The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-01-21
Affecting
By SARAH BAXTER

dered how one so attractive looking
could be wallflower were they not
cognizant of the fact that the higher
the social status the greater the SELF
ishness. To speak more plainly, the
young lady, Miss Starkweather, was
western girl visiting an aunt, and
her way into society had not been
paved for her by certain requisites
without which an unknown girl could
not hope for any attention.
The hostess observed Miss Stark
weather sitting by herself and thought
Of a plan. She had no especial SYM
pathy with the girl, but lady to
whom she was under obligations So
cially had asked for an invitation for
a man with whom her husband had
had dealings in Colorado, who had
come to New York and said her hus-
band considered it to his interest to
treat him with especial attention. The
hostess found the above named guest,
Peter Gallagher, holding his hands
with a bored look on his face and took
him to Miss Starkweather and intro
duced him.
When the young lady heard the
name and looked up into the mans
eyes it was evident that there was
commotion in her bosom.
gallagher, did you say?" she asked.
"Yes'm; I'm Peter Gallagher of Colo
RADIO"
Did you ever live in Arizona"
81 certainly did"
The man seated himself beside the
girl, who was a dozen years his jun
ior, and the two fell into an animated
conversation. Mr.. Gallagher was de-
sirous of learning what the young lady
knew about him, and by way of reply
she told him a story.
"Once upon time" she said, "a
man., his wife and several children,
the Oldest of whom was girl Of
twelve, lived in a cabin on a prairie.
There were no forests to Obstruct the
view and few houses One morning
the oldest girl, Alice, went out Of the
cabin for water with which to make
coffee for breakfast and against the
rising sun saw a horseman coming at
a gallop. She watched him till he
came near. then went into the cabin
and told her father.
'tThe settler met the horseman at the
door, and the latter said:
"'Theres been a murder over at Hill
ton, and your revolver with your ini'
tials carved on the handle has been
found near by. l don't believe It's
yours, is itT
ono
"'Some one used it to put the jot
on to you. The committee found II
and are coming for you. Get on your
horse-Quick!
"The settler got cut his fastest horse
and the two galloped away. They had
scarcely gone when Alice saw coming
not q man, but a dozen. AS soon as
they reached her fathers cabin they
scattered themselves around 1t, and
one of them, the sheriff, called on the
settler to come out and surrender him
self. The wife and mother went tt
the door and In trembling voice as
sured him that her husband was MOI
there. Throwing himself off his horse
the sheriff went into the house ant
searched every nook and corner. NO
finding whom he wanted, he rode
away with his men, who meanwhile
had noticed fresh tracks of horses
hoofs in the same direction as the set
tier and the man who had warned him
leaving the woman and her children il
an agony of fear, for there had beer
manv brutal murders In that region
and the vigilance committee were en-
deavoring to stamp them out withou
wasting time in trying those accused.
"The committee overlook the settler
and the man who had warned him
and the latter stopped and faced them
He told them he was convinced tha
the man they were after was limo
cent of crime The sheriff said h'
was convinced to the contrary. Thel
the other said he would not see an in
nocent man strung up without an eff
fort to save him and they would hav'
to fight the two together.
This turned the scale, and the set
tier surrendered on condition that h
be fairly tried. He was acquitted anC
returned to his family. He told hi
wife and children how he had beel
saved from being hanged and charged
them all to reverence forever the mai
who had so nobly stood by him."
The girl paused, her last words bein,
spoken in a tremulous voice.
81 think l remember somepin lik
that" said Mr.. Gallagher. ''You re
fer to John Starkweather. He'd dom
me a favor once, and, seeing that h.
was shore to- be strung up for somepil
he hadn't done l lit out to warn him
Was you one Of the children who wa
in the cabin that mornin'T
81 was the oldest girl, Alice"
"Well, now, it's queer, isn't 1t, tha
l should meet you among these Co
forsaken people? Don't you want t
go back to a respectable community p
II think / do"
"Who is that MANI" asked a guest
referring to Mr.. Gallagher. al
doesn't look as If he belonged here"
lNosnsE VINE 3l, =,