Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-02-29
LINTOWN. FEBRUA

his arms seemed to be petri6ed, his
legs chained.
full attempt, and managed to make a
despairing gesture,
Then there was woman's shrek OF:
Luke, Luke, my brotherl IL you can
not come down to me, | shall 60 up to
you. We will at least die togetherl''
and Madge's foot was upon the first
rung OF the ascent.
She was snatched away by the man
with the wet handkerchief over his
face.
He gave her one look from his in
domitable eyes, thrust her in the arms
OF one OF his assistants, and was then
seen, in spite of his powerful and
heavy frame, shining up the ladder
with the agility OF a squirrel.
''It's Springfield" shouted a chorus
of voices; "Springsteel risking his life
for the only man who ever insulted HIM
and livedl Hurrah for Springsteel
Grant," And the cheers were roared
out again and again.
Luke BALDWIN had also recognized
him from the first. His rescuer had
sped up through the flame tongues
vomiting from the intervening stories,
apparently without a singing, and was
now on the next TO the topmost round,
just beyond the window ledge.
"Can you come out 10 me7" lie
called hoarsley.
Luke shook his head.
81 know il looks babyish," he
gasped, but L positively can't. Per-
haps it's the smoke / have swallowed.
perhaps it's the heat, but l feel myself
paralyzed."
Without another word, the rescuer
bounded into the room.
The photograph caught his eye, and
his first movement was to slip II into
his pocket.
'Here. you'll grip your hands under
my chin,' he exclaimed, harshly,
''Therel" and with STOPPING wrench
he had the young mans inert body
glued to his own broad back. Freeze
where you are now, or We are both
goners-
4 fresh, roaring cheer greeted his
temperance upon the ladder, hands
and feet foremost to the rungs, and
with Luxe Baldwin sagging between
his shoulders like bag of meal.
In three minutes thereafter Luke
was in his sisters arms, ladder and
facade mad fallen IN together amid the
lgrid emptiness of the fire gutbed hotel,
and Springfield had mixed with the
crowd, after unceremoniously wrench
ing his hand from the grateful young
woman's soft palmed grasp.
At evening of that day Luke sat up,
greatly restored, but still weak lunged
and suffering, in the hospitable bed of
an adjoining hotel, to which sympa-
thizing acquaintances had assisted his
sister in covering him.
Madge was sitting at his side.
Many condolences had been exchanged
between them before he had been doc
tored into the insenslbility from which
he now awoke refreshed, and her beau
tiful face lighted up at the change.
'Ah, you are much better"
"Yes, Madge, God be praised!'
al am glad of that"
''Of course you are, you dear, darl-
ing old girl! though 1 had close call
the closest, save one-that 1 ever
had, or may ever have again"
81 am glad not only for ourselves.
Luke, but-for something else.''
What Is that?''
1.-The brave man who rescued you;
he is coming here to see you"
''Ohpr And Luke moved a little
uneasily.
Yes; In answer to my earnest in
quiries and persistent messages, he at
last sent word that he would come.
He ought to be here now"
Her brother made no answer.
"what did you say his name was,
Luke?"
''Springsteel. We used to be pards
up at the Scorpion, but we've re-
Gently had IA cOOlnesS,n
"Ahl so much more noble his devo-
tion in your hour OF need, then"
Yes, I should rather say So"
'Springsteell Yes. that was the
name so many shouted out as he was
running up the ladder. What an odd
name. and a real pretty and manfully
significant one; tool"
"Well-er-it's only a nickname,
you know"
"But didn't know. A nicknameP"
rYes; most old timers have 'em
hereabouts- 1 suppose he got his from
-from-well, you see, though Spring
steel is strictly square, and has made
his little pile honestly and by dogged
hard work, he's also been "a sort of
desperate character. you might say"
"Oh, dearl"
.'Oh, mind you, Madge, don't mean
ANY lu4le CIAu1lud4s duy thluS NACAOuos
you understand, though he may have
stocked a private graveyard of his own,
but only-only he's been in tough
places, and no man ever got the drop
on him yet. Oh you understand"
"Only too well. Pm afraid" With
a little sigh. "How unfortunatel But
what Is his real name?"
Before Luke could answer there was
a knock at the door, and the man they
were talking about stood before them.
Madge had shrunk back, with her
face the hue of death, and then she
took step forward, her trembling
hands extended, amaZement in her
eyes, a brilliant color surging in her
face.
''Grant-Grant Battersbyr' she ex-
claimed.
He bowed with rather poor attempt
at GOODNESS.
"Madse,, he began. IL recog-
nized you this morning. But before
that had known you were Luke's sis
ter, through a mere accident-th's
picture" He produced the one snatched
| from the blazing room, together with
another, much worn, as though by
long treasuring. representing her also,
/ but at least ten years younger. May
be you would like to compare the two,
/ Madge."
How young was then; how 1 have
| changed" she murmured, hardly glanc-
| ing at the photos.
"You are more beautiful than everl''
he burst out, and then checked himself.
"Aytby the way, you were Madge
Barkmore then"
mo; went by the name Of a capri
cious old aunt, who was bringing me
up, or rather out, while my brother
here, a little boy then, had a home
! with his uncle, our dead fathers
brother"
s.Ahl then you-you never married
that spruce lawyer, MiRgles, Mrs.
| barkmore (somehow 1 always took her