The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-16

wouldn't miss the rest for the world"
81 appreciate your friendship, Paul, "
| said the other, turning away. Hiigerd
| carefully placed the letter in his pocket,
and then bathed his face in the cold
water of the pool With some difficulty
they pushed the boat over the portage TO
! Mud Creek, whose swift current was soon
hurrying them along through the fog OF
| the early morning. A fallen tree caused
! some delay, and Just as they reached the
brink below the track they heard the dis
| tant whistle OF the 7:40 train.
"Just in time TO get your ticket ex-
| claimed Wharton. He left Sanders with
| the Professor and dashed after Hilgerd
up the steep sandy embankment. He fol-
| lowed him into the car and whispered
| few final instructions. ,Hilgerd saw him
| turn for another friendly glance, as he
rached the door, and then he disappeared
| from view.
Number 20, for the east, left Reedsville
on time at $40. Hilgerd, with a good
cigar between his lips, lay back lazily on
| the cushioned seat He was feeling very
| comfortable after his hearty breakfast,
| though trife drowsy. The morning sun
| shone brightly on the circling fields, with
| their curious crooked fences, and Hilgerd
| thought that IL was good TO be alive.
1t was twenty miles to the junction and
he was wishing for morning paper to
mechanically in his coat pocket, touched
| Wharton's letter. He drew IL forth with
| a silent laugh. He had forgotten all about
il. Tearing open the envelope with an in
different yawn he read as follows:
"Muskrat Pool, Sept. 20, a. IN.
"Dear PAUL 1t is with reg Il that ] in
| form you that our adventure is at an end,
| for the reason that / have found Newell
That Is to say, we found him for he was
the gentleman we held up so artistically
in the cabin. Newell is born actor. Do
you recall how beautifully he played the
part of the surprised bandit? OF course
this is not the first time we have sup
ported each other, and practice is making
him perfect. Probably / am not so bad
myself when it comes to the heavy parts,
but his talent is pronounced. IL would
amuse you to know how Newell hood
winked the gang and gained the conf
dence of that merciless devil, the Pro-
fesor. You see there was real PROBES
sor. He was the stoop-shouldered man
the second one we trapped. Newell sub
bed for him during the second and third
act. There was over half a million in that
safe last night which my dear Wade is no
doubt wildly searching for at this very
moment. OF course he does not suspect
that il is snugly stored away in my
satchel, together with the princely sum
that the gang had boarded up in the tin
box. As you will remember. you carried
bridge. This was the safest plan. IL they
had Immediately discovered the trick you
can see how easy IL would have been for
me to have quickly Withdrawn from the
scene, leaving you burdened with the ne
cesslty of making some very embarrassing
explanations. Luckily we were not dis
covered. We both desire to thank you
heartily for the invaluable aid you so
nobly, though unconsciously, rendered.
That internal Simms came near turning
out the lights on us.
''Did you get good look at the Pro-
fessor's daughterY That was Curly Dick,
a successful masquerader in female cos
tune, and a much better shot than his
partner as you can testify. IL occurred
10 me that we might run across some OF
his attire, and my dramatic, though prob
ably Satanic, sense OF humor suggested
the daughter business to help out the
play. but when Curly himself suddenly
loomed up in full costume / confess was
somewhat staggered at the realistic pres
entation OF the plot.
''The stupid sheriff we will acciden-
tally drop on one of these numerous is-
lands. We have nothing but kindly feel
ing toward him on account OF his heroic
work at the oars. We have probably made
enough In this deal TO place us beyond
immediate want IL is difficult to say
just where we will operate next, but
rest assured l Will drop you line in
Nnltn NOu tnhN lHh llhltEdl lOI
work. OF course / would expect no reply.
| Trusting that your confidence in human
| ity has not received too severe shock, 1
remain with well wishes,
"PHILP WHARTON"
Several minutes later the car door
| opened and closed with a bang.
"C-e-d-a-r J-u-n-c-t-i-o-n!" bawled the
business-like brakeman with the turned
| up nose and prominent triangular ears.
| lie paused and gazed curously at the man
| I'm the third seat from the front, on the
| left. A bunch OF paper was tightly
| clenched i'm his hand, while the other
| fumbled at his throat. His face was
white and he looked helplessly and
! without meaning at the fitting trees lie
| did not look up at the brakeman's touch.
and the latter passed on in hesitating
| wondermcnt.
ON and on, with its monotonous roar
| plunged the flying train. Then night
came eoftly down, aud llilgerd fell into
/ ftful slumber.
(THE END)