The suburban citizen., 1900-11-24

and her astonished aunt, who had no
idea what was occurring.
Bessie mechanically reached under
the pillow for her watch; as she did
so the robber, who held a revolver in
one hand, impatiently put up his other
to adjust the black calico mask which
had slipped down q little and Bessie
caught a glimpse of his face. What
she saw caused her to cry
"Why, Fran" She did not finish
the sentence; she had tainted.
The man had snatched the watch
from the girls hand, at the same time
demanding her purse when she spoke
he hastily held the timepiece close to
the lantern, then, with one quick
glance at the girl, who lay in a swoon,
he half threw it upon the bed and was
turning away when the sharp report
of pistol rang out.
An old man from Denver, who occu-
pied the bert. next to Bessie and her
aunt, hearing the commotion, had
guessed its import, and hurriedly tax
ing revolver from his valise, par
TALLY emerged from his berth, but
second robber, who was guarding the
train men, Immediately discovered
him and fired, killing him instantly.
The robbers at once commanded the
conductor to pull the bell rope. He
did so, and as the train slowed up they
sprang off and quickly disappeared in
the darkness, followed by futile vol
ley of shots from the now thoroughly
aroused passengers.
When Bessie recovered conscious
ness she found the passengers in the
widest state of excitement, and her
horror and Indignation knewno bounds
when told Of the brutal murder of the
poor man whose bravery cost him his
life.
She experienced a feeling Of relief,
however, when she learned that it had
not been the man who was collecting
the money and other valuables, but an
other-a taller one, who had fired the
shot with such terrible effect
The girl was filed with a sickenng
dread and bitter humiliation as she
again thought Of Frank. Not many
hours before she was actually wonder
ing whether or not she loved him, al
most deciding that she did.
How she had been deceived! She
knew now that she had but allowed
herself to be dazzled by his compli-
ments and fiattered by his attentions,
that love had taken no part in the af-
fair, and it was with shame that she
remembered having compared him
with Harry.
Yes, he was different and she was
glad. But how dare she think of
Harry-so good and true? She was
entirely unworthy of him, and it
would serve her only as she deserved
if, during her absence, he had found
pleasure in the society of some girl
more worthy of him than she, who
had been so vain and silly.
a telegram to Bessies aunt at Chi.
cago brought the happy news of the
great Improvement of Bessie's mother,
and when the train reached Potosi her
father was there to meet them with
the glad tidings of sure and speedy re-
covery.
Harry, too, was at the station and
found an opportunity to ask in a whis.
per:
"Bessie, have you decided?"
The almost inaudlble "Yes, Harry"
sent the blood from the young mans
face, leaving him very pale.
"Am l to be happy at last, BessY
he asked.
The glance which she gave him, even
when she said, mot now, Harry,
please" brought the color again to his
face, for he knew she had decided in
his favor.
Bessie's relatives were greatly
alarmed when 1t became known that
she and Aunt Sue were in the midst
of that daring "hold up" They
thought it extremely fortunate that
no loss had been sustained, even Bes-
sizes watch having been accidentally
dropped on the bed instead Of going
into the bag of the robber carried for
that purpose.
Several days passed before the pa
pers reported the capture Of the train
robbers, but neither was taken alive,
one having been killed while trying to
escape from a farmhouse, the other
shooting himself in order to escape
death in the flames, his shelter having
been fired by the sheriff's posse.
This man was described as hand
some Dick Powers, who always dressed
well, was well educated, and had
every appearance of gentleman. He
was known by several aliases, and
had been often seen in Denver
One evening, about week after her
return to POtosi Harry said:
Bessie, can you not give me your
hnal answer now, as you promised?
VIII you benny wife?'
"Yes, Harry" she said slowly, 'if
you are still willing to trust your hap
piness in the hands Of one so romantic
and foolish as l."
When, a few moments later, she
managed to escape from the embrace
and kisses which threatened to smoth-
or har eha said.