The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-07-22

tSNN-S'
81 HAVE COME TO OFFER YOU A CHRIST
MAS GIFT
of the fast receding figure of the MAI
who was beginning to ascend the
mountain.
mo moreI Nevair morep' he Missed
mysteriously
Janet was speechless with astonish
ment. She was familiar with the lads
heroics, but really this was something
out of the ordinary.
"Dis night-a," continued Beppo in q
sibillant whisper, "he mus'-a dier
"Now, what do you mean" Jane;
demanded sternly, with the evident
intention of getting at the bottom OF
the matter "Sit right down in that
chair and tell me without any more
nonsense"
For a reply Beppo drew his hand
across his throat and gurgled sugges-
lively.
Janet was beginning to be seriously
alarmed She knew that the young
ster was emotional to the verge of alb
surdity and that he was not to be de-
pended upon in an emergency. She
had discovered that he had a passion
for exaggeration, but it seemed to her
that there must be something real
about this.
"Beppo," she commanded in tone
that left no alternative, "do as I tell
your
Thus brought to terms, the young
Sicilian whispered tale of contem-
plated assassination and robbery that
would have been a veritable boon to
one of the operate maestri of the last
generation. Three men of the noun
tain gang, he declared, had plotted to
murder and rob John Rossiter on that
very Christmas night, knowing that
he would be alone In his Office on the
mountain. Beppo gave all the details
of the dastardly business with the
most ingenious explicitness and seem
ed to expect Janet to share his enthu-
siasm over the removal of her enemy.
Janet did not stop TO sift the mat
ter 1t was sufficient for her that the
man she loved was threatened by q
danger which she might avert. She
did not hesitate a moment. Distrust-
ing Beppo, she feigned satisfaction at
the prospect of so soon being rid of
her enemy and sent the boy to the VII
lage on an errand. AS soon as he was
out of sight she left her house and be-
gan to ascend the mountain as quickly
as she could
Half an hour later she stood at the
open door of Rossiter's cabin and face
to face with its occupant
Janet" he asked her doubtingly,
"are you actually here?"
Eyes" she returned breathlessly and
looking at him at all. 81 have
come to offer you a Christmas gift"
He looked at her amazedly, but did
not speak.
81 have come to offer you your life"
81 don't understand; really do not
Janet" he said helplessly.
Then she told him Beppo's story.
He heard 1t to the cid without q
word of comment. When she had fin
shed he sighed long and deeply
II am disappointed, he said, with a
furious little quaver in his voice. 81
I'm disappointed in my Christmas pres
INT. | hoped thought perhaps it
night be something better"
"What is better than life?"
'You are-far better" he declared |
Janet knew that the long conflict |
vas ended, and the knowledge lifted |
he weight from her heart.
IF you really believe anything Of
hat sort john she began.
II forgot to tell you that there isn't
word of truth in your precious Bep- |
o's story" John said as they were de-
cending the mountain. "Why, the
cry men he named are in the village
ockup at the present moment-too
1uch holiday, you know l saw them
s came up from the train. They are
II good woTkmen. and in the morning
shall go down and pay their fines
nd get them out Of limbo