The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-10


centrating every energy Of her soul upon the work.
she at length grasped its -'Wreckers-here-
prisOner-stop Denver nine gold express, very
creditabe performance since the code not de-
signed for public service.
She could hardly trust her eyes. Repeat" she
sgnaed mechanically. AS if in answer the far-oH
flame fared up brightly an instant and then smould
cred down tckering CLEAN that presently died.
nor did it shine again, for Mr. Jackson who had
succumbed to the deadly faintness creeping on him
from loss of blood, was lying senselcss by his win
dow.
Miss Dubleeks feelings towards him underwent
immediate change the OGrady episode reced-
ing proper perspective or, properly, to van
ishing point. The girl was. she decided, low-born
firt unfit for and undescrving of serious consdera-
ton; and in word Peter restored to his ped
estal
In moment Sally reached the kitchen. Moth
er, where's Seth?" she asked inlperiously.
Don't know drawled Mrs. Dubleek, who still
felt a little huffed by her daughters withdrawal;
spects he's not started from Tree Fork yet
neighborng village whittier her had gone On busi
earlier in the evening Sally looked mp at the
clock God! 1t was almost ten minutes to nine!
Where's the men, she cried, desperately
Pop Hopkins is Arrowsfoot' her mother de-
HberateIy responded, AN Josh is at Jaggersvile by
now huntin' after that Kelowney gal. dessay. You
can't get much good o a like that; she refused
him three times hear, an there he is follerin her
still! He amt like others with fixed salaries
suffers in silence"
Mother for heavens sake, stop. There's some
thing awful goin to happen painted Sally. jag
gersville stations held up an therre wreck
gold train comm Denver way. Peters just sgnaled
oh, mother Couldn't take the mule an ride
to JaggersviIle?'
Yes, n crack yer neck before you We're half way.
,;+F
the older woman replied decisvey. You bet this is
a big job an they're watchin' the roads, though
what's possessed the Grand National tote the gold
around here is beyond me-
The girl wrung her hand.
Let's go out n have look round, anyway, pur-
sued the other; perhaps someone nd be passn along
the road somethn'.'
Sally flung the door open, and both women hast
lily picked their way across the clearing III the I'M
mediate vicinity of the house until further progress
arrested by breast-high fence, vantage point
from which the shngle roofs of JaggersviIe could be
clearly seen by day. Now all this was bIotted out
and only red light, standing high against the inky
background Indicated the position of the station IN
stinctiveIy Mrs. Dubleek shaded her eyes she
looked.
"-Ah, they've got everything reg1ar' she OBJ
served as second light showed suddenly farther up,
towards the distance signal This amt harum-
scarum job Sally, it's a deep game, an the chaps
who're in it are gon' nap for all they're worth.
"Oh, Cod what shall do?' moaned the
agonized girl.
Pretty much nothing" replied he matron by
her side "Ah, the cunnn' devils she continued
the lights changed color there's the clear
signal Sal. I ought to know-many's the time I've
watched it from here It's reg'ar lure. my GAL
''Oh but could nothing be done:"
well we amt birds, grille" replied the mother,
softly ~but if we were guess I'd fly across an put
that distance signal OUT tould be the best thing for
the train"
Sally had drawn herself up again and was put
ting her hair behind her ears-"Put the light out?"
she echoed
Yes" answered Mrs. Dubleek; 'twould DC
kind of warnin that all wasn't right, though Of
course the guard should be on the jump as this ones
bound to be-"
Sally was silent
Your father could do it from this spot-it amt
quite threeqnarters of mile-With his Winchester;
I've seen him do fly things pursued the other,
placidly
Sally clapped her hands, and darted back into the
house Presently she in Seths ROOM holding
aloft lighted pine splinter. All yes thank heaven!
there his repeating rife its hoOks-there too,
the cartridge belt. She seized both and hurried
downstairs. In the kitchen she paused extract the
ammunition There only ten little cylinders in
the metal clips-the exact number the weapons mag
azine took She charged it quickly praying for
steady hand. She inherited her fathers gift Of
straight shooting, but she had never attempted
what she intended doing, she felt hence
the spasm of piey. A minute after she Mrs.
Dubeek's side, aiming for the distant light.
Bang, bang bang, the reports ringing out one
after the other with startling disnctness and AGAIN.
more slowly. bang, bang. bang. bang; but yet no
change in that yellow spot glttering against the
night Sally muttered what might have been an I'm,
precation and shifted her position she prepared
to sight the rife once more. But Mrs Dubeek touch
ed her arm.
Sal" she said, you're too nervous, that's wnere
it is. Jest you give the gun an sit on the
ground Bit
Her daughter obeyed meeky, and for a While
there was silence between the two women in which
they could hear the fu stamping the stabbed farm
horses, and the NEW of a hawk overhead Before
and around darkness suggesting illimable space
Beyond. the kitchen fire threw bright reflections on
the broken ground shelving away into obscurity the
lamp in Sallys window farther up making paler
patch beyond In the distance the light shone
steadily
Gradually mufted throbbing came to their ears,