The morning call., 1893-07-16

served two or three of the men speaking
10 her from time to time. but evidently re-
ceivDg no encouragement 10 linger about
her. Meantime, the sun having swung
around so that it shOne in al the little
widows window, he had invited her-Or
she had suggested II. he was afterward
uncertain which-tO share his seat on the
shady side, and the two were fast becOul-
ing old friends. He could not remember
when he had met more engaging ady-
frank, even confidential, yet thoroughly
assured in her position.
Several of the passengers came about
them and general conversation arose. in
which the subject of the recent train lob
berries came UP.
'Tve often thought" one loud-talking
gentleman from Stockton asserted, That
I'd like to fall in with some OF these fel-
lows who like to be called bandits. I'd
show 'em what happens when their sort
has man 20 deal with"
Several OF the others nodded assent but
the little widow was concerned beyond
measure. "Ob." she cried, don't speak of
such thing 1should simply die of fright
| if anything should happen, | know /
Should" and she shuddered vsibly.
mo one should speak of such things be-
fore women, thought the broker, and his
mind reverted to the young girl who was
travelling alone. He glanced over to
where she sat, calm and serene, watching
the landscape fit ty the car windows. His
heart beat rapidly In memory of his own
vlrtuops resolve TO give his life, if need be,
to protect her maiden innocence from
danger or alarm. He almost wished some
thing would happen that he might show
his courage and prowesS and his sense of
her claim upon his manly chivalry.
1t was on the afternoon of the third day,
aud very hot. The CalifOrnians, all un-
used to the burning heat of the plains.
were longing for cooling breath from the
Paclhc. The cowboy, lounging in his seat
in one end Of the sleeper, had for an hour
or more been moving his limbs restlessly,
in heavy dnZe, mutterng wildly the while.
his face flushed and warm. his big, iron
banded hat pushed back on his shaggy
head. Suddenly, with yell like that of a
wild Indian, he sprang 10 his feet. pouring
out a perfect stream of threats and pro-
family, and started to run amurk through
the car. With revolver in either hand,
he strode down the aisle, firing rapdly
from side to side as he came. Crash went
a ball through the woodwork of an upper
berth! Ping, swish came another, cutting
through the air and shattering a lamp in
its flight. The porter fed, the passengers
covered to the floor, the women screamed,
and pandemonium reigned in an instant.
Save me save mer' shrieked the little
widow. clutchlng the brokers arm frantic
ally. He shonk her off and made a break
for the platform. The cowboy gave vent
to another blood -curding yell, and started
after him; then suddenly stopI ed, and,
| with prolonged howl. dropped upon the
| hoor, moaning, I'm killed-Im killed."
Ihe blood was flowing from a wound in
his shoulder. and the dainty maiden, who
was travelling alone. quick as flash bad
Snatched both revOlvers from his nerve
less hands and flung them to the farther
end of the car Seeing him dsarmed, the
drummer-looking chap rushed forward,
and with the aid of one or two of the
other men secured the thoroughly cnwed
fellow, who seemed strangely subdued by
the sight of little of his own hot blood.
The wound he had received had been in
hlcled Dy the little girl, who, springing
suddenly upon him from behind, had
struck him in the shoulder with the gold
headed toy stlletto that served her for a
fancy harpn.
Il knew 1t would not hurt him very
much. she was explaining gently, when
the broker Joined the group, but thought
it might startle hun into dropping the pis-
tolls and then could secure them."
'By Jneo! was the drnmmer-lookin ing
chaps comment. by jingnv' and then
he began TO whistle very softly. No one
else said anything Some one had pulled
the cord and stopped the train when the
trouble began. The conductor and train
men had hurried ID and the big cowboy
was soon securely tied. The train had been
started again as soon as the nature of the
trouble was ascertained. but quiet was not
restored un til the next station was reached.
Then the cowboy was left TO recover
from his "jag." and there. just as the
train WAS pulling out it was found that the
little widow was missing. simultaneously
the broker discovered that he had lost his
watch and leather purse con tanning some
gold ana silver-his supply Of loose money
g. t.n hn
only loser. Nearly every passenger who
had been in the sleeper when the Duncher
started upon his career of destruction was
minus purse, watch or jewelry. In the