The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-30
The Dali.
EsHOR T STORY
His Prisoner
q cLARIeeA MAcKIE

F..
hehind large rock and slipped
out Of the saddle. From his posi-
ton he could peer around the rock
and obtain q clear view Of the
Afnhdiilo schoolhouse, forty feet
away. It was late on q Saturday
atterneoa and OF course theEs was
no school, but tho front door Of the
building was aIar.
II happened thai the sheriff was
loe.sluE for a thiot that afternoon,
the one who had broken into the
scte5ltonss and stolen several
things belonging to pupils and TO
Link Larrabee, the school teacher.
k5ehoot books, copy paper, pens,
YstraS umbrellas, had vanished into
Z npthingnesS, and so John Wayne,
ono Of the trustees, had called on
tho sheriff and IN his close-mouth.
Cd way vouched the information
that It would be we'll to keep an
eye on the schoolhouse.
And the first moment that
Sheriff Harry Gray turned pair
On handsome, though honest, blue
eyes toward the SchoolhOuse he
scented q ciow. Presently he
heard footsteps On the bare boards
inside, the door opened wider and
y Big girl stepped out, closing the
door softly and locking 1t. This
key she slipped into a pocket Of
an old gray coat she wore.
{ on her arm she carried some
] clothing, one or two coats and a
bright wool cap.
/, She glanced hurriedly around,
hstened for an instant and then
dkrtet around the building and
took the trail that led back through
The trees toward tho river.
The sheriff smiled grImly and
shook his head. He was a very
young sheriff, and II had not been
10 many years since he had attend.
ed that little schoolhouse himself
and 80 that made him very sorry
70 think that any girl In Armadillo
you'd be small enough to break
into the sacred precincts OF the
tehsol.
ices, It's my luck to have to
A catch a girl, first throw" he
sF1mbled as he mounted his horse
and started up the trail after the
'fEiri "she's a mighty pretty one
n that-halr like bronze and
home eoiori What's she doing with
bunch Of old rass-hey!" he cal,
ID abruptly as she stood aside to
iet him pass
We'll she asked coolly, but he
saw the scared look in her eyes
:. asd hated himself.
y Where yeu going with all those
clothes and things out OF the
Feheolhousei"
s'Yeu want thsse?" she asked
amaxedly holding them out.
He took them from her willins
hands, placing them awkwardly
Hcross his saddle bow. I'm right
sorry to have to do thIs-a nice
girl like you"
IL you have what you want you
4 had better ride on" she said
stopping back.
Il don't know but what l shall
,tAse you along, miss" he said
gf1geiy,
Take met" There was terror in
! her voice.
syes'm. l should arrest you
sYcu? Arrest me?" He was sur.
pEiged to ace that she was holding
q little blue.steel weapon in her
flrht hand.
" SCOT me covered, chit" he laugh.
Cd softly, but his eyes did not
Isagh, He was full OF pity for a
Alri 80 astouudingly pretty and
ehc was so wicked. You must
he one OF Mart Johnson's girls.
over at the Creek" he venturod
ettsr an uncomfortable momont
under the blazing defiance Of her
y eyes
Mart johnson? Who is hep
\ she asked coldIy.
z thought he might be your
tather.''
No" sks said.
Wen, are you coming with
me?9 he asked after another me,
ment.
me"
you're under arrest, ma'am, ="
She frowned a little and then
smiled In friendly way that de-
LIGHTED him. He asked himself
Why the smile Of a mere EIrl-a
; gid he was taking to j1ii to
should set his heart to gallopinE
Yes, ] remember that. | Will
\ walk beside you II ysu don't
mind.
He slipped to the ground and
rendered his mount. "It's soma IN
tle ride, miss he insisted,
Presently she consented, and he
littsd hor into ths Ssr saddle. She
Z eiung to the pemIuel with both
hands. He watched her from nm.
des his lsshss with growing per.
piexity. clows were crowdinF upon
him fast enough.
\ no you know Mr.. WayneY" ho
asked AFTER they had Travelled
awhile.
sae hesitase q, you pean the
That's right. I'm taking You
q his place, Fiat Hills. He sent
me to catch somebody who was
rebbing the aehoolhsuse, and,
AreFts luck, found you right
K away, 80 you'ye got to see the old
senileman. and Il he says Lookup,
Why IN DO hanged IL take you
therel"