Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-07-16

CHAPTER XII.-CoNT1NUED.
Miss Betty raised her eyebrows in
terrogatively, but Guy would not an
swer her unspoken question. In a
few moments he cursed his folly for
not doing so while he had the oppor-
'tunity. A woeful misunderstanding
would thus have been avoided.
II hope no unpleasantness has re-
suited from the timely aid you gave
those two Sisters of Charity?" said
Miss Betty, demurely.
II have only pleasure in the thought
that was able to assist them" an
swered Guy, CALAMITY.
AS he spoke he fancied he heard a
noise in the underground behind him
and looked around hastily. He could
see nothing to arouse his suspicious
and both Miss Betty and her friend
followed his quick look with question:
ing eyes.
'You were about to tell why you
wanted to see me, Miss Vlanding-
ham," continued Guy, smothering
every symptom of alarm and looking
as calm and self-possessed as was pos
sible under the circumstances. II
don't think you could be reasonable
if you tried.''
Indeed" she exclaimed with a
smile. "How do you know that have
not summoned you here to make a
captive of you? How do you know,
sir, that haven't a horde of Harmony
people at my beck and call, lying in
ambush yonder?'
Guy laughed at the tragic air she put
on to fit the words.
II am sure there are no Harmony
people over there" he replied, trying
to imagine what the sheriff was doing
by this time.
Nevertheless, you seem very nerv-
ous," said Miss Betty. "It is getting
late and you are anxious to start
homeward, 1 can see very plainly, so
will hasten to finish the business that
brought me-" Swapping with the whip
lash at wild rose blooming on the
verge of sandy beach and prairie sod,
she went on in a manner that was cap
tivatingly confidential. "Capt Blue,
one of Harmony's most warlilze citi-
zens has organized company of in
vincibles and is drilling them night and
day. There are score of men in the
company and l am very much afraid,
MIR. Herbert, that possessing the
means for some headstrong piece of
work will lead to the work being done
l have tried to break up the Invinci-
bles, and to scatter them, but what
can one woman do against 20 arme,
men? They have defied me and declare
that they are organized to protect
their homes at the expense of their
lives, if need be. Now, Concord is TAX
ing just the course to make trouble
and arouse the Invincibles to some
thing overt and desperate. I was 60
ing to ask you to use your influence
with your fellow townsmen and see
if you cannot impress upon them the
expediency of more conciliatory
course. And now you tell me that you
have no influence! am very sorry to
hear that, for have grave fears of the
1nvincibles. If only
Miss Betty was interrupted by a
quavering shout, instantly followed by
fiercer yells in voices of stronger tim
bre. Guys heart leaped into his
throat and he whir]ed about in the di-
rection from which the sounds came
This is trap for us, Betty!" cried
Miss Pinkney in startled tones. ooh,
mercy! What shall we do? They're
Concord people!"
Miss Pinkney was right as to the
newcomers being Concord people, but
wrong, terribly wrong, in suggesting
such a thing as trap.
Bilkins, Glimmer and Pettibone were
dashing across the stretch of treeless
plain straight toward them. They
looked most formidable, especially the
sheriff whose whole manner suggested
the avenging Nemesis of tabled origin.
'And this" cried Miss Betty, pas
sionate reproach in her every tone,
''this is your doing, Mr.. Herbert! Your
base plot will fail, but I shall never for
get it, never, never!"
She cut her horse with the whip and
the animal sprang away so swiftly
that Miss Betty's becoming hat was
jerked from her fair head and fell to
the bottom of the carriage.
As for Guy, he was stricken dumb in
his tracks. He could say nothing, do
nothing-simply stand where he was
and watch the carriage disappear on
one hand and the shouting and angry
trio advance on the other.
What untimely fate had brought
Bilkins and Glimmer to the sheriff S
rescue and made possible this awful
finale?
Guy was soon to know.