New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-02-03
until Jim comes, suggested Mrs. Hos

comments or company. [ shall just
stop under the porch till the train
comes, and then I can hand Jim the
lunch-pail and slip away before any one
notices me. y
''Maybe that would be best, assented
Mrs. Hosmer, who knew how disagree
able the attentions of the sandy-haired
young station agent were to her adopted
daughter. ..But, Milly, do be careful
and take care of yourself. If anything
should happen to you I should never
forgive myself-never! In fact, have
half mind not to let you 60, after all. y
s:What! with this for company" said
Milly gayly showing the revolver clutch
ed tightly under her waterproof; "what
a foolish mamma! Now, good-by! I
shall be back before you know it," And
with kiss, Alilly disappeared in the
drizzle with a skip, and a good little
laugh, as soon as she was out Of sight,
at the thought of seeing Jim.
Arriving at her destination, she soft
ly crept up into the shelter Of deep
doorway and looked down the track,
where she expected even now to see the
distant light of Jim's engine. But not
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-place, ''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
stone-and I, 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.
s:Don't turn cussed fool now,' ex-
claimed a gruf voice in hoarse under
tone. 'It's a little late to turn soft
hearted just when the game is ours; and
l amt no hand to put up with no nom
sense, you know that, Bill"
Il don't mean nothing only if I was
sure there wouldn't be no women
and little children-especially little chill
dren-eyer since little Tillic died.
''Now bottle that" angrily interrupt
ed the other with fierce oath. eff I'd
supposed you'd ever turn out such
chicken-livered coward, I'd seen you
starve before I'd have you taken into
this. But it is too late now; there is
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 pull at the flask, and
I'll be right l never desert friend,
you know that, old fellow
''All right them" said the other, now
notified; :'let's go to work. Mike is at
his post, is he??"
eyes, jest the other side of the build
ing. II 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 go 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-knell: "Sure there is not
much time to spare. OF course they
knew nothing of Jim's train, that would,
within a few minutes, come rushing into
the death-trap they we're 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 it 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 for
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 of
human life. Only at Jim's lastvisit she
had walked with him to this very spot.
Now, as she approached, she heard a
heavy, grinding sound and the subdued,
painting ordinations of the men as they