The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-11-03

lock. He turned toward the girl:
eye might as we'll save trouble,
he said. eve know what's here, an
we're goin' to have it. This is biz,
understand. We shan't hurt We if ye
behave"
The girl glanced at him with angry
contempt. Her blood was boiling.
"There amt goin' to be nobody to
help ye," the fellow continued. The
road bridge is down-swep' away by
the freshet-and the fellows from the
mills won't get here yet awhile. Yer
mas too fur off, an she amt no good
anyway. We got to have that
key, fer we amt got any tools handy.
Be lively now. We kin be rough if
we have ter"
With sudden motion Lena pulled
the key from her apron pocket. The
big ruffian beside her snatched it,
lowering his pistol as he did so; but
with the quickness of cat she flung
the little piece of steel through the
open door OF the stove, where it
slipped down among the glowing
Goals. The fellow picked up the
poker and plunged it into the red-hot
mass, but the key had disappeared.
With a cry of rage he sprang toward
toward the girl, but while his back
was turned she had darted across the
room and jerked open drawer.
Throw up your hands, you scoun-
drel!"
The command came in a hoarse
roar from the open window. The
desperate wheeled, saw fierce, livid
face glaring in from the outer gloom,
saw also a leveled weapon, and sus-
pected more behind. He dropped
his pistol and obeyed.
Laying his left hand on the sill,
John Sturgin leaped through the win.
dow, withs one bound. There is no
record breaker like love and anger in
things athletic. Meanwhile, the lesser
william was struggling with the fasten-
ings of the nearest window; but when
lie glanced over his shoulder and
caught the CLINT Of another revolver in
the hands of Lena as she stood by the
open drawer, he desisted.
Give it up" he said, coolly. eye
got me, sure, little girl; though how
them fellers got acrost so quickly beats
me. Now, don't git narvous with that
pepper OF yourn; I'll rest easy; an I
amt go no gun, any way"
"Give me your pistol, Lena" said
Sturgin, his voice still quaking with
excitement. "Now, you two brutes
stand here, face to the wall, hands up.
Lena, please send q message through
to Grandport for train and a posse. >
She sent the message as she was
bidden; but the steadiness was gone
from her hand and the color from her
cheek. She felt faint; she threw open
the door and gazed up the track. The
night had grown very dark, though o
flmy veil of auroral light still fitted
now and then across the starry back
ground. At length the rumble of an
engine was heard-a welcome sound
to Sturgin, whose arms were SO palsied
with weariness and nervous tension
that he could hardly hold the pistols.
1t was just as we'll that his prisoners
were so placed that they couldn't see
him. Soon, however, they were in the
hands of the Deputy Sheriff and the
strain was over.
Siurgin sat holding both Lena's
hands in his. 81 can't understand
it," he said. Chow did it happen,
dear, that you telegraphed me for help
so long before those Williams reached
the depot?"
"I telegraphed," she cried. why,
didn't; I couldn't. I hadn't the
smallest chance-until after you came,
just in the nick of time, and saved me,
John"
"Ach!" exclaimed burly Mac, who
was standing by. "It'll be them North
ern lights done it, likely. Ye know
what fiddle-faddle they'll make long
O. the wires, an set all the soun'ers
clackin'. An I'm thinkin', Sturgin,
somebody's whim-whams done the
rest"
'It was a message straight from
heaven" murmured Lena.
And doubtless both she and Mac
were RIGHT st. Louis Star-Sayings.