The Washington herald., 1911-10-08

had travelled in the dht. Then we felt safe. No
one could reach US that day. flaming lay be-
tween Joe and the town Of the night before. That
was the last day Joe and ever had together I've al
ways felt sorry that l couldn't have cooked hm
something good to eat We didn't have much of any
thing to eat that day. And couldn't go on either.
The horses wouldn't take step that smoking
prairie.
We didn't say much. We just sat and looked at
each other. 'Joes eyes looked awful pitiful and
scared and his hands were all blisers from making
the fire guard
Toward morning Of the next night an armed posse
found us and made go back. Poor Joe! This
one of the times when couldn't help him any!
They said he had shot old Abingdon and stolen
a lot of money. Old man Abingdon a rich horse
man who lived out the edge Of the town alone,
with the exception Of young girl who worked for him.
Joe had been going with that girl. They said she
and Joe planned it tOgetheEe They searched him and
found some money on him. But know he didn't do
it. ut the girl. and she laid it on to him.
Joe didn't have any trial The law is made for rich
folk. Justice Is for them who strong enough to
get it, And were just beggars. So they hanged
him. The people said if he didn't do it, it would be a
good example anyway.
They hanged him the next day but one to jack-oak
tree, and the whole town came out to A hanging
was about the only the people had there.
POOr Joe! ne WIS 50 dlEdlu anu COuIu uOL ueIp
any. For two days they left him dangling from that
tree And the weather was lovely. 1t made me feel
bad to see the sky blue hated to have him miss it.
always have remembered how blue that sky was
1t wasn't long after this when Jim, my old man, fell
sick-real sick-and in a few weeks he died. The
town people were real good to US then. They made
a coffin out of dry goods boxes for Jim. And they
sent US food and clothes.
Then we set out again for Oklahoma. Its good
are near a big ranch you're of enough to eat.
That winter we lived in deserted dugout the
south side Of hill. A dugout is most as good as
house and it's just as warm. We were Sol Pack
ards ranch It's the largest in the Strip They say
that Sol Packard is EngliShman and that in his
country he lord something of that kind Any
way, he had fine house where he lived all alone
We could see it from our door.
One day when he had been out hunting he happened
to pass by where were and stopped to talk with
us This was Just by accident. When he came the
next time it was not by accident 1t was to see
Becky Becky was a handsome girl. Her real name
was Elizabeth Rebecca. She didn't look bit like
Kadidge here She had long black curly hair and
she could play the fiddle just like her father, and
sing too He sent us food every day. We never
did have so much to eat before. And when he came
he always brought something for Becky
Becky had another beau that winter, too he was
a tramper like us and lived in a wagon about a mile
south in a little catalpa grove His name was VIII
Perkins. Becky liked him. He was just about her
age and they used to play and sing together All poor
folks take to music just duck takes to water
But talked against him. 1 didn't want her to be a
beggar like me. Sometimes Sol Packard and VIII
would come at the same time. They'd sit and glare
at each other and neither one would speak.
Il couldn't get Becky to go anywhere with Sol
Packard She seemed to be afraid Of him. He was
lots older and sort of stern looking. But ne kept
coming just the He brought her things to wear
and Becky liked that. 1 never girl who wanted
fine things as Becky did
One evening when spring came Becky took bucket
and started for a neghbOrs who used to give US
milk She bright red dress that Sol Packard
brought her from Shawnee. l shall never forget how
pretty she looked. Every once in while she'd turn
around and wave her little tin bucket at me as IL
she hated to go on. Becky didn't look like tramper
II she
That was the last time l her They say
that she went to live at the big house with Sol
Packard. At least VIII Perkins said so, tor ne
watched her all the time. There was trouble then
Will said he'd kill them both. He'd sit for hours ano
watch that house.
If she did go l suppose it was a. mortal sim But II
seems to me that hunger and cold and poverty are
mortal sins, too. 1t isn't much worse to lose your
soul one way than another, II II d quesIoh VI i" eo
The Fate of Becky.
No. didn't grieve much because she'd gone.
You see 1 knew that she'd be warm and have
enough to eat and a bed to sleep in. Tears and
weeping are for them who live soft People VINO
are always hungry and cold don't have time GrleS-
ing is the luxury Of the rich.
One night Will Perkins running up and
said he'd just seen her walking the veranda with
Sol Packard. He was nervous and his face tWltcheu
so he could scarcely speak. He went away again aS
quickly as be came. That night we heard shootins'
and thought of Will Perkins face. The next day
one Of the cowboys told me that he had seen niin
shoot a woman on the veranda of the big house.
That was all l could find out. day or TWO IaIeF
when l saw a made grave On the prairie
knew It was Becky's
Poor little Becky! When night came. and With 1t
the moon l dug up wild maIows with my bare
hands until my fingers worn and bleeding ana
planted them all over her grave so that when they