The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-02-04

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-
cd petulantly, as she slipped back to
her hiding-place, 1--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 l, 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 few through her veins
like fire.
Don't turn cussed fool now" ex-
claimed gruff voice in hoarse under
tone. ''It's a 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"
II don't mean nothing-only if was
sure there wouldn't be no women
and little children-especially little chill
dren-ever since little Tilie died"
'Now bottle that" angrily interrupt
ed the other with fierce oath. IF 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 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 pull at the flask, and
I'll be right I never desert a friend,
you know that, old fellow"
"Al right them" said the other, now
Modified; ''let's 60 to work. Mike is at
his post, is he?"
Eyes, 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 we'll be
of. Now let's 60 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 train, that would,
within few minutes, come rushing into
the death-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 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 last visit she
had walked with him to this very spot.
Now, as she approached, she heard a
heavy, grinding sound and the subdued,
painting EXPLANATIONS 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 Milly! she knew what light was
drawing SO fearfully near. Not the
express, but the engine of the
man she loved better than her
own life. She drew near to the pant
ing, cursing men, till she felt as if they
could hear her heart beat; then, as they
cried, Nov 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 her
that she had not failed in her aim. The
train passing swiftly by below her, as
sured her that her lover was safe; then
she sank down in little quivering heap
in the darkness. Nothing mattered
now. Those dreadful wretches might
find and tear her to atoms now if need
be; she had saved the man she loved,
and that was enough.
But in a moment or two she rallied,
as the cool rain beat upon her face, and
rose softly to her feet. She must see
him now at all hazards; she must sec
and tell HIM all, or she could not live.
She flew over the ground like mad
creature. Nothing held her fight until
she reached the train, where Jim's face
shone upon her from the engine cab,
and she fell with speechless gasp be-
side it. In moment she was in Jim's
arms, some one brought brandy and
dropped it upon her cold lips, and after
awhile she heard Jim's tender words as
he held and kissed her, and then she
sat up, pale and trembling, to tell hel
story.
But the express stopped that night
and when it went on, it bore with it the
two wretches who had sought to des
troy it with it's precious freight of life
and left heavy purse for brave Milly
contribution from the grateful passen'
gers whose lives she had saved.