The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-11

and I'll tell you" she gasped. Then. as the wondering and somewhat scan- dalized officer compromised by turning his lamp to the faintest glimmer, she added, in a strained whisper: The gang that run of Meyers's and Kelley's horses are holding a meeting | in the underground stable of Ross's barn. They're planning another raid" The deputy sheriff sat agape In the | dusk.
 "what--howr' he managed to ejac-
 ulate. Then half incredulously: How'd
 you know 1t. for lands sakeT' Aurilla shrank nervously. 'T--I heard some of them talking about it," she whispered. They'd kill
 me if they suspected" Her set, white face hardly expressed fear, the deputy sheriff thought.
 | States evidence" he muttered to
 himself. He fumbled in his pocket. and drawing forth a soiled notebook. jotted down something. Then he turn ed to the crouchins figure again. Could you swear to any of 'em, me, unless there's proof" He was looking at her keenly.
 Aurilla told off three or four familiar names, each of which elicited an ex- | clamation of astonishment or credu- Ious snif.
 Was there any more you knowed by sightT' he aueried, as she paused. A hard line grew around Aurilia's | shapely lips. Her c1asped hands show ed ghastly at the knuckles. Jimmy Connor's promised to take the team to the next station on the | underground" she said, in a slow, me- l tallic voice. "He---" She paused sharply, putting one hand to her bare | throat; essayed to go on. and then be- fore the deputy sheriff's mortified eyes slipped in a dead faint to the braided | rug at her feet.
 A late July sunset was coloring all the outer world in gorgeous tones. | when Aurilla woke to life again. Vague. unhappy dreams still haunted her brain as she lay on the clean, un- familiar little bed. Somewhere back among them woman's voice had asked, eagerly:
 Did they get 'em, Dave?" And a man answered.:
 Every mothers son of 'em. They're | safe this minute, over in Lowell" From that on a black gulf swallowed up Aurilla's consciousness. Oh, that she might have remained in it forever. body and soul!
 A heavy step trod cautiously outside her door. Don't excite her." she heard some one charge in a whisper. Then the heavy foot crossed the thres- hold. With unutterable dread and shrinking in her eyes, Aurilla turned her head and looked in the direction of the sound.
 Father of good! Was 1t a vision to mock her Big, muscular and glow ing, the man whom in jealous bitter ness she had betrayed to the punish ment of his crimes, as she believed. | stood there before her, transformed in the blue of his country's service. the | light of unspeakable love and anxiety in his eyes. Aurilla gave one startled | shriek, burying her face in the pillow as he approached and dropped on his knees beside her.
 Billy! Little grill" he pleaded. | brokenly. I've waited till the very last minute O my leave to ask you to | forgive an forget. You won't turn away from me now, will yep Slowly she uncovered her face and | her stricken eyes met his. "oh, Jimmy Jimmy!" she moaned. miserably. Don't talk of forgiving! Twas I that betrayed you, and all be- cause I hated Kettle Ross and her
 ways with you"
 Connor laughed tremulously, happily possessing himself of her thin hand. Were quits, then, little one." His voice grew grave. Don't you suppose |
 ed us but for me? The blame was all
 mine. But after you ran away from
 me, that night, l got a-thinkin', an
 them words of yourn stuck: hate 1t
 all.' Says I: Then hate 1t all, too.' for you know I only mentioned Caps
 Nettie to coax ye. 'Enlistin' will help
 me out says I, and in the recruitin'
 camp over at Ladoga, as we went on
 drill, heard news of the gangs cap-
 ture. I got leave an come back an
 went to Corcoran. I'm one O the gang says I. He looked queer. We'll
 says I, 'ain't you going to arrest me?"
 He looked the queerer. Who's a.
 swearin' out your warrantT says he.
 I ain't arrestin nobody without a
 warrant. You git back to camp I
 know it's a bit irregular says I. Then
 he grinned. It would be a lot more
 irregular, says he, for me to kick one
 O ole Abe Llncoln's soldiers out O this
 office; don't make me do 1t, Jimmy
 Then he thought minute, and says
 he: There's a little girl ravin' sick O
 fever over to my house. She's talked
 about you, and heap O other things.
 Better step in and see her, my lad So
 come. Billy. I've swore to be an
 honest man, whether or no, An when
 come back from the war; God sparin'
 me, which I don't deserve, Is 1t a true
 little wife I'll ind waitin' for mel"
 Beads of sweat stood around Arilla's | lips, but heaven had dawned in her
 blue eyes. She slipped her other hand
 weakly into Connor's big. trembling
 one, and stopping, he sealed her un-
 spoken answer with a kiss. |
 Take Piso's Cure for Consumption for l I0fa md pNy all