St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-27

you saved her and came near baking my
plans. That stupid guard, who imagines
himself SO clever, arranged everything
SO nicely that he will be surprised to-
morrow when you tell him the whole
story."
"Are you crazy?" l asked.
"No, my dear. was never saner than
| am at this moment
pray what are you driving at then,
I'd like to know
II will enlighten you. You sec that
little parcel on the table, which your
friend the guard let you keep for
him?'
I laid my hand on the parcel and gave
her sinister look.
"Well, what of it!'' | asked.
at contains sum of money anywhere
between Gj, 900 and elO, co.,
"lndeed?" said contemptuously.
eyes. 1t was to be sent to Edinburgh
to- day, and as two or three of us got
wind of the affair we concluded to stop
it. By some strange mistake on our
part the guard heard of our little plan at
the other end of the road, and so to balk
us he left it here with you. At the same
time | concluded to play double game
and get the whole treasure for myself:
For that purpose called you out and
turned the switch in order to wreck the
train and so get hold of the money. You
interfered and saved the train, but not
the parcel. 1t is now in your hands, and
1 will ask you to hand it over without
demur.n
She made one step toward the desk,
but leaped toward it and grasped the
parcel in both hands.
Never" | shouted This goes
into the safe, and warn you to get out
before pitch you out
"Ha, ha, ha, ha"' she laughed deri-
sively; "what pluck! | didn't think
YOU would make such a fight over mere
money. But this will bring you to your
senses"
Throwing back the cloak which en-
vcloped her small form, she stood before
me wiry looking man. with piercing
dark eyes. In the right hand a jewelled
pistol cleaned in the lamp light and
the hand that held it was as cool and
steady as possible. | glanced into the
small barrel of the pretty plaything and
shuddercd.
"You needn't be frightened" con-
tinued my strange visitor i'll the same
easy tones. II don't care to commit
murder if l can help it, but don't drive
ME to desperation"
At this | recovered my self possession
and began to think of way to get near
enough to grapple with this desperate
villain. In such an encounter | knew |
could easily handle him. A sudden,
heavy blast of wind, followed hy "A blind
ing flash of lightning, fairly stunned us
for moment.
THAT was terrible flash, said, no.
ticing that my companion slightly pdled
You are not afraid of thunder, are
you?'
"Afraid2 No, you IDIOT he replied.
"But give me that money. Or I'll send a
bullet through your head"
Zone moment" cried.
''Not a.
The sentence was never finished,
There was peal of thunder that seemed
to rend the heavens in twain, and then a
brilliant streak of fire flashed between
US. felt the building tremble, heard
murmur of strange noises-and
then blank.
When | awoke to consciousness, day.
light was just breaking in the east. The
sky was clear as on summer morning,
and the fields and woods were vocal with
the songs of birds. But in my Office
everything was changed. vt my feet
lay the stranger of the previous night,
With little dark spot near his left
temple. The heavy timbcrs of the sta
ion were burned and cracked, and my
papers were scattered all about. The
work of the thundcrboIt had been effect
We, but on the table lay the money I'M
:ouchcd.
When the guard came. handed him
he property. The stranger was idepti
led as notorious thief and | was duly |
'cwardcd by the company for my work
n saving the money. But since that ter
IDLE shock q thunderstorm has been to
ne the most undesirable thing on the |
ace Of the earth. - Ex.