, 1884-01-24

DtllHninR DeJWeth MS teeth w ell,
u amt much mattahP Mastering all his
dow below that from which Jim had just
emerged. The crowd, occupied with the
helpless rescued, had not observed him be-
fore. They shouted at him as one man; %Get
down, it's too later %You're crazy, you
-" yelled Jim, with an oath.
"Never you min" Demming answered
coolly. u know what I'm bout, / reckon"
He had taken his revolver from his breast,
and was searching through his pockets. He
soon pulled out what he sought, merely a
piece Of stout Irvine; and the crowd saw him,
sitting astride the trucks, while he tied the
string about the handle of the weapon Then
be leaned over the prison walls, and looked
down upon the Bishop. Under the mass of
wood and iron the Bishop lay, unhnrt but
securely imprisoned; yet he had never ad-
vanced to the chAncel rails with a calmer
face than that he lifted TO his frispd.
4Demming." he cried, 4you heU Go back,
! tnplore you'll You can't save me-"
81 know tibet, Bishop" groaned the cracker.
Il amt tryin' ter. But l cyan't let you roast
In this yere d. barbecuel Look a yerel"
He lowered the revolver through the window.
-Thar's a pisti, am wen tn fire cotches onter
you an 20 gwine sunhis shootin', then put 1t
ter yo' head an pull the trigger, an yo'l be
outen it allln
The Bishops firm pale face grew paler ns
no answered: "Don't tempt me. Demmingl
Whatever God sends / must bear. / can't do
it" Demming paused. He looked steadily
at the Bishop for a second; then he raised the
revolver, with a little CULVER of his mouth.
And go away, for Gods sake, my poor
friendf Bear my love to my dear. dear
daughter; tell her that she has always
been a blessing and "A joy to me. And
remember what L have said to you,
yourself. 1t will be worth dying for
If you will do that it will, indeed. 1t is only
a short pain, and then heaveni Now go,
Demming. God bless and keep you. Cor
But Demming did not move. "Don' yoa
want ter say a prayer Bishopf7 he said in a
coaxing tone-"jes a little mite o. one fur
you and mel Ye dom need ter min bout
sayin' L loud. I'll unnerstan' tn intention,
an feel jes so edited L will, fur a fac"
AGO, first, Demming. l am afraid for youfr
@Pm a-gwine, Bishop" said Demming, in
the same soft, coaxing tone. "Don' min me.
Pm all right" He crouched down lower, so
that the Bishop could not see him, and the
group below saw him rest the muzzle of the
pistol on the window sill and take aim.
A gasp ran through the crowd-that
catching of the breath in which over-taxed
feeling relieves itself. ale s dom the las
kindness hs can to him, " said the brakeman
to the conductor, "and by the Lord, he's Civ
his own life to do itI'
The flames had pierced the roof, and
Streamed up to the sky. Through the sick
ening, dull roar they heard the Bishops
voice again:
"Demming, are you goneP
The cracker struck "a loose piece Of wood,
and sent it Gathering down. ayes, Bishop,
that wuE me. I'm safe on tn groun'. Good.
by, Bishop. do feel 'bleeged ter you; an.
Bishop, them chickens wuz the fust
time. They wuz, ON my honah. Now,
Bishop, shet yo' eyes an pray, fur it's a
comin'r"
The Bishop prayed. They could not hear
what he said, below. No one heard save the
uncouth being who chung to the window, re.
volyer in hand, steadily dying the creeping
red death. But they knew that, out of sight
u man who had smiled on them full of life
and hope but an hour ago, was facing such
torture as had tried the martyrs, courage. and
facing it with as high a faith.
With one accord men and women bent
their heads. Jim, the brakeman, also re
manned standing, his form erect, his eve.
fixed on the two lines that made an angle
away in the horizon. Come on" he yelled
leaping wildly into the air. "Fo' the Lords
sake, hurry D HIN, ba. he's the balii
est runner"
Then they all saw a man flying down the
track, AK in hand. He ran up to the ca,
side. He began to climb. A dozen handi
caught him. you're a dead man il you get
in therern was the cry. Don't you see til
all afireT'
"Try it from the outside, Coloneli" SAID
the conductor.
Don't you see l haven't timei" cried Tai
boys. Hell be dead before we can get t.
lii o4--I L-
ready to pull us both outl"
The steady tones and Talboys' business-like
air had an instantaneous effect. The crowd
were willing enough to be led they fell back,
and Talboys dropped through the window.
To those outside the whole car seemed in a
blaze, and over them the smoke hung like a
pail; but through the cracking and roaring
and the crash of falling timber came the clear
ring of az blows, and Talboys' voice shouting
Il say, my man, don't lose hearth We're
bound to get outi'
"Lordy, he don't know who It's, said Dem,
ming. Nobody could see through that thar
smokel'
All at once tho uninjured side of the car
gave way beneath the flames, falling in with
an immense crash The flame leaped into the
air.
They're gomez" cried the conductor.
mo, they're noti" yelled Demming. aHe's
got him, safe an soun'i' And as he spoke,
scorched and covered with dust, bleeding from
a cut on his cheek, but holding the Bishop in
his arms, Talboys appeared at the window.
Jim snatched the Bishop, the conductor helped
out Talboys, and half a dozen hands laid
hold OF Demming. He heard the wild cheer
that greeted them; he heard another cheer
for the men with the water, just in sight;
but he heard no more, for as they pulled him
l,.,-, .. Iauau G.-,. .t..-. 49, -
at his leg and he fainted dead away.
.
The Bishops daughter sat in her room
making a very pretty picture, with her white
hands clasped on her knee and Ter soft eyes
uplifted. They looked sad enough to please a
pre-Raphaelite of sentiment. Yet her father,
whom this morning she would nave declared
she loved better than any one in the world
had just been saved from a frightful death.
She knew the story of his deliver
ance. At last she felt that most
unexpected thrill of admiration for Tai
boys; but Talboys had vanished. He was
gone, it was all ended, and she owned to her
self that she was wretched. Her father was
with Demming and the doctors. The poor
vagabond must hobble through lifo on one
leg henceforward. III he lived" the doctor
had said, making even his existence as a Grip
pie problematic. Poor Denming, who had
flung away his life to save her father from
suffering-a needless, useless sacrifice, as ii
proved, but touching Louise the more because
Of its very ~failurel
At this stage in her thoughts, she heard
Sam, the waiter, knocking softly, outside.
Her first question WAS about Deulming. aThe
operations oyah, miss, an Mr.. Demming he's
sinkin'," answered Sam, giving the sick man
q title he had never accorded him before, IAN
he axes If you'd be so kim s to stop In an
speak TO him; he's powerful anxious to see
you"
Silently Louise rose and follow Vi the