Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1902-12-20

But" bitterly, you viii tell her about
-about-this%
81 will do this, Frank. ] will give you
two years to prove yourself. If you are
sincere, the secret will be yours and mine.
If you do not, ! will tell them of tonight
and Of"
She turned toward the group they had
left in the moonlight beyond the wagon.
His eyes followed hers and grew large as
he saw the transformation that had taken
place.
Glands upl" Carlin's cool voice gave
the order, and his revolver was pointed at
them. The other robbers had fed. The
chief was alone.
The girl, needless of the summons, lift
ed the mask to hide the face of the man
beside her and then stepped in front of
him. Carlin lowered his gun. Get out Of
the way" he called Hell escaped"
mo, he won't escape" was the calm
reply-"not now. l will speak for him.
Where are the othersY
"Gone. We told them the chief had
skipped and they were scared. They took
all our things with 'em, though"
"You must begin now" said the girl,
turning to the chief Understand?
He bowed his head. 'Tll do it," he
whispered "honor bright"
&C.," she ordered, and, facing the piz-
zled ranchman, held both his hands un-
til the other had vanished in the sum
flower stalks. Carlin glowed under the
girls touch, and obeyed.
'Do you belong to this-company" he
asked, a little bitterly, as she loosed his
4kot = Tor Iafa
"No, but you remember what you said
little while ago, there is more than one
kind of bravery"
A shrill whistle sounded off to the right
and suddenly stood before them the quar-
tette so recently departed The passen-
gers were covered by their revolvers and
they were at the bandits mercy once
more
But the masked chief stepped forward,
holding in his hand Carlins watch and
pocketbook; he gave to the Others their
belongings-their watches, jewelry and re-
volvers-Carlin was the only one who had
hidden his gun.
1t was all done so silently and quickly
that the stageload could scarcely under
stand what was happening.
When the last trinket had been distrib-
uted the masked chief bowed low. His
fine mouth just showing beneath the
fringe of black curled a little-whether in
fun or contempt none could tell.
Merry Christmas! l am Santa Claus!"
He bowed again, stepped back, bent his
eyes on Miss Macon-and the strangers
had departed
The passengers, looking down at their
watches, read the time-it was past mid
night-Chrstmas morning.
The stage reached the end of its jour
ney six hours late. Before it arrived Car
lin had asked permission to call on Miss
Macon and discuss the strange events Of
the ride. 81 am not used to receiving
gifts at that time of night" said he.
Though Carlin called and they talked
over the nights happenings, she did not
explain. There was a newspaper story OF
crazy stage robber who gave back all ne
stole (you may have read it, and she did
not correct that-not even when, a year
later Carlin made her his bride and
claimed that he had received two Christ
mas presents from the chief.
Years afterward they visited New Eng,
land, the guests of their brother-in-law,
the mayor of Danvers. do you know,
remarked Carlin, to his wife, Frank has
fine mouth-it reminds me of some one
| have seen somewhere"
She did not reply.