The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-07-14

ana thumb. he threw himself down up,
on his bunk.
Hour after hour passed. and the
steady stentorian breathing OF his com
panions told him that they all slept.
Presently he raised himself gently to
a sitting posture. and In doing so he
made the wooden bunk creak. He
listened for some seconds. Motto
men we're undlsturbed. Gradually Ia
reached the floor holding his breott
lest the slightest noise on his para
should awaken one OF his companions.
Then he felt his way In his stocklngec
feet softly to the door. which was Sc
cured by common wooden latch He
managed to open the door without
sound. and when outside. he let the
latch fall slowly into ia place with the
string attached to II from without.
He paused and listened, but they oil
slept on.
The moon was nearly at the quarter,
and the shadows from the Ranges lay
broad and dark upon the lower ground
beneath Beyond the cry Of a night
hawk or owl. the whir OF bat or tho
croaking Of frogs In the stagnant pools
near the creek there was not a sound
to be heard.
Luke walked along In the direction
OF haynes hut which. lying In the
shadow Of the hill. would have been
dlnlcult for one not knowing the local
ity to discover. but Robert Luke knew
his way we'll
In few minutes he stood outside
the door. There was no sign OF life TO
be seen within. lie tried the handle,
and found that the door was locked.
Then he crept round to the window,
which was unglazed and had coarse
calico nailed across In lieu OF glass.
After peerlng about for some minutes,
he detected a speck OF light shining
dlmly through an inner curtain.
Probably there was a moth-hole In the
blanket which had been hung inside TO
prevent the light from being seen from
without. The keyhole ana every chink
seemed stopped securely.
How easily he might slit the calico
across with his knife and effect an
cntrancei But then. suppose his sur
misses we're TO prove wrong. what ex-
cuse could he make for thus disturb
ing the woman In the middle OF the
nlght7
I.uke's heart beat fast. II seemed TO
him aa II he were on the very brink
OF making some discovery. and yet
> was to be baked
: lie stood atill and thought a while
Then Il occurred to him that he might
knock, pretend he was III. and ask foi
brandy. The men on the station had
none. he knew. Yes. there could be nc
harm in that
lie knocked on the panels Of The
door. but no answer came. He knocked
again. and spoke.
Mrs. Baynes, would you kindly Civ
y me drop OF brandy II you have aucl
thing am sorry to trouble you n
70 this time OF night. hut am not YER
=, we'll. am Luke-Bob Luke"
= SIN not word came In reply. II
- called out again more loudly
ID "Mrs. Baynes-d'ye hear. Mrs. Bay
nest"
o Growing bolder. he determined to tr,
y the strength OF the door.
II Placing his shoulder against II. h
=, turned the handle and leaned upon
with his whole weight
Suddenly the door gave way. and h
!. was preclpitated into the room. Re
y covering himself. II was yet severa
: seconds before he could dlstlnguis
any objects around him-the audde
II transition from the darkness wlthou
y to the glare OF a lamp had dazzled hi
eyes. when he recovered from IN
ar nrst confusing effects OF the light. h
20 saw a sight that sent him staggerin
x back against the wall. and for me
o. ment deprived him OF the power q
! speech. lie was bewlldered. and coul
not and breath 10 say the words while
at were upon his lips.
or A sound OF horses hoofs approach
nj ing the hut made him suddenly loo
Sc round, and then he knew no more.
~ fearful crash upon his skull deprive
'u him OF his senses. and he fell heayll
m to the floor g.
ITO be continued) -