Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-12-12

thought she heard groan. Once mora
she looked all around her.
Surely that groan had risen out OF
the very depths of the earth. and there,
almost at her feet. was the iron ring of a
trapdoor leading TO the cellar below.
1t was the work of an instant for her
to lift the aeor aud look down into the
black depths
Help! help," moaned feeble voice.
And Phyllis saw lying there in a
cramped attitude, bound hand and foot,
with his pallid face streaked with Llool.
the poor young express agent.
Is it you, Phyllis ?" he murmured.
Surely, Providence has sent you 10 my
add Get knife-a sharp stone some
thing-and cut these cords! They are
tearing their way through my fieshl And
a drink Of water, Phyllis, for liea, eu's
sake! And then-then YOU must hang
out the red light-those brltes have piled
rocks ON tile track just this side of the
sharp curve to wreck the trainl It's Tues
day night. and the paymaster is coming
down from San Francisco with the money
to pay off the railroad hands They'll ba
waiting not far away for the crash. hut
you must go on as far up the track as
you can run, and signal the engineer
And leave youp ?" She had been hur-
riedly cutting the cruel bonds with her
pocketknife. and now helped the victim
to struggle into a sitting posture. "Oh,
David. you must come, too. can't leave
you here to perishF
He passed his hand vaguely across his
| forehead.
They struck me down." he said,
"when would not give them the keys OF
the safe. suppose they thought was
dead when they flung me down there.
She brought him ame water ina goIrd
she'll He drank eagerly, and then she
bathed the cuts on his forehead and
washed the clotted blood out of the fair
yellow curls.
Now try to stand" she said "Yes,
you are better now. I'll carry the lam
tern and you shall lean on me. The air
is delightfully."- cool and dewy now, and
the sun has set"
You are brave girl" said he,
spasm Of agony passing over his face.
land il you can be so firm l should not
shrink from little pain. Yes, will try
10 walk. Don't touch my arm; think
it's broken. I'm sorry that can't carry
the lantern; it's q heavy, old fashion "a
thing. Now, if you'll let me lean on
Your shoulder"
But you are so pale!"
"Only from loss of blood Go on! The
further up the track we get the safer
we are. What should have done il
But, +" with sudden perplexed express
sion of his conntenance, II don't think
quite understand now how you came to
be here.
Phyllis lifted her frank eyes to his face
with innocent surprise.
"Your letter, she said. "Didn't you
write ?"
II writer Certainly not.
"But you did.
She pulled the crumpled half sheet Of
paper from her pocket-the letter that
had sent such joyous thrill through her
heart.
"Seel Will you deny your own hand
writing z"
1t isn't my handwriting at ALL Some
one has played joke on you--or me.
But, OH, what blessed joke, for
should have died if it hadn't been for
you-for you, Phyllis!"
That night the red finger of warning
pointed from the signal lantern along the
track, the train slowed up before the
point Of danger was reached, and the
evil designs of the wreckers were frus-
trated.
An additional man and plenty OF fire.
arms were put on at San Jean station,
and an impromptu vigilance committee
sent up from among the sawmill hands
and sturdy corps of Iumbermen down
on the river shore.
But wasn't it stranger" said Phyllis to
Mrs. Manton. "Who do you suppose
wrote the letter."
II can tell you," said Mrs. Manton.
1t was Millicent who wrote it.
"Wrote that letteF?" echoed Phyllis.
@Yes, Millicent Mantonl To hoax you.
was 80 angry when heard it,"
Phyllis blushed to the very roots OF her
hair.
"Yes, cried merry, mocking voice,
sit was ]. +"
And Mile came out in her white serge
dress. with blue forgetmenots in her belt,
looking very lovely and very inappro-
pirate to her surroundings
didn't fool you beautifully? And to
think that you never suspected"
Phyllis drew herself up with uncon-
scious dignity.
II could hardly suspect" said she,
%that lady could be guilty of such a
trick as thatl But ought to be grateful,
for / was able to save Mr. Belfield's life. :"
And she turned away and walked
suietly home.
There's something more to tell, said
Milly, her blue eyes glistening ominously.
"She has not told me all; there's some
thing she has kept back. But can guess
1t. She has not only saved his life. but
she has won his heart. Well. can't say
much for his taste, that's ALL
She shrugged her shoulders angrily.
Hugh Manton, who had come in for q
leather buckle, smiled grimly to himself.
why are you laughing, MiIly wrath
fully demanded.
"0h, for no particular cause, said
Hugh. Only it seems to me that your
joke didn't work exactly a. you thought
it was going tos"
Bucklen's ATnica saIvs.
Thn hack aa1wn In 4hn rworld for cr1fa