Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-08-13

/ went on 10 HcIrlck'S. suddenly the
cabin seemed TO swarm with masked
men; but think there were only four.
Three of them seized me, the other
struck him down. They offered me
no indignity beyond what you see, but
they rified the mail bag. and seized the
knapsack of my fathers money. Then
they disappeared as suddenly as they
had come-almost as noiselessly.'
Did they ride away?'
st did not sound so. But there IS no
cover near; 1t is all level stretch except
the canyon yonder, and bit of brush a
little to the right
y our mustang?'
Isn't Bolero there, outsider
HE was not when / came in
They must have taken HIM. Oh, for
man or two TO help usl'
Boothroyd WINGED and went TO the
door. A welcome sight met his eyes.
Bolero was galloping cabinward, and
presently stopped at its door. He had
come from the clump of scrub-oak and
bIush-wood on the west.
Alexia heard the creatures football
and flew to his side.
oh, my old comrade, if they had at
tackled me on your back, they would
not have gotten off so WE'LL But | had
put aside my revolvers. They were
cowards-they did not dare
Her eyes flashed. Every trace of
weakness had left her. r wild idea
leaped into Boothroyd's mind.
VIII you lend me Bolero?'
NO one but L can manage him. Still
-why?' She searched his face, as his
eyes travelled toward the clump of oaks,
followed il and read his meaning. The
outlaws, secure in the utter loneliness
of the place, were taking their ease in
the nearest shelter. An Immediate sur
prise upon them there might mean an
easy capture-or il might mean death.
For an instant the girl gazed into
Boothroyd's eyes. Blue and gentle as
they had looked TO her before, they
were at last alive with steely glitter.
| She held out her brown, shapely hands
10 him, and lie clasped them impetu-
ously.
To avenge his deathl she cried,
| 'AmenI'
A few seconds later, the trusty little
mustang, bearing double, and with
Willis behind, was headed toward the
brushwOod. Alexla held the bride
and revolver ready cooked. Her COM
panion was armed to the teeth with
, the dead frontiersman's weapons.
| Bolero sped softly over the grass,
and the mail-carrier's trained eye kept
/ him in line of the densest cover. The T
approach was as noiseless as the depart
ure of the marauder's had been; whom
they discovered through the branches,
seated upon the ground dividing their
spoils, and. In tie carelessness of their
/ fancied complete obscurity-wIth their
own firearms laid aside, though close
at hand.
'Disable-not killl' whispered Alexia,
and Boothroyd aimed low. At the
same instant The barrels of her own
bejewe.ed weapon were discharged, and
the outlaws knew that the game was
tE..q
Some time later the assembled idlers
who watched from Crimmins's Station
beheld Bolero coming down the post
road. lie was long past time; and he
paced along as If he was weary, or else
in courtesy bound TO subdue his speed
TO that of the pedestrian beside him.
Il swan ter gracious! Eff thar don't
come Alexy with that thar stranger
alongsidel Dot rot his blue-eyed car
kiss! He amt grit enough fer her, an
afOre he shall carry her outen these
mOunt'ins he'll hev ter court the hull
paSsel on usl'
Still the blue-eyed stranger was not
abashel by the unfriendly glances of
the irate loungers. Friends he said,
quietly, as he offered his hand TO the
mail-carrler, who, for the first time in
their experience, accepted assistance in
dismounting, 1T Will be necessary for
the proper authorities to 90 to the brush
1 IL, .,r-1
charge of few highwaymen whom
they will find there, bound and wound
| ed. And some to care for all that re-
mains OF faithful old Job Aldrich, a
misiuiged hero, who gave his life for
your Alexia.'
Public opinion at Crimmins's changes
swiftly. Twenty-fOur hours afterward,
when Alexia's red lips had told the
story of the strangers quick wit,
prompt bravery and splendid aIm.' the
voice of the community was uttered in
the pipe-smoker's tones: They'd orter
git married! Them two amt no or'nery
kin, an eff they amt matched in pluck,
an LOOKS, an eddycashun, L swami!
Willis Boothroyd accepted public
opinion. SO, before he returned to the
East. ~ he stood with the mall-carrIer
III her fathers garden at Blooming
City, lie tested its effects on her fair
self.
'AleXia,' he said, taking her brown.
supple hand in his, Il love you. You
are tic bravest woman in the world,
and Want you for my wife. Dare you
risk the chances of poor scientist S
future, and share it with me?'
Though the hand he held trembled,
and the dark eyes dropped befure the
passion Of his blue ones, it could not
have been from fear, for witching
smile CANE out about her red lips, and
she ans1 cred low, but firmly, Yes. i
dare; because I-also-love.'
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