The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-31

LIVINGSTONE PHARMACY.
a couple of empty mail bags they bor
rowed from the clerk in the forward com
partment rude mattress was improvised,
and there they laid her down and chafed
her hands till the eyelids quivered and her
lips moved
She'll be all right in a bit now" re-
marked the optimistic brakeman. Then
he picked up his lantern and made for the
rear platform
Were slowing up for the water tower,
he remarked over his shoulder "As soon
as the engines drunk her fill an we're off
III be back again" Two minutes later
the train stood motionless upon the shin
ing tracks, and Jim could hear the CUR
gle of water as the big swinging pipe
was brought in position over the thirsty
painting engine. The boy went to one OF
the sliding doors of the baggage car and
ran it half way back that he might look
out. 1t had ceased to rain, but all was
black except for the broad bands of
light which cleaned through the car
windows. AS Jim glanced back along
the train he saw the figure of a man
stoop over the couplings that bound the
baggage car to the passenger coach. The
boy vaguely wondered If something were
wrong with the air-brakes. He took the
man to be Williams; so did the conduc-
tor, who was up forward talking to the
engineer.
Both, however, were wrong, as they af-
terward found out. The woman on the
car moved uneasily and Jim shut the
door and turned to his patient. He lifted
her head and famed her gently with one
of the big palm leaf fans which formed
part of his stock in trade.
The train had started off with unusual
velocity and the boy fancied he heard
indistinct shouts and cries as they sped
along. Presently there came sounds of
a scuffie in the mail compartment, and
Jim half wondered if Bill. the clerk had
lost his balance and fallen over some of
his pouches. The minutes passed and Jim
was beginning to think mean things of
Williams for not joining him as he had
promised, when the door leading into the
mail compartment opened softly and a
masked man, revolver in hand. peered
in at him.
Hands upr' Kissed the man. The old
lady stirred and half opened her eyes.
Afterward Jim was amazed at his own
GOODNESS at this trying moment
For heavens sake, don't let the old
lady see yer. You'd scare her to death"
he jeered out; then he went on tanning
the woman.
The man lowered his gun and stepped
forward you're a cool uni" he growl-
ed. admiringly
Suddenly he stopped short and great,
long string of strange oaths burnt from
his lips.
'Whar did she come from" he roared.
Then, without waiting for an answer he
tore his mask aside, and gathered up the
woman in his arms.
wake up, old ladyr' he cried in a
voice that was almost soft. Here's some
one you want to see. l known
The woman's eyelids suddenly fiuttered
open.
robin, My Robin" she screamed. and
the thin fingers locked themselves around
his neck.
IT knowed I'd find yer some day." she
sobbed. can yer amt goin' to leave me
no more, be yer. Robin? I'd die eff yer
didw
"Thar! Thar Ole ladyr' muttered the
mail robber soothingly. I'm going 10
leave this ere car pretty quick-sorter ur-
gent business-but you'll come with me-
so don't fret about thatp'
Robin Hood, the well-named, went over
to Jim.
"See here, kidw he remarked. 1--WE
been a terror the last couple O. years.
an no mistake; but when l caught sight
o. that dear old lady's face, so pale and
He paused moment. and then went on
THE railroad treated me like dirt, an
then-an' then l lis went ter the bad"
He seized Jim fiercely by the Shout
ders
But I ain't so bad that I'd like mother
to know I'm jls a common mail robber
an I'll blow yer bloomin' head or a-for
I'll let you give me away to her"
Thar, 1 didn't mean to be rough; cot
knI !, xxyht hnVls
I'll never forget it,"
He reached up and pulled viciously a
the bell rope. Come, mother! he said
1--WE get off here"
Have we come to a station" asked tn
feeble old lady as she was helped to he
feet
mot exactly; but I've got such pull
with the road they'll stop wherever
say!" rejoined the son with grim smile
Here he hauled some heavy envelope
from his pocket.
"Give these to the mail clerk" he salt
to Jim. 9TH relieve his mind" Then N
added in a lower tone: That's to SHOW
I've quit the 'hold-up' business. Goo'
night. and-keep yer mouth shetF
with a grinding and a humping tn
train had rapidly come to stop. Picking
up the old lady in his strong arms, tn
robber stepped out on the platform an'
on to the ground, and I'm moment wa
swallowed up in the night.
Then Jim saw through the rear doc
that was open that the rest OF the trail
had been left behind. Evidently Robil
Hood had been the man Jim mistook 70
williams when they had stopped to TAX
water.
The engine crew burst into the car a
that moment with white faces.
where's the bloomin' train, anyway
howled the engineer. Then he caugh
sight OF the mask. Thunder he NUT
tered. 80 that's what's the row. an
he wiped the sweat from his brow will
a trembling hand.
There have been few hold-ups IN South
ern Missouri OF late years. and appar
entity Robin Hood has gone out OF bust
ness for good