Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-20


and pointed the way to the spring. She had no
more than disappeared, and he had turned 10
60 back to May, when Tom confronted him.
10 l thought you had been bought OLA
great deal further off than this, he said to the
vagabond.
Tom grinned like the snarl of dog, and at
the same instant of Victor's fixed attention In
'front.' Jim skunk up behind, reached over his
head with twisted strip of rag, and drew it
forcibly into his mouth as gag. The two
assailants bore him down, and there he lay on
his back, helpless and speechless. Perfectly
clear in mind, however, in spite of the unex.
pectedness of the attack, he bethought himself
to lie quiet for moment, and then try to sur
prise the scoundrels by sudden struggle. The
ruse part of the plan was successful.
Hold him down, Tom" whispered Jim,
''and keep the gag in, while go for the girls
wad."
Then Victor understood that Mays careless
exposure of the rich contents of her wallet had
tempted these fellows to robbery. His own
plight was forgotten in his alarm for her safety.
But he renamed calm from intention, and
supine because he could not do otherwise. Jim
tied the gag securely, and placed Tom astrlde
the captve's breast, with hand holding down
each arm. Then Jim started hurr1edly toward
the spot, which was out of sight, where May
was unsupectingly alone.
If the muscular and energetic Jim had stayed
to keen the prisoner, and sent Tom to rob the
girl, the foray might have been prosperous.
And If Victor had remained non-resistant half
a minute longer, until left with one captor his
outbreak might have been successful; But an
impulse to go to the rescue of the girl he loved
overcame the warlness that he could have
practiced on his own account, and with a
writhe and a bound he was on his feet While
Tom went sprawling
Robbers! help! help" Victor cried, with
the gag torn away from his mouth.
Jim turned back at the first noise OF the
scufie. He had not gone dozen PAGES, and
he was upon Victor as soon as he had freed
himself An open knife was in Jim's hand.
'Shut up or I'll cut you, he said.
Help! helpr' and with the outcry Victor
threw himself upon his armed antagonist.
But courage and Drawn were no match for
the blade of an assassin. There were three
rapid, vicious stabs, and Victor dropped down,
with his alarm cries sinking into silence.
Roll him over the ledge if he stirs," COM
manded Jim to Tom, ''and I'll 60 for the girl.
We've got to hustle"
Jim ran to May, who had heard Victor's
shouts aud to whom the robbers appearance,
with fierce imprecation and grab of her
wallet was appalling She fell in an uncon-
scious faint, and Jim turned for flight, only to
find himself confronted by Colonel Dallas and
Winston who had come hurriedly from oppo-
site directions in response TO the calls for help.
With all the ferocity of beast at bay but
also with the quick, keen perception of an ac-
customed marauder, Jim undertook TO ngnt
his way to an escape. His instant judgment
was correct that Winston would offer least re-
sistance, and he sprang toward him.
'Grsb him, Winnie; grab him" the Colonel
cried.
Hes got knife, dad" and the young man
cleared the way promptly.
But Colonel Sam Dallas was no coward, even
though his bravery had been applied to illicit
purposes and had not descended to bis son.
He sprang after Jim, seized him by the Wrists,
wrestled violently with him, and at length
threw him fiat. The knife had somehow gone
from Jim's hand to the ColonePs 1.-THE gambler
would have scorned himself for losing in the
deal') and was held over the PROSTATE fellows
heart.
HJin Grimesr' the Colonel exclaimed, in as
l,ad l,,,+r orrir tod of N
acquaintance. Whats brought you down 10
this sort of work.
"AlI of us haven't your luck to back our
brains" was the sullen reply.
There's blood on this knife Whathav you
done?'
"Kiled a friend of yours, 1 guess-the chap
that was with the girl. He fought us like a bull
dog. Your party's coming. Let me go-for old
times sake"
Where is he?'
"out thereon the edge of the ledge, or down
at the bottom"
Colonel Dallas was a rapid thinker. That
was partly natural gift and partly a pro-
fessonal requirement. He knew that May
Norris, who still lay on the ground, had been
robbed and he realized in a fash that, if Victor
Leroyd had been her defender, his sons
chances with the heiress might be ruined
thereby.
