Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-09-18

them and bllndfolded. This, then. was
what they too. might expect
In n few moments noise was heard
at the front door OF the Miranda. and
almost Immediately II was flung open
With crash thar shook the car, ana
then the command was given:
"Step out here, John Draper. and
eretty dun quiekw
"pon't gol oh. don't goF begged
Florence. grasping his arm. TO which
plant Mrs. Hurst added her plea
Draper stood irresolute. Then quick
football was heard. and Jim Dallon ap-
peared In the curtained doorway, car
bine In hand.
did you hear me CALI" he thunder
ed. "John Draper, | want you! No
ones goIn to hurt you, man! Onless
you want to be carried out you'll walk
outr'
Gently releasing Flo's grasp he led
her TO Mrs. Hurst and with a nod all
around stepped out ahead OF the rob-
Der leader. On the platform he was
seized by two OF the gang. who rapid
" searched him for concealed weap-
ons, taking away even small pen
knife, and then proceeded 10 pinion
his arms and blindfold him. This done
he was led TO place alongside Filley
and told to keep his mouth shet"
Chester was subjected to the same
treatment. and then came Gustave's
turn. The poor Frenchman made lots
OF sport for the band. falling on his
knees and begging for his life, be-
seeching them not TO "coot troat." un-
III AT last he was forced TO rise by
well placed kick In the neither regions
and ranged alongside the five other un-
happy masculines.
sullen despair sat on Fllley's counte-
nance. He saw all his plans dashed to
flinders by this untoward break In
their Journey. At this instant he had
hoped to have been bound eastward on
the fastest express. and he cursed John
Draper by all his gods for having drag
ged him out west at such time. Con-
seQuently he felt none Of the indigna-
ton experienced by Draper and Ives
when they were forced TO stand by and
know that rough hands were being laid
on the women they loved, while they
were powerless for help or defense.
Chester ground his teeth and strained
at his bonds until they cut Into bis
coat sleeve. The veins In Diapers
neck and forehead swelled. and he
grew purple In the face with suppress
ed rage.
"You Internal villalnsw be roared.
and then could have bitten bis tongue
In half. for at that instant the voice OF
Florence Granniss became audible as
she appeared at the car door leading
the little procession OF four
Their captors had forborne to PIN
Ion the ladies' arms, but they were
bllndfoIded like the rest. nor were they
suffered TO come near their natural pro-
tectors.
IL can't stand this" exclaimed Ches-
ter. as he started 10 run after the wo-
men, the bandage having dropped from
his eyes during his contortions. But
he was speedily yanked backward and
downward by one OF the desperadoes,
who proceeded to sit on bis chest until
Dallon himself came up an inquired:
Whats the rowY
"Gettin a little obstropolus, that's
air. was the response.
"Set him up," was the command.
And then, addressing himself 10 Dra-
per and Chester. the captain OF the
gang. thus spoke:
"You needn't be afeared that we're
goin TO harm them ladies o yourn-
leastways. not yet! We've got little
matter O. business to settle with you
men first. and we're goin where we
kin talk quiet and confidential like"
'If you harm q bair OF their heads
you shall pay dearly" exclaimed Ches-
ter hotly. and in the same breath John
Draper uttered the words:
"As sure as there's n God In heaven
you shall suffer for this, you hound!"
A sneering laugh was the only re-
sponse as the chief rascal gave the sig
nal to march. The bandages were
carefully looked to, and then the entire
party set out In single file. prisoner
between every two robbers, the ladies
and the maid heading the column, with
Jim Dallon In front.
They proceeded thus In silence and
by a devious way for more than an
hour. though il seemed like four. The
road was rugged, and It's general trend
was upward. In fact, they were as
cending the bed Of dried up water
course The pace was necessarily slow,
for the ladies being ahead they could
not proceed very fast and frequently
had to be helped and half carried over
the rougher places. Both Florence and
Madge at first Indignantly spurned all
such assistance, but when Dallon turn
ed and said. "If they kick, boys, just
carry 'emv' they decided to accept the
lesser Of the two evils. As for Mrs.
Hurst. she was too dazed and dispirit-
ed to offer any resistance.
At length a halt was called. Each
captive was half lifted, hauled or
boosted up what seemed like a steep
bank. and then. moving forward again,
their tired and weary feet sank into a
carpet Of soft sand. A few PAGES more
and the bandages were removed from
their eyes. and, looking about them,
our friends discovered that they were
all reunited and that they were stand
Ing In q large and airy cavern down
whose side meandered little brook
and dimly lighted from the entrance,
which was fringed with bushes around
its upper edges.
Both Florence and Madge sprang to-
ward their natural protectors with ex-
carnations Of sympathy. Mrs. Hurst
sank wearily down on the dry sand,
while Reuben Filley looked grimly and
sulkily about him. The game was up,
he thought. so far as he was concern
ed. II mattered not to him what be-
came of the rest. So he leaned moodily
against the rocky wall of the cave. bit
ing bis mustache.
Soon a IRE was kindled, and s-ndry
tin cups Of wretched coffee were hand.
ed around. together with some half
baked "fapjacks." from which, how.
ever. the ladies turned In disgust,
while Gustave muttered French invec-
lives on the rough and barbarous cook
cry. This apology for meal being end
ed, the men were hidden to take their
places In line again and were marched