The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-25

had gone up the road had not yet re-
turned, and his partner seemed on
the point of following him, but, utter
ing an oath, he retraced his steps. He
had evidently forgotten something, for
laying the bag of plunder on the steps
he re-entered the store.
Just about this time Billy's brain
was working as it never worked be-
fore. He saw that if anything was to
be done 1t was right now, for soon the
robbers and their booty would be be-
yond reach. Suddenly plan Of action
flashed Though his mind, which for
audacity 1airly made him shiver. 1t
was the only hope, however, so sum
moning all his nerve he left his shel-
ter, and reaching the place where his
Wheel was secreted he quickly and ST.
lently led it out into the road. the
rubber tires made not the least noise,
so that he was able to bring it up
within a few yards of the step, upon
which laid the bag, without attract
ing the attention of the fellow inside
the building. This done, he began to
creep swiftly in the direction of the
bag. After what seemed to him an
enormous length of time, but which
in reality was only few seconds, he
reached his goal. Heavensl what II
either one Of The burglars should ap-
pear now? But there was no time to
think Of that. His grasp was on. the
bag. Exerting all his strength he lift
ed 1t in his arms and dashed towards
his wheel. A swing, and it was safely
in the box, and, quicker than it takes
to tell it, Billy was in the saddle and
spinning down the road with two sur
prised burglars, who had appeared
just too late, standing gaping at him.
But they were desperate fellows
and didn't intend to lose their booty
so easily, so they were soon in full
chase. Billy had secured a good start
and held his own for a while, but the
bag in the rear was heavy and acted
as a drag, so that they began to gain
on him. On seeing this, one of them
could not repress an exultant shout,
but the young inventor grinned to
himself and murmured:
wait until we get to the back
road We'll show them our heels!"
The back road was not far dis
tant now, and Billy, turning into it,
waved his arm in derision at his foes.
1t was down-grade for the most part
on this road, and there was no doubt
but that he could run away from his
pursuers now. He was congratulating
himself on his lucky escape when
there came a volley of pistol shots.
The robbers were taking this method
OF stopping the flying boy as a last
resort. The first volley went over his
head, but as the second rang out Bill
ly felt shock in his right shoulder
that almost unseated him. but recov-
ering he resumed his desperate pedal
ing and the burglars were soon left in
the distance.
He never knew how he got home.
He remembered turning in the old fa-
miliar gateway of his home but dim
ly; a cloud seemed to be settling over
his mind and he couldn't see. Then
there came crash and he felt him
self falling, falling into space, and
then-blank
The next he knew was when open
ing his eyes he saw his mothers kind
ly face bending over him, while his
father and old Doctor Roberts hovered
in the rear. He tried to raise himself
in bed, but his father, who had come
forward, gently pushed him back with
a few kind words.
"Did-Did they get anything?" he
asked.
mol my son, only some buckshot,
thanks to you and your baggage car"
"Bu the baggage car isis"
1T is complete wreck from col /
liding with tree stump" replied ais
father; but" and he placed his hand
on Billy's head, well have
a brand new one for you when you
get we'll and anything else that my
brave boy wants" and Billys face liz
up with smile that made it positive.
ly beautiful.
Genius had at last been rewarded
Young Americans.