Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-15

spit the very heavens Wild dearen-
ing crash. The eartl. seemed 10 shake
and totter under their feet, and they
were both thrown OF the ground with
great violence.
Mary was the first e recover her
self-possession, and rose from the
groub6 with n feeling Of intense thank.
fulncss to God for the escape which
she hal had from death. Gideon
Prawle was unable IL rise for some
time; but Mary, whei once she had sat
isfed herself that he waa unhurt, felt
that she need not stay longer with him.
you can ge, home now, GIDEON,
can't your she asked.
Yes" H. replied somewhat family.
Are you gOing2'
Yes, ! want to get home. M1thct
will wonder where am, aud this cS
plosion will Brighten her"
MARY" he called &c her, rs she was
moving away, are you going To say
anything about what you heard to-
night; or will you leave IL 10 inc2'
Those men tried 10 take my llfc."
exclaimed the girl, shuddcring. II
had DOR them uc harm, and should
have done nothing. But now shall
make no promises"
Don't bring me IL to It, lass, " wh:ncd
the man. Let me be witness t.
bear ont what You say. know all
the details. could hv II ON the others
there"
The girls lip curved in her scorn at
the mans cowardicr.
81 have saved Your lifa for you for
the rest, you NUT take your chance
with the others"
spare mc, Mary: for Gods sake
don't bring ms in.p IT, lac called to
her as she walked away, ard when she
did not answer hc fell bac'; on the
ground and almost wopt in his alarm
and unXicty.
The girls nerve had been sorcly
sha'cn by the ~. ats of the night.
and She was nnXiou togct home. The
path lay near The scene Of the cxplo-
sion. and as she passed she met NUM-
bcrs Of people Of all classes rushing
out from the village tu learn the cause
Of the connection.
For "a moment she stool amongst
them, listening To the expressions Of
alarm and wonder that were freely in
dulgcd In on all hands as the people
clustered round the site Of the cXplo-
sion.
Presently, to her astunishlncut, Mary
recognized Ilamcr. lie was moving
actively about, searching everywhere
among the debris, indulging in loud eS-
clamations of nstonishincnt and curl
osity as to what had happened After
awhile, Mary observed two more Of the
iucn, whose manner and looks were Ia
striking contra, 4 20 the cay indiircr.
cncc uf lIumcr. They wore pale, AMI
II struck the girl that they were search
ing Cor what they feared u find. They
stool for u moment In conference, and
the girl judged from Ilamrr's gcst.rcs
that h was cpGoayoriAg t. rras,urc
Tho other two.
When they separated, Mary moved to
arpi"t where she could Intercept them,
and then She approached them unob-
served.
just rs she reached them she over
heard llaprcr say 10 the others:
"NonYcnsc. men do away and sink
your fears In pot ~ ale, nud find some
Dutch courage II You cant manage any
OF your own. How the devil can either
OF them have escaped? The girl
hadn't notion of the plant, and she
WINS bound hand and foot, even II she
had: while that white-!iycrcd coward
i'rawIc, courIn nave got back MS few
silly wits in time to tell her anything.
What chance doyou suppose You would
have had II you'd been nursing that
,.,u.,1,t,,.u
been as much OF you left clinging to-
gethcr as would cover shilling. BAH
I've no patience with slsunks. Dead
tongues can't chatter, that's the long
and the short Of IT,"
NO, you're right, Jos lIamer. Dead
tongues cant clntter. But yuu'ro not
n murderer yet, for all your effort"
As Mary said this, she moved close to
the three men and looked steadily ut
them. The two looked round as IL
wishing 10 run away. But Ilamcr re-
turned her gaze sturdily, steadily and
defiantly
what do you mean? Who are you
calling murderer? Who ere yon? What
do Y"u waat bothering mc2"
THAT Indifference may do with
others, but not with me-" answered
the girl, firmly. Then as thought
struck her, she added. IAN Say
Gideon lrawle Is ready To confirm"
THE houndr muttcrcd the nan.
Then, sullcnly; What do you want"
Mary now thought how bcst she
could serve her lover, and framed hen
condition, In that view.
II shall say nothing II 10y tomorrow
evening all the men who were In tho
shed last night have left the village,
never to return. Those who stop win
End themselves in the hands of the
police"
no RE CONTINUED
Henry George has Ieturncd to Abb