Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-07-01


~ thort you said he'd killed his MN
when he went away. You bet some un
has given him a tip that the sheriffs
comm for him."
"Huhw retorted Stubs. THAT sher-
IN o. yourn has been comm for. Stran-
ger ever since he's been in this yere
town"
"So's your man that Strangers look.
I'm for"
A month passed. and the excitement
over the mystery was subsiding when
STRANGER received another letter. This
time the postmaster reported that the
recipient had left the room before open.
ing his letter. so that IL was impossible
to tell how. whatever intelligence It
contained. It affected him. Great dis
satisfaction greeted this announce
ment. and n plan for putting in a wo
man postmaster that had failed was
revived. However nothing could be
done TO acquire information in the
present instance. and the necessity
might not arise again. On this &c.
count the movement lost force and was
finally dropped.
A few days after the arrival OF
Strangers last letter boy rode into
town with telegram for him which
had been received at the nearest sta
ton. twelve miles away. The news OF
this message spread like wildfrc, and
the excitement over the mystery burst
into a flame. All agreed that climax
was mt hand.
The hour for the arrival of the east
ern coach was o'clock At It was
reported that Stranger had gone TO his
cabin. put on a boiled shirt and had
taken up a position half n mile down
the road. where he was waiting evil
IDENTIFY for the coach.
Hes going to die respectable" said
Bill Stubbs-"that is IL the other Teller
don't die instead"
Gradually persons began TO walk
down the road. hating here and there
where they could get n good view of
Stranger. who was sitting on stump.
The believers In the Stubs theory en-
sconced themselves behind trees IN or
der to escape stray bullets. The Jones
partisans laughed Mt them. Jones had
told them that the sheriff was coming,
and Stranger had decided to give him.
self up. He had gone out to prevent
his fellow townsmen from witnessing
the ignominy of his arrest and the
clapping on of handouts.
Stranger sat with his back to the
gathering audience. not knowing Of
their presence. He took ont his watch
and looked for the time of day. Then
he pulled a revolver from his hip and
examined It. cooking and unlocking It
and revolving the chambers.
This act sent several of the doubling
Thomases among the Jones faction be-
hind trees and confirmed the Stubbs-
ties In their opinion.
A creaking sound was heard In the
distance. and the coach turned bend
I'm the road. Stranger jumped down
from his seat and strobe with long
steps toward 1t. Some among the au-
dience averred that he was swinging
his revolver while he walked: others
were equally sure he had put It back
in his holster. As he approached the
coach the driver. who recognized him.
drew rein and stopped. Then the door
few open and n boy about Eve years
old made jump that landed him in
Strangers arms. The child was fol-
t<4 tx.hA cts In In.
the open door. put forth her arms.
they were clasped around Strangers
neck. and he lifted her TO the ground.
The rest Of the picture was the man
alternately kissing the woman and the
boy.
Stranger was recalled TO his sur.
roundings by shout up the road and.
turning. saw his fellow citizens ranged
in a semlclrcle between him and the
town. He stared ut them In wonder
for n moment. then put the woman
and the boy back into the coach. got I'm
himself. and the vehicle proceeded on
its way. When 1t reached the crowd
Enoch Nudge advanced. the driver
stopped the horses. and Mr.. Nudge ad-
dressed Stranger:
1.-THE feelins' of your Teller citizens
is much relieved. Some thort y was
waitin' TO kill man and others thort
y was wanted for crime. The wom-
an aud the kid beside y p'ints TO an.
other solution. Anyway. we're glad
the mystery is solved and the woman
and the kid are welcome among us. We
only hope y're married respectable"
To which Mr.. Truesdale replied:
81 married the lady beside me six
years ago. but my poverty and the in
reference of her family have separat-
ed us until now. When came among
you ! expected TO find my wife here
Then ! struck bonanza in my mine
I went away TO perfect my claim and
get capital to work 1t. leaving a letter
for my wife in case she should come
In my absence. Then | got letter
stating that her mother was III and
- 1zf.