The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-03-29

Susan STEPPED aside to let them pass and
one of the horses, catching sight of her,
suddenly sprang aside and almost un-
iously and saw to her astonishment that
the mans heavy beard was twisted very
much to one side. But he quickly re-
gained his seat with an oath, and, strik-
ing the horse, clattered after his COM
panlons. Susan wondered why the man
was disguised and dimly fancied that the
three rough-looking strangers were up to
some mischief. But she was thinking of
Jack the uext moment and the strange
incident vas shelved.
A few moments Of brisk walking
brought her to the brow Of the hill where
the road turned sharply and ran at an
oblique along the side Of the steep de-
scent. Susan seated herself on a log and
looked down into the village, which lay,
as it were, at her very feet. She traced
the one long street of the hamlet, which
was but continuation of the highway,
and followed its dusty line past her
aunt's trim home, and the little park with
It's soldiers monument, and the town
hall. and then along to the bank-Jack' S
bank-and there her gaze rested.
Miss Susan's eyes were good ones and
the air was very clear. She saw a
horseman sitting in his saddle at the
bank door. He was holding the brides
Of two riderless horses. Even as she
noted this the two riders rushed from
the building and leaped into their sad
dies. There were puffs of white smoke
and sharp detonations. Susan could see
people running in wild confusion. Then
the three riders started at sharp can
ter up the road. Every dozen yards or
fire down the roadway.
SuSan knew what this Stranun coono
meant. 1t was daylight bank robbery,
one of a series that terrorized all the
countryside during the past summer.
The three robbers were retreating with
their plumber. What had happened in
the bank? Why was Jack not pursu-
ing them? She suddenly turned sick and
cold.
Then an indescribable impulse seized
her. She let herself over the edge Of
down the steep declivity. She meant to
intercept the ruffians- She slid, she
stumbled, once she fell, but she never let
60 her hold on her precious rife. And
then, as the earth suddenly seemed fall
ing away from her, she reached the level
ground in confused heap. But she was
on her feet in moment. The highway
was directly before her. The robbers
were cantering by. The man in the rear
was the man with the beard, and he had
coarse bag flung across the saddle be-
fore him. He was directly opposite Su.
san as she plunged down to the edge Of
the roadway. He must have taken her
for an enemy, for his glittering revolver
flew up and he fred in her direction
quite at random. Susan felt a sudden
twitch at her broad-brimmed hat and
quickly dropped behind some bushes that
lined the roadway: The barrel of her
rife rose. The robber was rapidly in
creasing the distance between them.
Could she shoot this man in cold blood ?
She had him covered. A moment more
and it might be too late. She thought Of
Jack and fired.
The horse of the fleeing man suddenly
leaped to one side and flung his rider
heavily to the earth. As he went down
he dragged the bag of plumber with him.
The riderless horse galloped after his
companions.
Then Susan Cation Brown sprang into
the roadway and fred five shots in rapid
succession after the two horsemen. She
did not aim to hit them. but rather to
brighten them away. They hesitated a
moment and then dashed madly ahead;
the riderless horse galloping in the rear
man. He was unconscious. She STOPPED
over him for moment and then drew
away the coarse bag. AS she suspected,
it was half filed withs currency. She
shuddered as she looked at the livid face
Of the ruffian and then at the blood that
was slowly saturating his coatsleeve. She
began to feel little faint.
She was aroused by the sound of
wheels and the shouting of man. A
light phaeton was coming toward her.
In moment she recognized the driver
as the local livery stable proprietor. He
leaped cut beside her.
mailed him. didn't your he shouted in
paroxysm of excitement. Il was Just
ready to drive ont o my stable when they
pelted by. As I got into the roadway I
saw You blazin' away. Kill him p
No" said Susan. EHe is stunned by
the fall from his horse. only aimed
to break his shoulder -. &
7 on done it all right" cried the livery
man. by GEORGE" he shrieked, ''it's
Jim Bascom himselfy' - -
Susan felt her head going round. ..z
3 s.Mr. Tompklns," she said, will you
kindly drive me to the bank as quickly as
Yes. ma'am, WILL, he replied, with
great heartiness. You've got the stuff
there, haven't you? Jump in r
And moment later they were speed
ing toward the bank. They had not gone:
twenty yards when they met the first
group OF hastily armed men who were on
the trail Of the robbers. .$#z5s5
You'll find Jim Bascom lyin mp
here. shouted the liver q She shot