gone to? what do they luk like? Mebbe
I ken git him fur yer," said Jude, looking as if inclined to beat a
retreat, or do anything to get away from the sound of the woman's
crying.

[Illustration: "GET HIM--GET JOHNNY!" CRIED THE WOMAN, FALLING ON HER
KNEES, AND SEIZING JUDE'S HAND.]

"Get him--get Johnny?" cried the woman, falling on her knees, and
seizing Jude's hand. "I can't give you anything for doin' it, but I'll
pray for you, as long as I've got breath, that God may reward you!"

"I reckon," said Jude, as he awkwardly disengaged his hand, "that
prayin' is what'll do me more good than anythin' else jest now. Big
feller is yer husband? An' got any idee whar he is?"

"He _is_ a big man," replied the woman, "and he goes by the name of
Marksey in these parts; and you'll find him at the Widow Beckel's,
across the creek. Kill _her_ if you like--I hope _somebody_ will. But
Johnny--Johnny has got the loveliest brown eyes, and the sweetest mouth
that was ever made, and--"

"Reckon I'll judge fur myself," interrupted Jude, starting off toward
the creek, and followed by the woman. "I know whar Wider Beckel's is,
an'--an' I've done enough stealin', I guess, to be able to grab a little
boy without gittin' ketched. Spanish Crick's purty deep along here, an'
the current runs heavy, but--"

The remainder of Jude's sentence was left unspoken, for just then he
stepped into the creek, and the chill of the snow-fed stream caused him
to hold his breath.

"Remember you aint to hurt _him_!" screamed the woman; "nor her,
neither--God forgive me. But bring Johnny--bring Johnny, and God be with
you."

The woman stood with clasped hands watching Jude until he reached the
opposite bank, shook himself, and disappeared, and then she leaned
against a tree and trembled and cried until she was startled by hearing
some one say:

"Beg pardon, madame, but have you seen any one pass?"

The woman raised her head, and saw a respectable, severe looking man, in
clothing rather neater than was common along Spanish Creek.

"Only one," she replied, "and he's the best man livin'. He's gone to get
Johnny--he won't be gone long."

"Your husband, ma'am?"

"'Oh, no, sir; I never saw him before."

"One eye gone; broken nose; scar on right cheek; powder-marks on left--"

"Yes, sir, that's the man," said the wondering woman.

"Perhaps you may not have seen this?" said the man handing her one of
the posters describing Jude.

Then he uttered a