Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-01-22
CHAPTER Y.

He felt uneasy on her account but
thought he should easily find her when the
train stopped.
But somehow he could not rest and kept
looking out first of one window then the
other.
Once he fanced smothered cry floated
! TO him. This fired his blood TO fever-heat
and when he felt the train slacken speed,
he was almost inclined to get out and walk
along the footboard, as guards do, till he
came TO the right carriage, but the idea OF
grinding his legs between the platform and
the train kept his lmpatience in bounds.
Still, he hung out as fan as he could. In
the distance he could see tue sllnal-posts,
their lights looking like huge gems. Then,
OH, horror! he saw, two carriages in front
OF him, door tly open, and a man spring
out with struggling woman in his arms.
The train was then running past big
! snOw-lcap, piled together in clearing the
line. He saw the two forms huldled in .
heap, sickening slglt, suggestive %
broken bones, and thanked God the people
fell clear Of the train.
lie was quick to ring the alarm, but the
train did not really stop till it got into the
station.
Pierce's excited account Of what he had
seen was gravely listened 10 by the guard,
where the snow-banks were.
Pierce, in his anxiety, was about to follow
the men, but the thought of Dorothy's alarm
ut not seeing him decided him to forego the
adventure till he had assured himself Other
safety.
He FASTENED along the row of carriages
till he came 10 the one he fancied he had
left her in; this was empty but for foot
! warmer, a lady's travelllng-bag and some
wraps.
He sprang in. Merciful heavens! where
was Dorothy? These were her things. Sure
~ she must have got out to look for him.
He sprang out again i'm evident alarm, but
could not find her. Then came the terrible
idea that it was her he saw flying from the
carriage in the arms of the man. Alarm
seemed to lend wings to his feet, he flew,
rather than walked, to where crowd Cf
people stood over two PROSTATE forms. The
light Of a lamp fell on their faces; the
mans was liyid with the hue of death, the
woman'S white as the snow OH which she
lay.
Once before mad Pierce seen that fair face
on such chill pillow; once before he had
found her just so on a heap Of snow He
fell on his knees beside her and called her
by name. He guessed it all at sight of the
handsome deathlike face beside her.
Il am q Doctor" said kindly voice, ''let
me see what injuries these people have sus.
taned."
An old man pushed through the crowd,
and knelt down to make brief but com
| prehensive examination He attended t.
Horace Middleton first, because he he saw,
was the most injured.
Both legs broken just above the ankles
injury TO the head; what besides | can't
tell. Come, my men, get a hurdle and
carry the poor fellow TO some place of shell
ter, his is serious case. Now let's look at
the young lady. Come, come, this IS more
encouraging; there are no bones broken
that | can find; she has swooned from
fright, little brandy will revive her.
He spoke truly, Dorothy was unniured,
and after Pierce had satisfied the officials
a. 10 his right TO her, they were allowed to
resume their journey, leaving Horace Md
dleton, of whom they had given brief his
tory, TO the care Of kindly doctor, who
took him TO the infirmary and tended him
with his own kind hands.
4 week later there was a simple wedding
in the sombre City church; Pierce, CHANGING
the law, took his darling into his own ten.
der keeping, cheered by his good friends
DR.. and Mrs. Steel, who saw the bride and
bridegroom set ont for the United States,
accompanied by Jem Garth and Jane
Dorothy was pale and unhingcd by the
recent events, but the sea-breczes soon
brought as bright a bloom to her cheek as
was even called there by her fond husbands
caresSes.
They had a very fair passage and arrived
in the great Republic in good health and
spirits. The news from home was to the
effect that Mr. Middleton was recovering,
but could never hope to be anything but
cripple all his life, and had told DR.. Steel
that he bitterly regretted the past and was
willing and anxious TO resign the manage
ment OF the Cover estates into Mr.. PEN
folds hands, if he would consent to hush up
the part he had played as cruel guardian to
Dorothy.
Directly after this, they received notice
that Lees Circus would perform in New
York on 4 given date, and that it was be-
lieved that the child they had lost was
among the performers.
"Poor baby! what could they make her
do?" said Dorothy, tears in her sweet ewes.
Pierce set his teeth, and his eyes flashed
as he said huskily:
II will take a couple Of detectives with
me, and see for myself. Ny poor baby! God
give YOU back 10 me, and there is no other
blessing | need ask of Heaven, oXcep. its
care for my dear ones"
Pierce obtained the aid he needed, and
started of, full OF vague anger and excite
ment
One Of the detectives paid for their admij.
sion.
The money was taken by n handsome
gypsy in a 1ame-colored satin dress, shroud-
ed with Spanish lace.
The sight Of her almost unnerved Pierce.
II was Alison, more handsome than ever
with proud eXutant grace about her that
spoke of success.
Halfway down the bill it stated that
Miss Thistledown, aged three, would show
the Americans how easily the British Lion
was led" etc.
When the time arrived for this perform
ance, Alison entered the ring for the first
time as the Lion Queen.
She led in huge sleepy-looking lion, who
was guided with silken cord by a wee