The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-24
neatly twisted up under herhat. Shak-

.Give me the notes, grandfather"
He took the big roll from his wallet,
and looked on in mute admiration
while Nettie twisted it into her hair,
pinning and patting the enlarged coil
until it was in order, and finally
perched the dainty hat over all.
Don't worry about me-" she said,
kissing the old man tenderly. Then
after moments hesitation, she said
very. very gravely:
Grandfather, ouwill keep a secret
if / tell you one?"
"Yes, dear
"Then, while you are grateful that
YOU are not exposed to robbery, and
| perhaps murder, thank heaven, too, for
my escape. One of these men is Frank
Mitchell"
She kissed him and was gone before
| he had sufficiently recovered from his
amazement to answer her.
She moved rapidly, hoping to pass
| Higgins barn too quickly to be stopped.
rs dusk was gathering. But three men
stood across the road. and the horse
stopped. The men were all masked,
but Nettic knew well that it was her
lover who grasped the horse by the
bride and ordered her grandfather to
alight.
1t was hard task to laugh, but
Nettie was brave in the face of the
actual peril. With n light laugh, she
said:
II am not Mr.. Snow. Don't YOU
know girl from an old man?"
This is Mr.. Shows buggy" crowled
| one of the men.
"Well, hasn't he right to lend it to
his granddaughter to go home IMP" re-
torted Nettie.
"Ain't he going over to Mitchell's?"
asked the growing voice.
No. Oh!'' as il the idea had sud-
denly occurred to her-"Oh, you wicked
men! You thought grandfather was
taking money to Mr.. Mitchell's. Oh,
I'm so glad! He met Wilson in town,
and he has sent Mr. Mitchell the
rents
The fierceness of the oath that met
this statement made Nellie's heart sink.
But she sat erect and watched the
hand that held her horse. In the first
surprise the man turned to his COM
panions, and Nettic, gathering the
reins firmly in her left hand, suddenly
brought the whiplash with all the force
of her young arm across the hand she
was watching. Involuntarily it loos-
ened its grasp, while the horses, start
led by the same blow, dashed ahead
with speed that threatened new dan
ger. for the dusk was gathering.
Nettie saw Harry Lane at the cross
roads, patiently waiting, but was COM
fal 80. Cal L.
a nod of recognition. Before she
reached her destination she had full
control of the horse again, but it was
| n very pale face that confronted the
fatherly old man that received her.
With low, faltering voice she told
her story, unbound her hair and deliv-
/ cred the money.
But instead of counting it, Mr..
Mitchell tossed it down, and asked:
"Nettie, did you recognize the men?n
Only one of them
"And that one-who was hep
"Oh, don't ask me, Oh, Mr. Mitch
ell, don't, don't ask mel"
And then, thoroughly unnerved at
last, Nettie broke into passion of
sobs. She turned to the door, her
hair all streaming about her shoul-
ders, but Mr.. Mitchell put his hand on
her arm and gently detained her.
You must tell me! Is it for my sake
you are silent? Would he-he-the
man-rob me? Nettie, you must speak.
Was it my son?n
Her face answered him, for she could
not speak. With shaking limbs she
left the house and drove home. What
spirit of bravado tempted Frank Mitch
ell to be there, waiting for her, she
could not tell, but he was in the sit
ting-room chatting with her mother as
she entered. Weary as she was, the
| sight reused all Nettie's spirit, and in
answer to her mothers question. "Why,
Nette, did you drive home?" she told
her story in every detail, except her re-
| cognition of the man who listened
Then saying:
Il must 20 and put up my hair" she
turned to leave the room again. Stop
| ping as she passed her visitor. she
said, in low voice only heard by him
self:
"You'are wise TO wear yo"r gloves
until the mark If my whiplasl is gone
from your hand.
Folks said they ''reckoned young
Mitchell was j..;ed by Nellie Wilder
fore he left Corerdale and went off to
York to live: but, after all. she'd got
good husband, ior everybody knew
Harry Lane had just loved the ground
she walked on ever since he was mite
of boy And Harry Lane wonders
why Nettie has a grave face for mo-
ment when she sees the first October
pippins or any of Higgins yellow pears.
Minneapolis Journat.
A Rash Prediction Fulfilled.