The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-18


 'Jim, Jim, you've made a worse mis- l take than 1nine.'
 Mary learned of the disclosure in a few minutes, and followed Beulah up stairs.
 You poor child! !" she cried, as she overlook her daughter. "It's not me-" she shot back. "It's Jim. He must be saved, some way. 1 It's impossible to think-I won't think it, no matter what they say! 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 1 some recollection of the blindness of love. And yet her own heart refused | to accept any idea of guilt on the part ! of Travers.
 'T want to be alone, mother" said Beulah. 'I want to be alone, to think. I'm going down by the river."
 As she strode rapidly through the paths in the cottonwoods the girl gradually became conscious of one dominating impulse in 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 1t was over
 Outwardly calm, but inwardly burn ing with impatience, she returned to +1,1 of eating supper. Then she dallied through the evening, giving her at- tention to Allan until all the house hold, except her mother, had gone to bed.
 "I will watch with Allan tonight" her mother said. You need rest more than I do. Lie down in my room and try to get some sleep"
 Her mother kissed her, and Beulah went to her room. But not to sleep. When silence filled 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 trOt. Half a mile from the house she was swinging at hard gallop down the dark valley. More than once even the sure-footed ranger almost fell over the treacher- ous badger holes, but she had learned to ride like the saddle itself, and she merely frightened the rein and urged him faster.
 At a crossing her horse almost col lided with a boy returning home from some late errand. "Oh, MT. Boy" she said. Come here, please, I 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 $1 if you do."
 ''There ain't no jail here. miss," he replied frankly, evidently satisfied that the question was bona fide. "Theres a coop, but you wouldn't give a dime to see it. It's just a kind of a she'd"
 'That's just what I want to find." she continued, land I'll give you $1 to show me where it is."
 Easy pickin'," said the boy. "Steer your horse along this way"
 He led her through the main part of the town, to where a one-story build ing, somewhat apart, stood aloof in the darkness.
 Some coop, ain't it?'' said her guide, with boyish irony. My dad says that's what we git fer vOtin' against the gov er'ment. The fire trucks in the front end. an there's a cell with bars be- hind. Do you want to see that, too?"
 "1es, that's what I want to see, but l can find it myself now, thank you"
 She dismounted and made her way to the back of the building. She saw the outline of a door, which was un- doubtedly locked, and further down the same wall was little square win- dow, with bars on it. There appeared to be only one cell, so there was no problem of locating the right one.
 She stole up along the wall, but the window was too high for her. Search ing about the filtered yard she found a square tin, such as the ranchers use to carry coal oil. Mounting this she was able to bring her face to the bars.
 "Jim," she said, in a low voice, lis tening intently. But there was no re- spOnse.
 ~Sim," she repeated, a little louder. She fancied she heard stir, and the sound of breathing seemed to cease.
 "Jim Travers .''
 "Ies" "' came a quick reply. "Yes Who is it?'
 Come to the window, Jim.'
 In a moment she saw the outline of his face through the darkness.
 "Beulah Harris" he demanded, in his quiet voice, "What are you doing here?"
 A great happiness surged about her at the sound of his voice and the warmth of his breath against her face. 'I might ask the same, Jim, but such questions are embarrassing. Anyway, 1 am on the right side of the wall"
 She saw his teeth gleam in the dark ness. What a wonderful soul he was !
 But you shouldn't have come like this," he protested, and his voice was serious enough. You are cOmprOmis- ing yourself"
 Not r. she answered. "These bars are more infleXible than the stiffest chaperon. And I just had to see you