St. Paul daily globe., 1888-04-15
HANDSOME JIM.

edged to be the prettiest girl in the
town of Digby. Her life had been sad
dened by painful incident, as her ia
vorite brother, Harry, had been MUIR
dered by his business partner some
years before and the latter then ran
away with all their savings.
pPolly had many suitors, and the one
she favored in particular was well-to-
do-young grocer, Harry FentOn by
name, but they often had little quarrels
because she showed attention to a
stranger in the village who went by the
name of Handsome JIM"
II believe you want to throw me over
for Jim," said Harry to her one night.
''You know nothing about his past. He
may be villain of the worst type"
''Hushr' she said little harshly,
s'You don't know what you are talking
about" trembling and clutching his
arm.
81 am going to sell out my business
and move away" he said bitterly. sit
is plain we can never be as we were
once to each other"
''Do nothing hastily" she said, s'or
you might regret it. Good night"
Will VAIN OQCh NlUu Ous
''No, please don't. l want to have a
few minutes to myself"
''As you prefer" he retorted, leaving
her in fit of sullen rage.
The next night at 10 o'clock carriage
left Digby. 1t was drawn by two horses,
and there was driver outside. Within,
a lamp swung from the top, throwing
pale light on two occupants. One was
''Halrlsome Jim." and look of eXulta-
ton beamed from his face. Opposite
him sat Polly Bender, whose eyes were
bright with excitement. The two were
converSing in animated style and laugh
ing merrily.
"To-morrow we will be at the par
sons, and the knot will be tied" said
"Handsome Jim.' Il have got the
bishops license. Won't you give me one
kiss. Polly?o
''Not until we are married." replied
Polly, decidedly.
When within mile of the end of their
journey Polly said, ''The lamp needs
trimming, jim. Take hold of the bot
tom with one hand and turn up the light
with the other" Jim obeyed and reached
above his head, thus bringing both
hands near together. He did not notice
a certain eager look in POlly'S eyes, nor
wraps.
But the next instant he experienced a
shock of surprise. He felt cold steel on
his wrists and heard two sharp clicks.
He had been handcuffed SO quickly that
he hardly realized what had happened.
''Sit down, Jim?"
The words came from Polly, but her
voice was cold. hard and stern. He
ObeVed mechanically
''What's all this? What do you mean?"
he exclaimed, and perceived immedi-
ately afterward that Polly was seated
opposite him, with revolver in her
hand.
Don't move." said Polly. quietly, but
with look of cool determination, while
her eyes were fixed steadily on his.
"You know very well that | can handle
pistol, and you see that have you in
my power. shan't kill you, but if you
make the slightest disturbance L shall
shatter both of your arms and put bull
let holes in your legs. / mean exactly
what | say, and want you to listen to
me-"
He starred at her in dull amazement.
Her eyes did not for a moment relax
their steadfaSt gaze.
''ls this joke, Polly?"
Ou OOOiI JtttSOs lOi VIII
speak briefly. To begin with, my name
is not Polly Bender, but Polly Shattuck.
All! that name seems to touch you. My
mother married second time, and peO-
pie got to calling me by her new name.
once had brother named Harry Shat
tuck, and he had partner named-well,
never mind his name now. That part
ner murdered and robbed my brother
one night. Poor boy! he lived only a
few hours, but that was long enough to
tell me all about it. What makes you
vince so, Handsome Jim" You mus
bo frightened, for you have no con-
science. Take care! don't movew
The revolver still covered him. The
carriage rumbled steadily along toward
the rectory.
'sYou are the man that killed my
brother! | know il by the scar ON your
neck and the tattooed anchor on your
breast, which l saw one day when the
wind blew your hunting shirt open.
watched you and laid my plans. Do
you think would let you escape? Oh,
nor'
Handsome Jim still stared at her in a
daZed manner.
An hour later Handsome Jim" was
secure in prison. He turned out to be a
noted desperate.
Polly was driven home again, and
there she broke down. Her nervous
force had exhausted itself, and it was a
week before she recovered.
Meantime it became known through
out Digby how she had captured her
brothers. murderer and taken him. to
prison, and she was the heroine of that
day.
And Harry Fenton, when he next met
her, was satisfied with her greeting.
But even after they were married she
would not speak of 'HandsOme Jim,"
and made no comment when it was an
nonnced one day that he had been shot
dead while attempting to escape from
the prison.