Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-03-09

promised the ~Iatter's daughter that he
would. and now he waited, looking straight
at the stern, business-like face OF the as
sistant superintendent of the line for his
reply. but already reading a DECIDED neg
alive therein.
See here, Mr.. Merton" ne said pres
entity, ''some men In my position would
AVE been highly offended at this. But ]
don't want to treat you In that way. Tn
derstand that l am not in the least angry
with you for asking for the hand or my
daughter, though 1 must confess you have
taken me by surprise, but my answer
must be no, and Il Is absolutely final so far
as the present is concerned" he said, "and
unless you progress up the ladder II VIII
be n a In the future. The fact or your
being what is called a gentleman makes no
difference. The question is, how do you
stand with us from a business point OF
view? Your chief merit is your knowl-
edge OF German. There you are useful "a
us In our correspondence. But do some.
thing smart on the line. my lad" he went
on kindly, do something smart! That's
the way to get on"
'pll try. sir-for Evie-Miss Cartwrights
sake"
VERY likely. But understand me that
from this you must not say an
other word to her on the subject. She
Aa5N OS CIV AhNV. u S~S'
Certainly"
And now to work. / want you to run
down to Saxhaven tomorrow and make
thorough investigation as to the working
OF the staff there"
He went through a bundle Of documents
with the young man, and finally dismissed
him with the injunction to a the $3.50
express the next morning.
Then he lay back In his chair a minute or
49, - stT Nh shA fallNx.r - ha
admitted, ''and I know Ewes fond OF him.
But l haven't seen real grit In him yet.
Well. time will prove"
There was q resolute look In Walter
Meriton's face when he arose next morn
ing. He noticed IL himself in the glass. He
meant business, did this young man. He
had sat up half the night going deeply
into the question OF the Saxhayen station
staff. for he intended this report of his to
be the first little una up the ladder before
him.
Just as the train began to move, he made
a dash at a first class compartment. IL
was locked. but the guard hastily produced
his key and opened II, and Merton swung
himself In. AS he looked out of the win
dow to say a last word to the official, he
heard a deep voice behind him In German.
Zach, Gott! Curse him, j thought We
had the compartment to ourselves! / gave
the guard five shillings TO lock us In"
He was on the point OF turning to apoi-
ogize when he heard another voice say In
the same language:
bad luck. IA we must settle with him
If he is troublesome
Now Walter Merton was a thorough
German scholar. He had spent three years
I'm a school in Germany and could speak
the language fiuently.
He looked for a m carelessly at his
companions. They were two eyil-looking
men-one short and sandy haired, with
little gray eyes hat never kept still; the
other big and sinewy, a very powerful
looking fellow.
Then the short man leaned over and
spoke to him in German, asking whether
he objected to smoking. BY no hint did
he betray himself. He simply shook his
head and remarked in English that he did
not understand.
1--WE want to schmoke,' said the Ger
man In English.
"Oh, certainly"
Then the short man explained. after a
pause: Mine friend, shpeake not English.
He ask you for matches!'
Merton gave him a box with a laugh.
and then took out his pocketbook and
busted himself with his papers. pretending
to take no notice. But he kept his ears
open. The Others began TO talk In Ger
man.
I'VE may speak" said the short man;
"he does not understand"
mo, but he will be In the way"
What shall we dor
Don't worry, my friend. We are a
match for him, and we can easily tie him
up and put him under the seat"
And now 10 business" said the bigger
man. You have brought themT
saTu,n ~ thann In the bag ~ and he 1erked
his thumb toward the rack.
Good, here Is the plan"
He called 1t Eisenbahn Fahrplan In Ger
man, and ne pulled a printed paper from
his pocket. Merton gave one little lance
toward 1t, and set himself with a mighty
effort TO keep his countenance. For he had
instantly recognized 1t as the paper Of
special instructions for a train that was
TO run that morning from Saxhaven 10
London, and which was to carry no less a
parsonage than the prince Of S~tarkenburg.
heir apparent. as all the world knows,
TO a mighty European throne and now on
his way To visit his august relative, the
king of England.
He might well recognize IL, for he had
helped 10 draw II up himself, and had
dispatched copies of It to all the principal
officials along the line some days before.
Somehow or other these men had managed
10 get nOIu OI u tbpys Nv nc SutsSSu ~
meant mischief.
Now, then" sad the bigger man, I'VE
must find out the exact time when our
train is likely to pass this me" indicating
the special. You see, II Is timed TO run
through Westield at 10:55. Now, we dom
stop at Westheld, but I have found out
from the Working Time Table that we
are due there at 1875. so, you see. II will
be about ten minutes or so the other SIDE
of westneld. There's a signal cabin called
Pine Tree Box that the special passes at
1912. That will be about the point where
we shall cross IT."
1--WE must keep the time carefully
"Of course. And one OF US must be look
ing out OF the window down the line. The
prince travels In the third saloon from the
engine. We must have the bombs ready
in our hands and throw them IN as near
as we can guess. 1t will have to be done
In a second. I'll throw from the center
window, and you must throw from the
side one at the same time. Wen have 10
break II first
II was a clever scheme. They knew the
special" would be well guarded and
watched, that platelayers all along the
line would be stationed at bridges n all
likely points OF danger. but that no one
would suspect an attack from the Sax
haven express.
How could ne stop these men:
Suddenly an inspiration struck him. II
was more difficult than ever now TO appear
perfectly oblivious of the other men, bat
by a great effort he did SO. He had his
pocket case on his knees, and his hands
were holding the papers upon which he
was pretending TO be engaged. Producing