The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-22

I mean to get books and teachers and
study hard till 1 m as clever and talk
and write as good as those city girls that
laughed at me at the hop last night He
shan't be ashamed of me-
A faint rustling in the bushes aroused
her from her happy reverie
CHANGING around the corner of the pow
der house she saw Bill Loucks stealthily
making his way toward that h3silding.
He mustn't see me!' she thought
Iheres murder in his eyes. He'll stop
at nothin' now
Noiselessly she slipped into the pow
DER house, closing and barring the door
behind her, but quite Oblivious of the
fact that one Of her bonnet strings was
caught in the jamb, and futtered along
the c-stside of the Intel.
She could hear Bits steaIthy tread as
he neared the space in front Of the DOW
der house; then his growl of rage at
finding no one there.
Urged by fOrlorn hope of getting
the money before it could be handed over
to the men, LOucks had followed Ora
from the tollgate.
He knew that his attempted robbery
would land him in state prison if he
were caught, and he determined on one
final struggle for the 10000 before he
fled.
Rage and despair had driven the man
nearly insane. Ora could hear him NUT
tering curses and threats as he stood ir-
resolute near the aqueduct. Then he
spoke, unconsciously, his thoughts as he
moved nearer the powder house.
TOO late!" he grumbled. She's given
Bard the money. Yes, she got here just
on time, for here's the powder train all
laid ready to blow up the tOllgate May
be 1 can get hold of her before she tells.
If L can there'n be no tellin' by her. Not
in this world. But she's gone! And
III have to steal a horse and make a
break across the state line before the
crowd gets back.
He was moving away when a gust of
wind gently swayed the hanging end Of
bonnet string at the powder house door
way.
The movement cought Loucks' eye
1.-The powder house!' he muttered a
savage joy lighting up his face Shes
In there. That's her bonnet string. Must
have been waitin here for Bard and
saw me comm and run in there to hide.
Then she has the money after all
She hasn't given it up yet Twenty
thousand dollars!"
He ran up the steps and tried the door,
"Locked!" he growled.
Then he called:
"Oran'
No reply.
"Orar
Still no answer.
Il know you're in there, girl?' he said,
after applying his ear to the keyhole
"'cause l can hear you breathe I'm
lock the door I've got sOmethin to tell
you. l won't harm you. Open the door"
No sound, no movement from within.
oh, you can't speak, can you? Why
won't you let me in? There's more dan
ger in there, with all them powder kegs
an loose powder than there is outside
'Spose someone was to toss lighted
match in through that grating over the
door?"
I'D come out then. Through the roof.
most likely"
open the door or I'll break it in?>
'Do-and I'll touch match to e--e
powder in here"
Shed do it, too. She never lies''
thought Loucks, stepping back in alarm.
Every minutes worth money. Someone's
liable to come here any second.
Ora he went on aloud, you saw
at the tollgate? Well, I've bound
him and locked him in there. Come out
or I'll go back and shoot him.
Ora laughed.
''You liar!" she retorted ''do you sup
pose 1 believe Bob Blessing'd ever let
himself be bound and locked up by you?"
You won't come out?''
"Once and for all-Noi'
"Then I play my last card. The train
of powders laid and a lot of kegs is piled T
under the aqueduct. Ill light them and
blow you and Blessings aqueduct sky I
high Good-by, girl
She heard him strike a match.
Silently opening the door little way
she saw him fire the train of powder
The next instant, forgetful Of her peril, !
needless of all save Blessings reputation /
be lost by the breaking of the dam, Ora |
rushed from the powder house and
stamped out the train of fire.
Before she could step back BIN Loucks
had her by the throat.
(To be continued.) ~