Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-01-18
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and stood considering. He was the
sheriff Of Jordaa Valley and ID duty
bound to bring riie murderer Of the
beloved squire TO Justice. and there
this young girl telling him that It
would break her heart to lose the very
man, he had already decided as to
hang that night He was the sheriff,
but he was something else-at length
he spoke
@Stay here he said, speak to no
one about your husband, nor show
anyone his picture / win find for you,
and return to YOU
Before she could utter word Of
thanks the sheriff had pressed her
little hand and was walking down the
road that led TO prison. The girl
gazed after him Half way down the
gravel path leading from the inn to
the road. he turned and looked at
her, muttering:
She has her mothers face'
On his way to the jail, the sheriff
stopped at the Jordan Valley bank
and drew out nearly all the money he
had deposited there. Both the clerk
and the cashier remarked his palor
and the huskiness of his voice.
At<the jail he sought Frank Hernd-
leys cell. At sight OF him the wretch
ed man covered far back into cor
ner, but the sheriff paid no heed to
this action OF his.
Frank Herndley,'' he said . in his
measured tones, your wife is looking
for you"
Herndley stared forward.
Good God Not He exclaimed.
Yes" was the response.
"Herndley groaned aloud and sank
upon his cot.
This will kill her., he muttered.
who is your wife Asked the sher-
if.
why do you ask"
Because she is my daughter, said
the sheriff slowly.
Herndley sprang to his feet.
your daughter" he exclaimed.
Good God, you-yeu are Paul Wood
ford!v
II was Paul Wooaford. before you
stepped into my life, now I am sheriff
Caldwell, paid by the government to
put an end to such men as YOU and
he laughed little harshly.
81 am lost groaned Herndley, you
have no mercy on me-
mo, / have no mercy for you" adj
mitted the sheriff, but God knows, I
have mercy for that innocent child
you have made your wife. for the
daughter who does not know me. and
never will"
Herndley did not catch the drift Of
his words
"You and I were friends once" he
said, 81 wronged you, | wronged her,
that is all past. BY everything I hold
sacred, swear to YOU that love
your daughter, and SO long as | am
able to save her from harm, she shall
never know a moments pain. The
wrong that | have done her father and
her mother, l have tried to repair
through her
Does she know your past?' Asked
the sheriff. If Herndlev's words had
impressed him. he gave no sign.
mo"
"Good, she need never know"
Herndley stared at the sheriff.
''What do you mean he asked
The sheriff Whispered something in
to Herndley's ear that made the lat
ter clasp his hand, bur Caldwell quick
ly drew awav.
at is because my daughter loves
you" he said.
That night, under the shadow OF
darkness, the sheriff conducted Frank
Herndley and his wife to the borders
of Jordan Valley and saw them safely
on an east bound train.
He whispered many word of warn
ing to the husband and just before
the train pulled out, he placed a pack
age into the girls and said:
"Your father sends you this"
"My father" said the girl and then
the train rolled out, and the sheriff of
Jordan Valley stood with barred head
gazing after it until it disappeared in
the distance, than he began his soil
tary homeward route. He knew that he
had committed a breach of duty but
there is voice that speaks louder
than duty, it is the voice of love.
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