Winston, and by an imperative tone, rousing
him to celerity; ''go and see."
Winston was away and back again, to report:
"Victor is lying at the foot of the precipice,
Here's the swag," Jim pleaded, rising on
one elbow, and proffering Mays wallet to the
Colonel; take it, and let me of.
You may GO" was the astounding reply,
"and take the money-if you obey me-"
well"
"Pay close attention to every word / say, and
back it up. Do that, and swear I'll see that
lake"
How do know you'll do it?"
take my word-or take your chance Of
hanging-which you please"
Your word goes, Colonel"
The Self-possession of this master of the sit
uation was not in harmony with the seemingly
crazy thing that he coolly did next. He held
out the knife toward Winston, saying, Take
it," But the blood-stained blade was untidy
object to the fastidious young man. and his ex
tended hand waited for the handle to be
proifered. Instead of that the Colonel struck
with the weapon into his sons palm. making
slight but copiously bleeding cut across it.
What the devil" began Winston's COM
plant at this
of the party came in furry, with anxious
queries as to what was the matter. They
clustered first around May, whom they aroused
to consciousness, and who was almost as
ignorant as they about what had occurred.
The Colonel now abandoned his stoicism, and
let his anxiety show itself, but in cleverly
misleading way. He said, with show of great
excitement: 'The matter is that two fellows
robbed Miss Morris My son caught them at
it, drove one away, and captured this mis-
cTeant."
The crouching Jim began to doubt the Sc
curity of his position, but he could not alter it.
and he dumbly waited while Winston, already
comprehending the drift of his fathers lie,
wrapped a handkerchief delicately around his
wounded hand, thus eliciting expressions of COM
miseration from tine ladies.
1.-THE pocketbook-did they get it?' the COM
mercial instinct of Mi. Pootle asked.
Jim gripped the wallet in his ragged pocket,
ba have IN piv
but the Colonel said with contemptuous kick
at him:
I've searched this one. His companion
must have got off with it.
THAT is Of no consequence" May interposed;
and then concernedly to Winston: Are you
badly hurt?'
"Only prick of the knife" in mock heroic
tone.
"Brave boy" and the Colonel patted him af-
fectionately on the back. Brave boy" Then
Jim got another kick. You villain-to attack
him with a knife"
a. had to- or he'd have bested me-" Jim
whlned, remembering the bargain, under which
he was to confirm whatever the Colonel said.
'tAnd there were two of you-two to one"
'sHe was as good as a Dozen"
"Where is Victor?' May exclaimed. He was
with me here. Then heard him call Robbers
and 'Help'-before fainted.'
81 am afraid" the Colonel began.
He's killed?' cried Mr.. Pootle.
20, fancy he is safe. This fellow says he
ran away"
y es, Jim ODeulenIly ecnoeQt ne ran OIL
scared"
4 can't believe Victor Leroyd is a coward"
Winston remarked, making his suggestion
adroiry.
"victor coward?" May repeated. in depre-
cation.
HE was a sneak. sure enough" Jim sullenly
affirmed, beginning to see what was wanted for
his liberty; land if this chap" indicating Win
ston, had scooted the same way. the job
wouldn't have been half spoiled, as 'tis.'
Although Winston and Jim were alert and
helpful in the unrehearsed scene, it was Sam
Dallas who did the really able acting. His i'm
itation of emotion was deceptive to even
Sheeba.
'Thank God" he cried, as fervently as those
two words we're ever spoken by ANYBODY, "my
son played the hero, not the coward"
81 am astonisbed," /" said Sheeba.
"At Victor's cowardice?' said Mrs Pootle.
sit is hard to believe.n
81 won't believe it." said Mr.. Pootle bolster
ously.
The Colonel deemed it necessary to strengthen
bis fiction, and he said to Jim, with a savagery
that almost deceived him:
Come. tell the truth-did the other young