Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-11-05

once Il shadow fell In front or the
kitchen door 1t was Mrs. Holmes.
bareheaded and white faced. as she
had run down from the hotel at the
first alarm.
where's your father. Sue" she
asked breathlessly.
COggins rose.
Right here. Mrs. Holmes" he said.
What's upY'
ooh, I'm so gladr' she exclaimed.
"Jerrys gone to meet the troops from
cheyenne, buSthere's Tom and dozen
more up there at the mines. They've
got a lot OF dynamite, and the boys
don't even know they're coming. Jerry
told Tom to stand guard until he came
with the troops. There is no way but
the motor line"
Jack looked beyond her to where Sue
stood, alert and eager eyed.
"Shes only got me-" he began, but
Sue shook her head at him reproach-
fully.
do you think I'd stay here alone?
or course not" She had her sunbOn-
net in her hand, untying the tangled
strings quickly. We'll go, father and
l. Mrs. Holmes" she added to the lat
ter. You just watch for the troops
and send them on quick, and well look
out for Tom and the rest. Won't we,
fatherY
Co9gins entered the little house and
returned with his hat and coat.
Wonder II any OF them are watch
ing the track" Coggins said presently
as the ear swung along the track and
up Big Eagles first incline. Sue sat I'm
her old place beside him.
"There are splendid places to hide
all along here" she said. One mile
was passed The car swirled merrlly
around Black Rock bend. 1t was
straight running from there around
the mountain side. Coggns was whis-
Ting his favorite Dixie Land" and
to Sue the ride seemed only the same
as those she had taken so often. 1t
was hard to realize that the lives Of 80
many people depended on the speed Of
the little yellow car crawling like some
strange new animal steadily along the
south shoulder Of Big Eagle, but all at
once there came a sharp report, and
something struck the woodwork above
her head.
They're up the track" Cog8ins said
Lean down low. dearie, away from
the window. | saw heads bobbing
over those bushes"
Another shot buried itself some
where In the window casing, and a
mans voice shouted.
"Slow up, there, Cogginsl We want
that carr
Jack drew his breath hard and
glanced back TO see that Sue was safe.
Half mile more to the mines, and
perhaps every foot Of the way an am
bush, He smiled grimly and lOosened
the lever in his hand. although not Il
hundred feet away man stood In the
center of the track with a leyeled pis-
tol. Coggins recognized him.
Look out, Steve, I'm going to run
her through" he called, but as the car
swept forward with fresh impetus
there was another shot, and Sue saw
her father fall Before she fully real
lied what had happened she had
sprung up and taken his place. and
when the strikers started to make q
q
pink sunbonnet waving from the win
dow. A dozen shots had followed up
the one sent by the foreman, but now
the sight Of that flag Of truce stayed
many a finger waiting Oh a trigger,
and the angry faces on either side OF
the track softened as Sue leaned out
and waved to them as she had so often
done.
you've shot fatherw she cried, and
then the car had passed. Not another
shot was fired, for the word went from
lip to lip, ITS Coggins' Sue"
Five minutes later the car drew up
at the mines. and Tom Holmes ran to
meet it. Now that all was over and
the danger past Sue was kneeling be-
side her father, crying as If her heart
would break.
"He isn't dead, Suew Tom exclaimed
after he had found the wound in his
shoulder and Sue had sobbed out her
story. And never mind the strikers.
Well be ready for them"
When the strikers came up the mar
row gulch, they found the entrance to
the mines guarded by sturdy little
force II armed men, so rs the sunlight
faded over the mountains they settled
down to Siege.
1t seemed an age until there came
the sound Of the surprise In the gulch
as the soldiers came up behind the
strikers and drove them back, on and
on. through the thick woods Then at
last all was silent, and when the motor
car made it's homeward trip at dawn
with Sue and her father and old
Holmes and Tom safe on board the
blue clad boys who guarded the track
cheered when they saw the face OF
Coggins' Sue at the window. And up
Mt the mines, when the first shaft OF
gold shot through the pines, 1t glim-
mercd on something that tluttered tar
up on a big hagpole outside the en-
trance, 4 faded pink sunbonnet hang
ing there in honor beside the stars ana
stripes,
An advertisement was inserted for
some one to take charge Of the choir
and play the organ ut village church.
The following was among the replies:
"Sir-I noticed your advertisement for
an organist and music teacher, either