Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-02-25
bY Hell P OF SUE

8 aCopyright, 1902, by the s. s. Mcclure
5+.r@. -: Company.l " -"<r..
Come, Jed; don't be fool about it
nOw."
E tho risky" The boy shrank back in
the doorway of the humble brown cot
a1ge.
= '*Rislzy" cried his sister scornfully.
Who pulled you out of the airhole?
! Who near lost his own life for your
-=mlsera BILE little skin? You come along!"
: Still the small brother paused, anx-
saous, irresolute, glancing at the starlit
s1ky.
ats so light" he muttcred, IAN ma
: an pas likely to come home any
aime''
IAN hour yet" Susan Bates ill shoa
little foot tapped hard on the stone
step, her voice ringing angrily. I'm
Waiting" she said.
eI-don't-know!'
Two strong brown hands shot out
aand shook him fiercely. I'm gor' ar
calculated Jedediah gaspingly.
'"Thats right; pick up the tools by
the gate. Get your cap first. Don't
whimper, Teddy. I'll carry the saw"
In the shadow Of the rock naples
the two stole silently. then of the
road by the pasture fence, along the
TOW Of chokeberries and brush into
the lane leading to NUNS barn.
Careful, now" whispered the girl,
Bending her 1.-the young form in crouch
ing watchfulness. Hes in the second
stall, eh?'
''Yep." Jed shuddered
"Crawl up on your knees. Don't
mind the dirt There! They'll never
see us. The house is rods away. Give
me that chisel.''
The crack between the old barn
boards widened. "Chip, chip
''The saw now, Jed. III have to use
1T"
you'll make an awful noise"
'Shut up" The moonlight cast
profile against the gray wood-a
girls bare head, the upturned nose,
the round set of the firm jaw, the
curly mass of hair. To the boy it
seemed uncanny, Quivering there. He
:Bhivered again.
The saw rasped slowly through and
squeaked ON nail. Susan's face was
white as her dark eyes stared weirdly
at her covering companion. |
Again, eighteen inches above, then
the next plank; it was easier now:
The pieces were removed; then care
full silence, listening.
81 can get through, Jed. Thank
goodness, we've got so far! III call
him now. SAINT" The low voice trem-
bled into the dark interior. mingling
with the sound Of cud chewing COWS
and restless animal movement
The young horse thief wrenched at
his bonds, striving to rise
who's that?' with a note of hope in
his strained voice.
cts me-Sue. Where are you?
Keep talking-not too loud.''
"Over here in the stall. I'm ted
"four knife, Teddy. Here!' She
withdrew her head, gave him a quick
caress. flake tie things and scoot,"
she whispered. you're safe"
Five minutes later a man, cramped
and blinking, crouched outside the
aperture. Hurry. SUSIE" he pleaded
'"SThey've gone for an officer I expect
'em any minute"
Fright away" The girl CROPPED in
the musty blackness. 'I've got it
Munn's saw. Scatter those chips and
scrape up the sawdusr. Lucky knew
where he kept it. Now, SAM
He helped her out. Together they
crawled cautiously away through the /
lane, through the pasture by the shell
:tering saplings on to the great clump
of pines. Safe!
Before them rose the rugged domes
OF the Observation-Disclosures all for
such as Samuel Wiley. He laugh
ed in triumph, gloating at the prospec-
tive wrath of his captors. "Tomor-
row night I'll be in Massachusetts" he
Erinned. "Guess I'll work SOUTH
His rescuer was fumbling at her
pocket. Here, Sam! It's the best
could do-only bread and butter. We
didn't have any meat"
: my God!' cried Wiley, with sud-
den, broken words. "You thought Of
that, too, Susie! Oh, l amt worth all
thisv' /
Slipping the poor little package into
ibis coat, he held out his arms, and the
girl nestled happily, her face buried in
shis rough blue flannel shirt open at
:fhe tanned, muscular throat.
''I'm glad l could do it, Sam,' she
@breathed. You are worth it. You /
know what you promised" (
Something warm and wet fell on her |
cheek. She looked up amazed. The
sman was crying. 1t could not be.
|Why, Sam-why, Sam, dear!''
$ 'By the Lord, Susie, Ill:%auit the
business. amt far in. It. S just be
rause love horse. You know a1tl't /
bad, Will you-will you'll T go. way.
spf-Canada OF out :west-andr can
make bonneville you come? 'I'll*
have to change my name" l. 49, ~, I'll
He was in deadly earnest, holding