Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-12-05
this poison It's enough to kill dog.
such stuff az that. ;,

ke~sWSss
such stuff as that. .
Wolf glanced at his companion and
growled something under his breath.
but at the same time rose sullenly tc
his feet, crossed the narrow room with
slightly unsteady steps, and opening a
door, passed into another apartment.
For moment after being thus left
alone Talcott sat silently contemplating
the puffs OF blue tobacco smoke which
We're circling above his head, then he
suddenly started and called out, sus-
piciously:
who are you talking with, out
there?''
Volts thick voice answered back,
grufly:
Its nobody but my gal-don't be
afraid"
Talcott laughed.
''Your grill" sneeringly. ''Come
now, that's good joke, that is. You
don't mean to say that you've got q
girl, do you? Trot her out, old man,
and let me have a look at her-may be
I'm looking for wite-who knows?"
A little noise followed this speech,
from the next room-the noise of
voices, one pleading. the other brutal
''She won't come" Wolf reported,
finally. -....
"Oh, yes. she will, if you make her."
the other returned. ooarsely, elevating
his feet on the table. "Come now, trot
her out, say"
The next moment Barbara, closely
followed by Wolf, entered the room.
The girl advanced a few steps with all
the true dignity of q queen, her dark
eyes blazing into Talcott's face and her
cheeks red with indignation.
The man looked at her in astonish-
ment, and then brought his fist. down
on the table with blow that made the
glasses jump.
! by thunder! old man, admire your
taste," he cried out, and rose to his
feet. '.Now, you must give me kiss,
my dear"
If eyes could kill. the look in hers
would have killed him then and there.
''You had better leave me alone, !"
she said, quietly enough; but some
thing in the low, clear words made the
man stop and look at her.
! 'Got a temper of your own, have
you," he sneered. ''Well, so have I,
and I intend to kiss those red lips of
yours, my lady"
He sprang forward as he spoke to
clasp his prize: but quick as fash
the girl struck him in the face, cut
ting, singing blow that blinded him
for moment Then Wolf gripped her
by the shoulder and swung her against
the table.
Treat my friends in that way, will
ye!'' he yelled savagely, and lifted his
/ great fist to strike her down. I could
stand it no longer. With a crash
broke through the window and landed
on the floor beside him. Out went my
left arm with all the power I could
throw into it, and old Wolf went reel
| ing back against the wall.
! Talcott made one hasty step forward,
crouching as if to spring, then turned
white before the polished tube of my
| leveled revolver, and sank back into
| his chair again.
Caught in trap!'' he gasped.
"Yes, caught fast enough!"-with
! one arm thrown about the trembling
girl. ''Now, put up your hands, Tai
| colt, my boy;' and the counterfeiter
made haste to obey. I turned a little.
Wolf" I said, calmly, Il see some
! pieces of rope over in that corner
take them and bind your friends
hands; and be lively about it, too, for
might get excited and hurt some
one"
In another moment Talcott was Sc
cure, and then performed the same
service for Wolf.
Barbara" whispered, as we sat
there guarding our captives until
morning, this will leave you without
a home-may make one for you?''
She looked up into my earnest face
with her clear, truthful eyes, forget
ting the strange position, forgetting
every thing else, and answered:
Fred. love you-only let me
make myself ready for that home"
'.Ready-what do you mean?"
She looked down, with red cheeks.
Il know so little. I've had such q
poor chance. want to go somewhere
to learn, first"
understood, and honored her for it. -
Barbara. when this term is done I
shall go West-go there to make a
home for you. 1t may be year be-
fore all is prepared, it may be more,
but when come back for you. will you
be ready2"
The Oil lamp flickered. and its light
played in her soft hair as the wind
swept in at the broken window. Then
she lifted her honest, LOVING eyes to
mine. l felt the pressure OF her little
hand, and heard her lips say, simply:
Yes, Fred, with Gods help, will. !"
And I have never doubted. Why
should I?''-Brandt Knor, in Leslie's
Illustrated. ~-.