Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-01-13

1 o'clock. but Il did not stop. Graham
would not have been In the Office at
all, only he had some money In the safe
and had received orders by wire to
sleep In the station that night.
He did not know how much there
was. IL had come In Il sealed package,
locked In small pouch. He knew II
was pay day ON the new branch then
building on the list. and this was the
3ist
why can't they send pay carr
asked Graham of hltnself.
'"roo COMPOUNDED mean" he muttered
The hours dragged slowly. but Ora.
ham found some solace In thinking OF
Miss Dclaine.
Miss Delaine was from Chicago. She
was visiting the daughter of Silas
Jones. whom she had met ut school.
Miss Jones was tail, big and strong,
Miss Dclane was dainty.
Miss Jones. with the advantage of her
boarding school years. dressed well;
Miss Delaine dressed better.
Graham had suddenly felt a peculiar
sensation when Miss Delalne got on
the local ut Naomi He knew that Silas
was going to have company. lie had
no idea the company was built more
on the fieeting vision plan than any
other.
"If SIlas don't feed that girl up he
will be all out of company" Graham
had said she's almost gone now"
Graham was husky fellow and had
been ut Naomi two months when Miss
Delaine appeared As Graham board.
ed with Silas he had an opportunity tc
study her well.
mo more turkey hunts while she's
here" he grumbled to himself.
Miss Delaine took the grumble out
of him when she proposed shoot and
the three went 10 the scrubs. and Miss
DelaIne brought down five to his three
and Miss Jones one.
Miss Delaine proved to have more
get up and get In her dimnutive body
than Graham acknowledged In his five
feet ten. She could box big Miss Jones
all over the barn floor: she could climb
cherry tree in light summer frock
and come down rs neat as she went
mp: she could swim better than Miss
Jones and dive MS deep rs Graham.
She could play the most charming
waltzes and sing the prettiest songs.
She had not been M Naomi two weeks
before she was singing in the choir.
and Graham made the narrowing dis
covery that he sang bass.
So on this night Graham consoled
himself by thinking gloomy thoughts
about Miss Delalne.
I'D be- fool 10 ask her and n brute
to expect her TO accept If did ask"
He said this with almost II groan.
"Why couldn't 1t have been FAM"
Fan was Miss Jones. But. no: she'll
marry Larkns. and il Miss Delaine
was poor I'd marry her"
He knew she was rich. She had of.
ten spoken about "our railroad" james
Delaine was president of the q. and b.
Disconsolate. he smoked his pipe He
wondered how much money there was
In the safe He knew the payroll must
be long.
dozen times and gone off 10 sleep and
nearly fallen Off the chair which he had
tilted back. He bad left the door open
for air. The night was warm.
Hello there young Teller" came q
voice. He turned toward the door and
looked into the barrel Of a big revolver.
Hold up your hands,
"Er = | am agent here" stammered
Graham.
"Oh. we know that. You keep yer
mouth shut. Wen do the rest"
Il won't submit to robbery. II that is
what you mean" said Graham.
Robbery, eh? Won't submit, chi
Well. young Teller. We don't look much
like fool. Under the circumstances
wouldn't advise yer TO be one even II
We do know how. I've got two partners
here. and the first yawp out OF We win
mean a game o shootin' big. Now.
lin"
Another fellow came In and went
through Grahams pockets.
Now. young Teller" said the leader
after Jim had deposited an express re
volver on the table, Just tell us the
combination TO that safe
Il refuse
What did say about bein' foolf
Say, Ill give you three minutes to
make up your mind You'll either give
us the combination or III put a hole
through you. Now. one"
Graham was silent.
Jim was working at the safe Tn.
third came In and grInned ut the pic.
ture Graham made
Pretty boy" he said
Three"
Graham opened his mouth to speak
Amt no use sayin' anything unless
It's the combination.
Jaw. kill him. We can blow open
the safe"
Graham knew that these men meant
business. They would as soon take a
life as eat. lie could see his revolver
wing where Jim had placed H.