Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-26

II do. you coward. Now come on;
let'sdo the job and get it through with.
It's gfttin late, anyway"
Helen waited to hear no more. She
was a quick-witted girl and she real
lied the terrible import of this over
heard conversation, brief as it was.
The scoundrelS, whom she had not
seen, but whose diabolical plan she had
surprised in its formation. intended to
blow up the factory, and in broad day.
light, when all the men were at work
and Phil there, too. She must not lose
moment, if she would save them. For
moment things grew black and in
distinct about her, but the feeling was
gone at once, and she mounted her
wheel with feverish haste. AS she did
so the bushes above her parted. and
an ugly, dirt-begrimed face made it's
appearance not twenty feet away. She
bent over her handlebars and shot out
into the smooth road, just as hoarse
shout of hate and surprise came from
the new arrival.
Helen's heart stood still for one
brief moment as she thought how
possible it would be for the plotters to
fire upon her; but if they followed her
she did not hear them She was speed
ing like d small whirlwind back to the
factory, all her anger gone. and only
fierce determination to save the poor
workmen and their employer fling her
gentle breast. Only once she glanced
hastily back. No one was in sight, save
the COW which she passed now without
| a shudder, and a prayer of thankful
ness went up from her lips.
| Ten minutes later she was stumbling
| into Pills private Office, gasping out
her story and trying her best not to
break down before she had told all
she knew. The superintendent looked
grave, stepped quickly to the door,
gave few quiet but peremptory Or
| ders to one of tie men, and then came
| back and took the tired little messen-
ger into his arms. She was crying
! Historically now, and because his
shoulder was more convenient and less
| hard than the table she rested her
| warm forehead against it and soaked
| her handkerchief with tears to her
| hearts content.
ut is all right, Helen said Phil,
| stroking her soft hair with trembling
| hand. Il have given orders to watch
for those two scoundrels. and they VIII
be captured as soon as they show
themselves here. You are a brave.
clever girl, and you have saved us all,
have no doubt. The men will be
more than grateful
1.-THE mem" said muffled voice
from the depths of a damp handker-
chief. Il didn't do it for them. alto
gether. ] thought of you. too-and
| why d-dont you-boo- hoo!-call me
dear?"
To which unexpected question Phil
Dahlgreen gave most satisfactory
| answer. Because" said he, taking
her pretty face between his brown
hands and kissing the soft. warm lips
again and again, because l was told
not to by the girl 1 love. But now
that the girl 1 am engaged to tells me
l may, 1 will, dear, dearest"
And I'll never, never go alone again,
Phil" said the blue-eyed rebel, with a
deep sigh. Il promise"
Half an hour later one of the watch
men stopped the young superintendent
as he was returning to the factory
from a certain rose-covered cottage a
block or two away.
i've found the two men. SIR he
said. with the suspicion of a smile
about his mouth. They're not tramps,
nor strikers either. They're only them
chaps you set to work blasting rock
out for the foundations of the new
building up the river."i' go -
"Sh-h. Gordon" said "Dahlgreen.
that is all right, but you need not re-
peat it to anyone. l have my reasons
for keeping it quiet-for awhile, at
least
And as the faithful Gordon, sur
prised but obedient, returned to his
work. his employer smiled and said
softly to himself, Dear little sweet
heart! l. guessed as much at the
time.'