff Caldwell looked into the
girls eyes, then his face turned death
ly pale and he leaned against the
veranda post for support.
whats up, sheriff asked Morgan
in his hearty bluff way, sick. You're
up an doin' to much oil man, take a
rest, say"
Its only the heat replied the
sheriff, and then he asked the girl
her husbands name,
Frank Gerald was the reply.
The sheriff knit his brows in
thought moment, then he said:
There is no one here by that
name
so I was tellin' the young Teddy"
chined in Morgan ''but she wouldn't
believe me"
81 know that he is here insisted
the girl. who was scarcely more than
child Il haven't heard from him
for some weeks. so | decided to sur
prise him and come out here myself"
rive been here for a good many
years" said the sheriff. "and I never
knew anyone of that name. here or
elsewhere, for that matter"
''But know that he is here" as
serted the girl, and just then some one
mercifully called Morgan away
Look" she continued, opening a
small locket fastened to fine gold
chain she wore around her neck, ana
showing the sheriff the smallportrait
within. this is his picture"
The sheriff looked at the pictured
face and recognized the features of
Frank Herndley, and then he remem-
bered too that his name was Frank
Gerald Herndley.
isn't he handsome" the girl limo
Gently ratified on. OF course, he's a
whole lot older than l am, but that
doesn't matter; does it?'
mot if you love him said the sher-
iff slowly.
Love him I simply adore himl"
Exclaimed the girl, pressing the lock-
ct to her lips.
The sheriff groaned
"Waal, because-because- here
my girl" and the sheriff laid his hand
gently on her arm, 81 wish you'd tell
me somthing about yourself"
Mrs. Gerald brushed his hand from
her arm with rather naughty gest-
ure as she said in wounded tones:
'tSir. you forget that | am a mar
ried woman
II do not forget replied the sher-
if. NOR do forget that | am old
enough to be your father"
There was omething in the sadness
of is maner that touchede the girl.
81 don't know why you should be
interested in me- she said, 'but I'll
tell you as much as I know about
myself"
"NIy mother died when I was
| baby; they have told me that she