Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-12-30
The Fugitive"
From Justice
By CALVIN HENDRICKS.

! you.
The speaker WAS one of n group Of
dozen huSky miners. rough. red
S!irlcd, lacking all the forn,ality OF
the average "co!umitt"c." but repre-
sen;ins not only the Drawn but the
brains and enterprise of Lucky Gulch.
Ransomc Jordan's eye glowcd for Il
moment. he threw back his head in his
characteristic blum ana independent
way
"B"yS.' he said. and his full. clear
| voice WAS broken from some intense
emotion. Il thank You. butt cannot
accept"
That was the way that Eansone
Jordan turned down what his friends
called the chance OF his life.
'RanSomc. dear. Why" were the
words that greeted him rs the wife
who had overheard all met him ut the
doorway, and that was the hardest
part of il all.
Don't ask Nance" h. pleaded.
See here. il is yom who made me what
l am. The boys have helped. | don't
know why
""ho could help it," gently muir
INJURED Nance. stroking his great
brown hand caressingly.
Now they want me 10 be mayor.
4 man Of clear record. who will make
the district proud of him. deserves the
office"
rs there better one than you!"
cried Nance, her eyes sparkling with
pride. is there a man who has made
Lucky Gulch clean and respectable as
YOU have done: What is it, Ransome
what is troubling you?"
1T is-no. 1 can't tell even YOU" de-
c'ared Jordan. AT least not now
not yet Nance. do you trust lne:'
To the dcath--and after
III L go nway--away toto pay q
DEBT. 10 clear the books. 10 take my
medicine like man so that when !
come back and can look every man
In the face and say honestly / owe
the world nothing. what will You say?"
"Ransome." she said rcsolutcly.
"how soon shall help YOU pack up
for your Journey"
And thus began the pilgrimage of
RanSome Jordan. One evening the
train 10 Easton. n little New England
town, halted to let Off the pilgrim.
Several times he passed under the
red lamp of police station. Finally
he entered the place. asked for the Of
hc"r in charge, and was shown into
the captains private Office.
IL am from the West" stated .Jor.
dan without ceremony. Il have come
10 give myself up as a fugitive from
Did YOU ever hear ii before?"
\ strange smile crossed the face Of
the official.
"Why. yes" he began. bur Jordan
went on with his story.
zone night in q. drunken brawl a
friend % mine named Prescott in
suited and attacked me- ! resented
him with n knife thrust I heard later
that he died. Ii was sclf-dcIense. but
/ have come back 10 clean the slate.
Whatever the law may say
Il have heard of you." cried The Of
fetal. arising and wringiny the hand
OF Jordan with strange fcrvor Come
this way"
He pointed at n large "i! portrait.
"WilliHm Prescott still lives He IS
judge Of this court. and after that
night y"u refer to became a REFORMED,
man"
rhank heaven" murmurcd Jordan
IN II great aspiration Of joy and re-
Lief
I'D" y"n recall DothinS further Of
Thai nilht?' asked the official. u queer
expression OF h. HIS.
Little hri iiir>I.i. despair. | recall,
q fire. and plun@lr% into it's exciting
whirl. hoping fate would blot me out"
"Again-come with me-" invited the
official
lie led The way to the street ma to
the outskirts OF the town where u
large building stood.
The fire YOU speak Of he said
"dcStroycd the old structure of the
Dorofhea SiStprhoOd. That night n
brave man by means Of n plank span
Hng w." roofs saved every soul in
the building from death. You never
heard Of it! Strange. See" and Jor
dams guide pointed TO - neat column
surrounded by an iron fence. and bear
Ing broad metal plate plainly visible
In the white moonlight.
81 will read the inscription" said the
official. in grateful memory Of Ran
some Jordan, Hero. who lost his life
after saving fourteen imperiied wom-
en-. He was true man -
And that was me1" gasped The pet.
rihed Jordan.
THAT WAS you" responded the Off
cinl, reverently lifting his cap. Held
In loving memory, because you dsaD.
pearcd amid the flames and il was sun
posed YOU had persisted"
50 the pilgrimage ended. hut It's
echoes. now made public. reached
Lucky Clutch ahead OF Jordan's return
AND when he appeared. q cheering