The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-05-21

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take than mine"
Mary learned of the disclosure In q
rev minutes, and followed Beulah up
stairs.
You poor childr" she cried. as she
overlook her daughter.
Its not me-" she shot back. Its
Jim. He must be saved, some way.
It's impossible to think-I won't think
IL, no matter what they sayi Let
them find what they like! But
he's in a hole, and we've got to get
him out"
The mother shook her head with
some recollection of the blindness of
love. and yet her own heart refused
TO accept any idea of guilt on the part
of Travers.
II want to be alone, mother" said
Beulah. II want to be alone, to think.
I'm going down by the river"
AS she strobe rapidly through the
paths in the cottonwoods the girl
gradually became conscious of one
dominating impulse I'm her maze of
emotions. She must see jim. She
must see him at once. She must see
him alone. There were things to be
said that needed-that admitted-nO
witness. She knew that. Arthurs or
one OF the men would willingly ride to
town for her, or with her, but this was
a task for her alone. They must know
nothing until it was over.
Outwardly calm, but inwardly burn
ing with Impotence, she returned to
the house and went through the form
OF eating supper. Then she dallietf
through the evening, giving her at
tentiOn to Allan until all the house
hold, except her mother, had gone to
he'd.
II will watch with Allan tonight"
her mother said. You need rest more
than | do. Lie down in my room ard
try to get some Sleep"
Her mother kissed her, and Beulah
went to her room. But not to sleep.
When silence filed all the house she
slipped gently down the stairs, through
the front yard, and into the corral.
Fortunately her horse had been sta
bled. She harnessed him with some
difficulty in the darkness, and threw
herself into the saddle. For 100 yards
she walked him; then she drew him
off the hard road on to the grass and
loosed him into a trOt. Half mile
from the house she was swinging at a
hard gallop down the dark valley.
More than once even the sure-fOoted
ranger almost fell over the treacher-
Gus badger holes, but she had learned
to ride like the saddle itself, and she
merely frightened the rein and urged
him faster.
At crossing her horse almost col
Hded with boy returning home from
some late errand. "Oh, Mr.. Boy" she
said. Come here, please, l want You
to help me-
The boy approached hesitatingly, as
though suspicious that some kind of
trick were being played on him.
"Can you tell me-" she said, in a low
voice. where the jail is! I'll give you
81 if you do"
There amt no Jail hes>e, MISS" he
replied frankly. evidently satisfied that
the question was bona fide There's a
coop, hut Won wouldn't give dime to
see it. It's just kind of she'd"
That's just what I want to find"
she continued, land I'll give you 81 to
show me where ii Is
Easy pickin'." said the boy. steer
your horse along this way"
He led her through the main part |
II the town, to where a one-story build |
ng, somewhat apart, stood aloof in |
he darkness.
"Some coop, amt it," said her guide,
With boyish irony. "My dad says that's
what we git fer votin' against the gov
fire trucks in the front |
nd. an there's cell with bars be-
lind. Do you want to see that. too?"
Yes, that's what I want to see, but
can find it myself now, thank YOU"
She dismounted and made her way
o the back of the building. She saw
.,e outline of a door. which was I'M
Ioubtedly locked. and further down
he same wall was a little square win
ow. with bars on 1t. There appeared
o be only one cell, so there was no
roblem of locating the right one.
She stole up along the wall, but the
''ndow was too high for her. Search
ne about the Uttered yard she found
square tin, such as the ranchers use
D carry coal oil. Mounting this she
'as able to bring her face to the bars.
"Jim,' she said, in low voice, lis
aning intently. But there was no re-
Donse
"Jim.' she repeated, little louder.
he fancied she heard a stir, and the
,und of breathing seemed to cease.
"Jim Travers!"
"Yes!" came a quick reply. "Yes!
'ho is it?"
Come to the window, jim"
In u moment she saw the outline of !
s face through the darkness.
'Beulah Harris" he demanded. in
S quiet voice, what are you doing
,reT"
A great happiness surged about her ,
the sound of his voice and the ,
armth of his breath against her face.
might ask the same. Jim, but such !
lestions are embarrassing. Anyway, :
am on the right side of the wall"
She saw his teeth CLEAN in the dark i
SIS. What wonderful soul he was | ,