Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-03-18

distant light of Jim's engine. But nos
the faintest CLEAN was visible. Sur
prised, she crept along and peered in at
the clock through the station window.
The hands pointed to half past nine.
THAT stupid old clock!' she exclaim.
ed petulantly, as she slipped back to
her hiding-placc, 'we might have
known it would be too fast or too slow;
it never is right, except by accident.
Now Jim's coffee will be as cold as a
stone-and /, too, for that matter" she
added shivering and drawing closer in
to the corner out of the wind.
But the next moment the sound of
low voices almost at her side sent her
heart into her throat, and at the next
bound her blood flew through her veins
like fire.
Don't turn cussed fool now" ex-
claimed gruff voice in hoarsc under
tone. .It's little late to turn soft
hearted just when the game is ours; and
amt no hand to put up with no non
sense, you know that, Bill"
Il don't mean nothing-only if was
sure there wouldn't be no women
and little chidren-esp especially little chill
dren-ever since little Tillie died"
Now bottle that" angrily interrupt
ed the other with fierce oath. "lf I'd
supposed you'd ever turn out such a
chicken-hvered coward, I'd seen you
starve before I'd have you taken into
this. But it is too late now; there is a
cool fifty thousand on that express
train tonight, and I'll have it or die.
You do your part and share the plumber,
or you back down and I'll put an end to
you. But you shan't stop me-Pll see
to that, Bill"
Jest give me a pull at the flask, and
I'll be right. | never desert friend,
you know that, old fellow"
."All right them" said the other, now
Modified; "let's go to work. Mike is at
his post, is hep"
YES, jest the other side of the build
ing. If that station chap sets foot out
side before we've had time to finish our
work, Mike will send bullet into that
sorrel-top of his before you could wink.
He will meet us at the old oak ten min
utes after the train is due, and Wen be
Off Now let's 90 up to the cut and get
them rocks down into the track mighty
lively. There amt much time to
spare.
As they noiselessly moved away, the
mans last whisper rang in Milly's ears
like death-kncll Sure there is not
much time to spare Of course they
knew nothing of Jim's train, that would,
within few minutes, come rushing into
the dcath-trap they were to set And
she could give no alarm. The express
never did more than slightly slack its
speed to drop some packages on the
platform; no one was at the station ex-
cept the sleepy agent, all unconscious of
the terrible guard that stood beside
him; long before she could get to the
nearest neighbor there K would be too
late-all these thoughts rushed like
lightning through her distracted brain.
There was no one to know or to aid but
God and herself. She lifted her eyes to
the starless skies in mute appeal, then
turned and sped like deer through the
darkness toward the spot chosen fol
this dreadful deed. Well it was that
she knew, as by instict, every step Of
this ground, even the very rocks piled
on the edge of the rocky gorge, that
now were meant for the crushing out o.
human life. Only at Jim's last visit She
had walked with him to this very spot
Now, as she approached, she heard ;
heavy. grinding sound and the subdued
, painting eXclamations of the men as they
strove to move the heavy stones from
their beds.
''By the eternal! there she comes
they've changed the time. Quick, now
,, with this biggest one!'
Poor Mlly! she knew what light wa
drawing so fearfully near Not tn
express, but the engine of tn
man she loved better than he
= own life. She drew near to the pant
ing, cursing men, till she felt as if the
could hear her heart beat; then, as the
= cried, Now over with it ~ she breath
:, ed, "Oh, Jim my darling my darling!
and fired two swift shots at the men be
, fore her.
= A groan and cry of rage told he
that she had not failed in her aim. Th
train passing swiftly by below her, al
:. sured her that her lover was safe; the
:. she sank down in little quivering hea
y in the darkness. Nothing mattere
- now Those dreadful wretches migl
. find and tear her to atoms now if nee
y. be; she had saved the man she love,
>, and that was enough.
- But in moment or two she rallie'
\ as the cool rain beat upon her face, an
- rose softly to her feet, She must 81
him now at all hazards; she must 81
and tell HIM all. or she could not liv
- She flew over the ground like ms
- creature. Nothing held her flight uni
- she reached the train, where Jm's ia,
81 shone upon her from the engine ca
- and she fell with speechless gasp b
side it In moment she was in Jim
-. arms, some one brought brandy al
d dropped it upon her cold lips, and aft
awhile she heard Jim's tender words
-. he held and kissed her, and then 81
~ sat up, pale and trembling, to tell h
=, story.
~ But the express stopped that nigh
90 and when it went on, it bore with it t
- two wretches who had sought to dc
a. troy it with its precious freight of lii
Wv and left a heavy purse for brave Mill
-, contribution from the grateful passe
ga gers whose lives she had saved
80 On going to the top of the cut, t
men had been found pinioned by t
rock that they had partly lifted to HI
49,. upon the track below. Milly's bull
80 had gone through the arm of the o
called bill" As his hold relaxed, t
w. heavy rock rolled back upon their lie!
H. holding them both prisoners. The