Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-17


reports when there burst through the
doorway moist and rather bedraggled
apparition in q macintosh, with limp
tufts Of brown tresses all awry beneath
the dripping hat and face flushed
with eNertion, half hidden in the turn
ed up collar. He dropped his work, all
the surprise it is possible to feel being
expressed on his countenance.
Miss Elwellr' he exclaimed and
| went to her.
"Run They're coming" she gasped
and got no further for lack Of breath.
She caught at his arm. and he assisted
her to chair, but she remained stand
ing.
mo, no. Run for your life" she
said hurriedly. They are coming
down here to wreck everything, and
they mean harm to YOU"
"Who?"
1.-THE men. A whole mob Of them,
and they are all-oh all tipsy"
Our men? Coming down here to
wreck everything? Impossible!
'They are Listen" A low murmur,
barely audible. could be heard through
! the open windows. mingled with the
sounds from the working face Of the
canal cutting. That's Them" she con-
tinued. "They are all crazy mad about
! some grievance against you and the
company. Oh, Mr.. Imrie, hurry! They
Will soon be here"
Our men?" repeated Imrie, not at
nil compromising. and added, How
do you know this?"
THAT little Cusack told me, and I
ran down here to tell you"
"Alone"' he asked in amaZement.
YES; hurry"
"Alone across the toughest half mile
of country in the state OF Illinois? You
you did this for me?" he cried, end
ing in almost shout of eXultation and
looking down into the depths of her
eyes, which for second. at his words,
| lost their feared look and became suf-
fused with soft light of newly realiz-
ed affection. lie forgot completely the
exigency of the moment.
ooh, dear, can't you hurry?" she
said. Don't stand here while every
minute puts you in greater danger
Instead of acquiescing he prolonged
the moment Of sweet triumph. until
she yelled her eyes from his steady
gaze Then he leisurely went to
M'Keon's desk and pulled down the
top. shut the door and locked it and
fumbled in his pocket for bunch OF
keys, With exasperating slowness Sc
| lecting one for drawer of the desk.
She stood consumed with Impotence
the while, and finally asked, Aren't
you going?"
mo. l guess not" he replied calmly.
"Why? Oh. please. please. l won't
stay here another minute. Why don't
you go?"
well. in the first place." he said, II
think there is some mistake; but II that
is not the case little intimidation at
the start might change their minds.
/. Kirby and Chaplin and some more of
the handy chaps will be around some
where, and will take hand in any
! fracas that should occur. And, besides,
there are several thousands Of dollars
in the safe and it would not look well
for me to-
"But for my sake" she said impul-
sively. you think only Of the COM
pnny. John. for my sake"
Unconscloasly, in the intensity Of her
pleading, she had put a little hand upon
his arm. He covered it with his own
big palm and gazed into her entreating
eyes. "For your sake, Bob" he NUT
tered absently. Then he pinched her
fingers and gave vent to little laugh
in which there was no mirth, but an
immense amount of happiness.
Don't be alarmed" he said neassur-
ingly. 81 hardly think our men have
any cause for such action, and anyway,
we'll take care Of ourselves-you and 1,
Bob You sit here and I'll go out and
see what they want"
He placed chair in a corner and
she obediently seated herself in 1t with
out a word. Somehow, now, she felt
a perfect trust and confidence in his
ability to protect both himself and her.
She watched him absentlnindedly While
he took from a drawer holster with
big revolver in 1t and deposited 1T
in his pocket. Then as gust Of wind
brought the clamor distinctly to his
ears. he turned to her and said, Don't
be afraid; it will amount to nothing
and hurried out. He stood in the half
shadow between door and window and
awaited the approach o. the men.
Now that he heard the mingled ours
es, shouts and laughter at that short
distance he felt the least bit Of anxiety.
Ex.aR| kkE ~ NA