Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-08-27
i ENELYN B. BALD1VTN.

The head OF the celebrated Baldv
to return from the arctics with his pla
getting low and because of the destrut
rived at Honningsvaag, Norway, recent
establishing food depots for the final
lay. as 1t were, at her very feet. She
traced the one long street of the ham,
let, which was but n continuation of
the highway, and followed the dusty
line past her aunt's trim home, and
the little park with its soldiers mon
ument, and the town hall. and then
along to the bank-Jack's bank-and
there her gaze rested.
Miss Susan's eyes were good ones
and the air was very clear. She saw
a horseman sitting in his saddle at the
bank door. He was holding the bri-
dies of two riderless horses Even as
she noted this the two riders rushed
from the building and leaped into their
saddles. There We're puffs of white
smoke and sharp denotations. Susan
could see people running in wild con.
fusion. Then three riders started at a
sharp canter up the road. Every dozen
yards or SO one would turn in his sad
die and fire down the roadway.
Susan knew what this strange scene
meant. 1t was 2 daylight bank rob-
berry. one of series that terrorIzed all
the countryside during the past sum.
mer. The three robbers We're retreat.
ing with their plumber. What had hap
pcned in the bank? Why was Jack
not pursuing them? She suddenly turn
ed sick and cold.
Then an indescribable impulse seized
her. She let herself over the edge Of
the bank and began mad scramble
down the steep declivity. She meant
to intercept the ruttians. She slid,
she stumbled, once she fell. but she
never let. so her hold on her precious
rifle. Aud then. MS the earth suddenly
tseemed falling away from her, she
reached the level ground in confused
heap. But she was on her feet in a
moment. The highway was directly be-
fore her. The robbers were cantering
by. The man In the rear was the man
with the beard, and he had coarse
bag flung across the saddle before him.
He was directly opposite Susan rs she
plunged down to the edge of the road
way. He must have taken her for an
enemy, for his glitterlng revolver few
mp and lie fired in her direction quite
at random. Susan felt sudden twltch
at her broad-brlmmed hat and quickly
dropped behind some bushes that lined
the roadway. The barrel of her rife
rose. The robber was rapidly increas-
ing the distance between them. She
had him covered. A moment more and
it might be too late. She thought OF
Jack and fred.
The horse Of the fleeing man sudden
ly leaped to one side and flung his
rider heavily to the earth. AS he went
down he dragged the bag of plumber
with him. The riderless horse galloped
after his companions.
Then Susan Cation Brown sprang
into the roadway and fired five shots in
rapid succession after the two horse
men. She did not aim to hit them, but
rather to frighten them away. They
hesitated moment and then dashed
madly ahead; the rlderless horse gal
looping in the rear.
Susan ran forward to the PROSTATE
man. He was unconscious. She
stopped over him for a moment and
then drew away the coarse bag. As
she suspected, 1t was half filed with
currency. She shuddered as she look.
ed at the livid face of the ruffian and
then at the blood that was slowly satu-
rating his coatsleeye. She began to
feel little faint.
She was aroused by the sound of
wheels and the shouting of man. A
light phaeton was coming toward her.
In moment she recognized the driver
as the local livery stable proprietor.
He leaped OUT beside her.
mailed him, didn't you?" he shout
ed In paroxysm Of excitement. ~
was just ready to drive out O. my
stable when they belted by. AS l got
into the roadway, saw you blazln'
away. XIII hlm?"
NO" said Susan. HE is stunned
by the fall from his horse. l only aim
ed to break his shoulder"
you done 1t all right" cried the llv-
eryman. "By George!' he shrleked,
"it's Jim Bascom himselfH'
Susan felt her head going round.
''Mr. Tompkins," she said, "will you
kindly drive me to the bank as quickly
as you CAM"
Yes, ha'am, will" lie replied, with
great heartincss. You've got the stuff
there. haven't you? Jump in"
And a moment later they We're speed.
ing toward the bank. They had not
gone twenty yards when they met the
first group Of hastily-armed men who
We're on the trail of the robbers.
you'll find Jim Bascom lynn up
there" shouted the liveryman. "She
shot him an we've got the bank stuff
all here" And he touched up his horse
again. And the next group heard the
same story. and the next, and the next.
And they all turned and started after
blushing Susan Brown.
And then they We're at the bank.
There was a little crowd about the
door. But they quickly made way for
Susan, and the llveryman, and the pre-
cIous bag.
And there was Jack sitting up In
big chair. and somebody was bathing
his head. and he was blinking queerly