Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-08-29

loafng around the stable, when Mlnna
came out. have seen some one as Airline I
in Bohemian Girl that | swear could al
most believe vas Minna herself in the f
very same costume she wore that evening.
She was dancing and fitting around ike
a freely, and laughing and chatting Win
an abandon wholly new to her.
s'At last | said: Why, Minna, what on
earth is the mater with your Are you
going crazy or, | aided as sudden thought
struck me, going to get marrledg ohe
paused and looked straight at me. Will
she said, Pm going to tell you something
lust to show you how much think OF you,
only you mustn't breathe word of it to a
living soul until-well, until it is over
with promise me- now, dead sure, she
demanded. OF course | promised, only
the promise didn't amount to much.
1t wasn't long before it was indeed all
over WITH And she told me then
that her father had sold his property,
horses and everything to some one IN
Kentucky, and as soon as this person
came and the papers were made out she
and Joe, who was expected that very
evening, were to be married, and they were
all going away to live forever and ever
and ever she concluded, like child.
"She had hardly finished when Joe ap-
peared. He had evidently been to the
house, and not finding her there had come
out to look for her.
"She ran to meet him, and as they came
toward me she was hanging on his arm,
looking up into his eyes adoringly, and
never saw pretter little scene. He was
a magnificent looking fellow, and he never
appeared handsomer in his life than he did
at that moment, with his cap off and his
head thrown back, his eyes sparkling ard
his face animated as he smiled on Nina
with that rare expression which so few men
possess, fascinating alike to men and wom-
en- No wonder the girl adored mimi
While we were talking the doctor came
out, He shook hands kindly with Joe,
and like Minna seemed nearer coming out
of his chrysalid than ever before. None OF
his sngularities was noticeable that even
ing, but he was to all appearances simply
a courteous, well bred, upright gentleman.
after talking awhile he 5urned to
Minna and remarked .Minna, find that
| must go away again tonight. wish you
would pack up some clothes for me, for
may be gone several days. These orders had
ceased to be matter of surprise for Minna,
and she betrayed no concern whatever
Your valise is already packed father she
said. But Joe glanced keenly at him. 1t
was evidently unexpected news to him
The doctor turned and sauntered toward
the house. Joe unconsciously shook Min
mas hand off his arm, and his eyes never
left her fathers form. saw the girls
hand nervelessly by her side, and her face
paled as she gazed into her lovers counte
nance with wide open eyes, filled with Il
vague terror and apprehension, as if with
woman's intuition she felt presentment
of coming evil
"Joe took step toward the doctor, who
was walking leisurely away wholly I'M
conscious of the drama enacted in those
few seconds behind his back, then hest
tated, wheeled suddenly around to Minna,
and clasping both her hands with ges-
ture intensely dramatic he pressed his
lips together as if to suppress groan.
'Minna,' he said hoarsely, God knows
would spare you if | could. Go to the
house, child, as quick as you cam This
almost beseechingly. You are safe what
ever happens: will take care of you
But she did not move.
"Joe stepped up to the doctor and touched
him significantly ON the shoulder. With
a deft movement he snapped the irons on
his wrists, and with shrill, prolonged
whistle summoned his assistants, who
came running from the hotel, with half
the village loafers at their heels. If the
heavens had fallen l could not have been
more amazed | stood like one petriied,
not comprehending in the least what had
happened. There was utter silence for an
instant. The doctor looked deliberately
around him into each mans face His
eyes met those Of the detective. His face
was deadly pale, but he showed not
tremor. 1t was what one might have ex
pected of him-game to the last.
"'Soldr
"That was all he said. But Minna, with
a piercing scream, threw her arms pas
sionately around him and turned upon Joe
a look which think will haunt him to his
dying day, so full it was of anguish, de-
spair and scornful rage. 1t was the beauti-
full sunshine of a summer day suddenly
changed to the fury of "A cyclone. Her
father kissed her tenderly and said few
words quietly to her, SO low that none of
us could hear them, and made slight mo-
ton for her go. In an instant, before one
could stop her if he had been so inclined,
she darted into the stable, seized pistol
which always lay loaded there and in an
other moment was upon horse. Joe spranG
toward her. 'Minna, stopl' he cried; for
heavens sake, stop For answer she
turned deliberately, aimed and fired at the
man whom moment before she would
have died to save
"The horse, frightened by the shot, was
off like the wind. The bullet whizzed past
Joe's head and buried itself in tree be-
hind him. For once her unerring aim had
failed-or was it her heart had failedS
Joe uttered an oath. Little savage,
he muttered, and | honestly believe that
he loved her better at that moment than
he ever loved another woman in his life
That's the man of it. We all knew what
that ride meant, and that Minna at any
risk would warn the rest of the gang.
"There was not man who dared to fol
low her. But the warning came too late
They were too well known and had been
tracked too long to escape. They were all
finally captured, and l suppose it was as
tough set of men as were ever banded to-