The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-11-07

Two" whispered Despard, in an in
tense tone to Danton. "Do you hear?"
"Yes
Ranger Ralph expected someone on
the train"
"Evidently."
"And that one was the girl who is the
object of all our plots-lnez Tracey"
CHAPTER II.
TOO LATE
"The scoundrels, Dyke Despard, my
score against you--deeper than ever, for
this cowaIdiy act-will be IA terrible one
when your day of re konng comes"
The words emana ed in a rained
gaSping tone of voice from the spot
where a few minutes previous they had,
to all seeming, viewed the dead form of
Ranger Ralph the border scout and d.
tcctive.
Ranger Ralph himself spoke, but his
haggard face and pa n-strickcn eyes tod
that the blow Despard had dealt him
was terrible one in its effects
Under it he had gone down like shot.
Utter insenSbility had finally given way
to dawning consciousness, but SO feeble
and confused tia he could scarcely raise
himself on one arm.
The blood from CHASTITY wound on
the head deluged his face and showed a
deep cash that would leave a s~ar to his
dying day.
His head was dizzy, his sight blinded,
his strength seemed leaving him. He
eSsayed TO arise, and then, with
groan, fell back exhaus ted.
Suddenly every nerve seemed to thrill
to quickened action, and he forget his
wound and his helplessness for the mo-
ment
The train!" he gasped, wildly. 81
had forgotten it Oh, these villains.
They have piled an obstruction on the
track. Too plainly l see Dyke Des-
pard's plot. The girl-Inez. He knew
she was coming here. and with his rene
gade associates seeks to prevent her APP
pearing to claim the fortune her father
left her. | must prevent this awful
crime ! must save the Ii 'e of the child
of my old friend, who intrusted her to
my care. What shall | do? Single
handed. | cannot cope with these armed
ruffians There is but one man at the
dcros, but he may be able to telegraph
for aid or stop the train. All, it is use
less. That blow has robbed me of my
strength
Ranger Ralph spoke these last words
in a despairing tone, for Sc ond effort
10 rise proved lutte.
"i'll crawl to the depot, but I'll outwit
these scoundrelS," h" muttered grimiy. a
moment later.
He was outside The range of the vision
Of the men grouped on the tracks twenty
feet away, and besides they paid no
further attention to the foe they believed
to be dead Slowly, painfully, Ranger
Ralph began to creep through the under
brush n tprrtbtn n * his
eneryated frame, but he finally saw in
the distance the single signal lamp of the
station.
Precious moments We're slipping by:
he realized this and the thought neryed
him to renewed effort
Ten minutes later the single occupant
of the station, q young, handsome man
Of about twenty years, started from
reading a paper as suspicious sound
echoed from the direct on OF the door
His hand sought the revolver at his
belt as he remembered tn perils of the
tines. bat dropped it to h $ side. and he
utt red an amazed crs "a his glance fell
upon the strange figure that filled the
doorway a moment later
Great heavens, man" he cred; what
docs this mean?"
He stool staring in blank horror at
the blood-coverel form of Ranger Ral phi,
who had crept over the threshold
"iIcfp me to chair, quick" gasped
the almost exhausted scout.
Won are in urel-you have fallen"
No. have he n HE victim of
cowar lily and br,;tal assam t."
",Ahere by whom?"
He had tied the scout to a chair and
was trembling with eXcitem at as he
/ L m in, hp ma
of his visitor
The latter did not answer his question
directly fu>teal h.S eyes, falling on
clock within a rail d Enclosure of the
depot. Ii" asked tumU'tuOusly:
The traia--when WI it arrived"
L is due i'll ten minutes
stop it,"
'>tspit?" cried the other. "Nhy, man,
what do yoI mean?'
What | say" cred Ranger Ralph,
wildly Don't waste time with idle
questions. \ hundIc lives lie on the
turn of a moment OF time Telegraph
ahead am have the train stopped"
"ImpoSSible!'
Why"
BE ause it has ar ally passed the last
station
anger Ralph uttered q sroan of de
SPAR.
Then secure ad and hasten to the
. curve" h. cried
Explain Yourself Why are YOU so
incoher"Ht-so excited? There is can
ger?'
Terrible danger"
From whom"
"'EFaIn wrtckeTS.r
The Young man started violently.
at cannot b. ne cried
We there are six OF them, led by
Dyke itespard, a notorious outlaw. Is
there no on near"
No one, Rouse yourself. man. To
her we may be abe 10 dispense these
stOundrelS
? ~ImpoSs BE coa'd rot walk a step
unaidei
The Other hasteacd To a window and
loo ed ont toward tile So..th
"The dep agent viii arrive shortly"
he said, IN hurried, anxious tones,
Are you not the ageut?' asked Ranger
( Ralph, in some surprise
No: | was waiting for the train here.
He has sick family at his home, five
miles from here. and asked m To take
charge while he took some medicine
over to them. But he said he would re-
turn before the train arrived"
And before then it NAV 5e too late TO
( stop the train. Oh, cannot something
I BE- done!"
With his heipessness, delay and mac
tioD was torture TO Ranger Ralph.
A signal" cried his companion, sud
denly: Il will ou1wit these ssoundrels.
! Quick now tell me where they are