The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-12-31

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nights gettin' cold"
So the plotters walked away. leaving
Tom to digest as well as he could what
he had heard.
The post Office to be robbed" he
repeated to himself, as he crept
cautiously away from the bluff. ''Fow-
Ter summoned off by a false message,
and Bessie and her mother alone. He
told me | wasn't needed at Big Elm.
but / rather think I am now, and as I'm
nearly five miles away / haven't a min
ute to spare" and, despite the pain in
his arm, Tom walked briskly away
across the prairie.
He recognized in tine leader of the
plotters Dave Mowley, a new settler of
questionable character, who had a
small cabin near those bluffs. BY some
few persons he was secretly suspected
of having some connection with an out
law gang of Indian Territory; but he
had managed to keep up a semblance
of respectability by working part of
his time for Gray, a wealthy stockman,
some twenty miles from Big Elm.
"Mowley has appeared in his true
character at last Tom remarked, as
he hurried along toward Fowler's cabin.
But I'll foil him"
Then he remembered his injured
right arm He could not use his revolt
yer easily with his left hand. What was
he to do?
III prove a poor match against those
two villains, my arm this way" he
said. There's not a house along this
trail where / can stop for help, and it's
too far to go home and tell them. The
least delay now is dangerous. / must
save Bessie or die in the attempt"
Bessie Fowler was putting out the
light, preparatory to retiring, when a
gentle rap on the window-pane startled
her.
r'Oh, Tom, What's the matter?"
Hush. Don't alarm your mother
yet. Let me into the kitchen at once"
She quickly complied. As she closed
the door behind him. she cried:
"Oh, Tom. Is something wrong with
father"
Hes all right. 1 believe, only gone
a false Grand"
False errand, What do you mean,
Tom?"
ter in the post Office TO- Ranchman
he asked.
Yes"
You must be brave, Bessie, and help |
me. Mowley and another villain will
make a raid IN the post Office tonight
get possession of it." and he briefly
the plot of the robbers whom
he had overheard.
What can we do?" said the girl, |
white face. We're SO far from
all aid, and your arm hurt that way"
Never fear, Bessie; we'n battle
them some way. Let us go into the
post Office. l want to take some
The post office of Big Elm was kept
in a room which had once been used
as the Fowler kitchen. A long table
with 4 box divided off into !
rude pigeon holes for holding the mail
in one corner. The table had one
drawer, which contained the
postal supplies and all valuable letters
to or leaving the Office.
The room had only one window,
just beneath it was a large trap
loor. Leading into the cellar. Tom re-
,eived an idea
Bessie. is the outside cellar door
ocked?"
"Yes; securely"
well, you take Tompson's letter
md all the stamps and hide them in
our room. See that all the windows
re secured, then put out the lights
md get quiet. I'll stay here"
Halfway to Gray's ranch, Fowler
net one of the cowboys who told him
hat Mr.. Gray was not 1t home.
messing at once that he was the vic
i'm of a false message. he rode frantic
lly back to Big Elm.
1t was nearly midnight, and a dir.
ight burning in the post office assured
i'm that something must be wrong.
Jumping from his horse, he flung the
be unexpected picture that met his
are
Tom Hartley, with his right arm in .
ling, sat on a table, which had been
laced directly over the trap-door.
'essie with her fathers trusty Win
stood beside him. Strange,
curses came from the cellar.
tom Hartley! You here7'' cried the
recovering his speech