The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-02-13

went in No one vs. there The
door. into thu. tlalst ONCE was open.
but the seat In front Of the DESC was
empty. Phyllis looked around In
some perplexity.
Mr. BslHeld!" che called. The
deep mountain side sent back her
voice In muffled echo A sense OF
sudden terror came upon her--a blind
instinct for night In the same In
slant sho thought she heard groan.
Once more she looked all around her.
Surely that groan had risen out OF
the very depths OF the earth. and
there almost at her feot was the iron
ring Of trap-door leading to the cell
lar below. 1t was the work OF an In
slant for her to lift the door and look
down into the black depths.
Help! helpr' moaned feeble
voica And Phyllis saw lying there
in q cramped attitude. bound hand
and foot with his paid face streaked
with blood. the poor young express
agent
1T is you Phyllisp" he murmured.
|
you to my aid! Get a knife--a sharp
stone-and cut these cords! They are
tearing their way through my flesh!
And drink OF water. Phyllis, for
heavens sake! And then-then you
must hang out the red light-those
brutes have piled rocks on the track
just this side OF the sharp curve to
wreck the train. It's Tuesday night
and the paymaster is coming down
from San Francisco with the money to
pay of the hands. They'll be wait
ing not far of for the crash. but you
must go on as far up the track as you
can run and signal the engineer.
And leave you?' She had been
hurriedly cutting the cruel bonds with
her pocket knife and now helped the
victim to struggle into a sitting post
ture. oh, David. you must come
too. can't leave you here to per,
ishr'
He passed his hand vaguely
across his forehead. They struck
me down. he said. when l wou Id
not give them the key of the safe. I
suppose they thought was dead when
they flung me down there"
She brought him some water in a
gourd she'll He drank eagerly and
then she bathed the cuts on his fore.
head and washed the clotted blood out
OF the fair yellow curls. Now try to
stand" she said. Yes, you are bet.
ter now. I'll carry the lantern. 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. a
spasm OF agony passing over his face.
and il you can be so firm l should not
shrink from little pain. Yes. l will
try to walk. Don't touch my arm; l
think it's broken. I'm sorry that I
can't carry the lantern; it's heavy.
old-fashioned thing Now, If you'll
let me lean on your shoulder"
But you are so pallet" Only from
loss OF blood. Go on! Tho farther up
the track we get the safer we are.
What should have done it---But, :"
with sudden perplexed expression
on his countenance. Il don't think l
quite understand now how you came
to be here"
Phyllis lifted her frank eyes to his
face in innocent surprise. your let
ter. she said. Didn't you writer"
Il write?" Certainly not F" But you
did"
She pulled the crumpled half sheet
OF paper from her pocket-the letter
that had sent such a joyous thrill
through her heart. See! viii you
deny your own handwritingp"
1T isn't my handwriting at all.
Some ono has played joke on you
or me-" he said. But oh. what a
blessed joke. for should have died IL
it hadn't been for you--for you.
Phyllis!"
That night the red finger OF warn
ing 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 frustrated.
An additional man and plenty of
firearms wero put on at San Jean sta
ton. and an impromptu Vigilance
committee sent up from among the
saw-mill hands and a sturdy corps Of
lumbermen down on the river shore.
but wasn't it stranger" said Phyllis
to Mrs Mantop: Whom do you sup
pose wrote the letter."
Il can tell you. said Mrs Manton.
1T was Millicent who wrote it,
Yes cried n merry hooking voice.
lit was l." And Mile came out in
her white serge dress with blue for
get-me-nots in her belt looking very
lovely and very inappropriate to her
surroundings.
Didn't fool you beautifully And
to think that you never suspected!"
Phyllis drew herself up with uncon-
scious dignity. Il could hardly sus-
pect " said she. that lady could be
guilty OF such trick as that! But
ought to be grateful. for l was able to
save Mr.. Belfield's life." And she
turned away and walked quietly home
There's something more to tell. "
said Milly. her blue eyes glistening
ominously She has not told me all;
there's something she has kept back.
But / can guess it. She has not only
saved his life. but she has won his
haart Wall emit aav much for hio