El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-16

ing down to his iceboat a little figure
crept out of the bushes and spoke t'
| him.
rs it you, Rose?
eyes" she whispered. He could
scarcely see her face, but the fact tina
she stood so near him thrilled him
strangely. He had begun by pitying
the girl, but he found himself wonder
ing if he should end by falling in love
with her.
I'll do what l can for you before 1
come up next time" he said, and he
spoke more cOldly than he intended.
She shrank back a little.
II only wanted to tell you that
that If you can bring me any help it
must be very soon"
| why"
Because uncle and Hi are deter
mined that the-the matter shall end
quickly. Perhaps they are afraid 1
will tell somebody"
You mean that they are going to
get you married right away?"
| Yes"
'How? There's no minister in these
parts now"
But there's justice of the peace
| >. 1
do it in spite of any objections on my
part
| Franklyn'S jaws came together with
snap. "When?" he asked.
.'Not for several days, 1 think. The
justice is away just now"
You'll see me day after tomorrow"
declared the engineer, and a moment
later the Ice Wrath skinned out into
the river.
by thunder-' muttered FRANKLIN,
after he had started. Il wish 1 had
swung her aboard here and carried her
off. She could have taken the train
at the landing for Bangor. But, then,
that wouldn't have been fair to her.
1t would have started some evil tongue
to wagging. The legal way is the best
and safest method"
! But after he had talked with a law
yer he began to believe that an ''elope-
ment'' would have been the best way
! out of the difficulty. after all. The
| legal process promised to be a long
! one, and there was a grave doubt in
! Franklyn'S mind if Bannock and Hi
! Conley would await the pleasure of the
courts before carrying their own plans
| into effect.
He started for Bannock's the follow
| ing morning in n state of conSidera BILE
indecision. 1t would be a week or more
before the lawyer could get an order
from the court restraining Abe Ban
mock from exercising further guard
ianship over the girl until the case had
been examined by the judge. and a
week was long time.
When he arrived at the tavern. he
hot ,ir,.y on
foot There was Il crowd of men
around the door, and within FRANKLIN
saw the petticoats of two or three wO-
men, He entered the barroOm in some
trepidation.
but he was not waiting upon custom
erS. His wife was doing the honorS
for the thirsty crowd.
Hello. Mr. Franklyn.'' exclaimed
the tavern keeper. "Might-hic-y
glad ter see We. Ye're in good season"
whats up?" demanded the engi-
neer carelessly, but his heart beat
faster.
.'Weddin." said Abe, with satisfaction.
M niece's goin ter be married. JUS
tice'H be-hic-here shortly"
Franklyn kept a strong hand upon
his emotions and waited
Its a great day, sir. Hope yell Jine
us. Thar's the happy bridegroom over
yander." And the tipsy tavern keeper
pointed to the figure of Hi Conley loll-
ing upon n dirty table across the room.
At his words Hi arose unsteadily and
looked at FRANKLIN with an ugly light
in his eyes. He was not as drunk as
Abe. but he was the more dangerous.
ipf a
l reckon l kin look out for my wife too.
l want all you fellers ter take notice."
he said, waving his hand to the crowd
at the bar. anybody that gifts ter
shinnyin round my wife'll git inter
trouble. That Soes!'
"Oh. you're all right. Hi!'' responded
FRANKLIN, with n laugh. But he de-
sired with a mighty desire to seize the
fellow by the throat and choke the
breath out of his cowardIy body.
Mrs. Abe followed the engineer into
the dining room for a moment.
Il reckon you kin have some dinner,
sir,'' she said. But Resell hat ter
wait on yer. 'Twon't take her long,
an 'twon't hurt her, slong's she's actin
SO offish.' She went to the foot of the
stairs and shouted: Rose. You Rose!
COule uON IL NeFe- here , MI. l. fdhhiS IL
to be waited OHr'
In a moment the girls white face ap-
peared at the door.
Thank God, Thank GOdp' she whis-
pered tremblingly. Il had given up
hope. sat there waiting to hear the
the justice come. with this by me-"
She drew out from under her skirt
sharp bladed knife. Il thought it was
| 4