Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-07

carelessly thrown on q chair attracted
her eye. She picked it up half absently,
and, with glance ut the keen edge,
slipped the handle under her belt.
! "What are you going to do with
| that Mr.. Client asked, as she con-
| cealed it beneath her sacque.
| 81 don't know" she laughed. sit
had friendly look, and I was seized
with an irresistible impulse to take pos
session of it, without any actual reason
for doing so. Somehow it is in high
| favor with me-"
"You are brave girl, Bess."
"And have a right to be-" was the
| proud reioinder. My grandfather was
| brave soldier, and you are brave
| civilian, or you would never be here"
The morning was deliciously balmy
one, and Bessie drove fearlessly on, en-
ioying the wild scenery about her,
| though eye and ear were ever on the
| alert for possible dangers. The quick
| trot, which had scarcely been broken
| from the moment of starting, soon
brought her to the widest part of her
journey, midway between Wildlands
| and Bolton.
Immense forest trees on either side the
| narrow road, with irregular massive
| piles of frowning rocks, gave somber
look to the spot, which rendered it pecul-
iarly adapted to the marauding villains
purpose She had just penetrated its
deepest shadows, when her quick, watch
full eye caught sight, for moment, of
some stealthily moving object a short
distance ahead, whether man or beast
she could not decide.
"No, will not fire even if I should
be assaulted, she hastily thought, with
drawing her hand from the pistol she
had involuntarily grasped. cit might
invite worse
And with beating heart she slipped
the Ratchet from belt to knee. She was
none too quick. The next instant
masked man darted from behind the
rocks and seized the horses head. I'm
used to such rough treatment, the high
spirited brute plunged so violently as to
shake off the villains grasp. But, moth
ing daunted, he caught the shaft, and,
in spite of the speed at which the ami
NAL started forward, he succeeded, with
the ease and dexterity of one skilled in
feats OF that kind, in Selling the dash
board with one hand and the body Of
the wagon just below with the other
hand. But at the very moment he was
IN the act of springing up the little
hatchet's cleaning edge smote, just at
the wrist, the hand near her foot; and,
with a groan, he sprang or fell back
ward, leaving on the wagon floor
CHASTITY proof Of the attack in a bleed
ing hand.
Il all passed like q dream, and, half
unconscious of the shocking reality,
Bessie drove for time wildly and IN
thinkingly on. But before Bolton was
entered her mind had regained its usual
activity. Checking the horses mad
career, she suddenly bent down and
wrapped the CHASTITY object at her feet
IN couple Of newspapers, fortunately
found under the cushions. Then eras-
ing, as well as she could, all evidences
OF her adventure, she proceeded toward
Bolton, and, in short time, was quietly,
though with pallid cheek, transacting the
business calling her there. That done,
she asked for one of the gentlemen to
whom she was well known and related
her story.
81 firmly believe the letter was de-
coy" she concluded, "and also that the
whole was the work Of one individual
Undoubtedly, and that individual
was no rough, you may rest assured, "
returned the gentleman.
"Still," said Bessie. 81 shall act with
all my intended caution, as we may be
mistaken"
"You surely will not venture to re-
turn alone to Wildlands?'
Certainly. My late assa1lant will
have full enough to do to look after his
wound, and I have little fears of any
other, as the road is not infested by
highwaymen."
The conference continued few mo-
ments longer, and then the matter was
carried to the authorities. A plaster
cast of the fair, muscular hand, which it
was plainly evident had never graced the
person of rough, was quickly taken,
| and the agent soon at his secret work.
Not many hours later Mr.. Client was
lifting Bessie and her well-flled basket
from the wagon.
81 made the purchases, considering
it safer to do so" she remarked but
I suspect time will prove me to have
been needlessly cautious. And she
briefly detailed the events Of the morn
| ing.
"And what of thereturn journey ?" he
anxiously asked-a deeper shadow on his
face than Bessie thought the occurrence
warranted.
81 met with nothing to alarm-not a
trace of the villain remained"
AS Bessie expected, undisturrbed quiet
roigned night after night.
But one day the little, keen-eyed
agent made his appearance at Wild
lands, and asked for Mr.. Client. He
seemed uneasy, and made his business
known as quickly as possibly.
We have found our man. SIR" he
said, abruptly. "Plenty of mother wit
in him, too, or he would not have eluded
us SO long. But he got pretty low
down, and ventured back to our place,
and last night at play got into diff
| Guilty which ended in bad wound. He
is dying now, sir, and wants to see
YOU
"Who is hep" Mr.. Client asked, with
q certain grave anxiety.
eff you will excuse me, sir, he begged
me to bring you without telling his
NAME" the agent returned uneasily.