The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-04-23

the receiver as though the innocent
little piece of mechanism had sudden
" developed venom. His right hand
clutched revolver, and his left work
ed convulsively around his left breast
as though he was feeling something in
side.
1T can't be possibler" he said once,
then again: Its lie. l know it is.
Julie Gridon leader of gang of rob-
bers? No, it must be a hideous mis-
take"
But the words as they had come in
dots and dashes to him from Bat Cross
ing could neither be misunderstood nor
effaced. And he knew LOOMS so well
LOOMS wouldn't say word about
woman that could wrong her. And,
besides, LOOMS did not know that
Prescott loved her. So the element Of
jealousy would not play part.
But there was the message, repeated
to make an error impossible:
Dick Prescott, Cow Corners.
You will receive package containing
money from express messenger on limit
ed Twenty thousand dollars for James
Beal. You will be accosted by Julie Girl
don. leader bad gang. who will talk hold
you up. Jake Gridon coming later with
gang. LOOMS.
1t wasn't a long message. Prescott
laughed half insanely as he repeated It
He got up and walked nervously to
and fro.
LOOMS wouldn't lie," he said.
"And see how true it has come SO far.
I've got the package. Limited went
through on time. And now
He laughed again, but it was a
strange, wild laugh.
SO this is the little girl who was
so nice and cordial and even affection
ate; the pretty girl l saved from
drowning only a month ago; the girl
whom l was going to ask-God! Sup
pose 1 had! Suppose it was her hus-
band she, with Jake Gridon, was COM
ing to rob! Suppose it! 1 can't sup
pose 1t. It's all a.
He stopped at his desk again and
looked down.
I've got it right he said "And
LOOMS wouldn't lie. But how did he
learn 1t? How can he known
His nervous walk began again. He
couldn't leave. His pony wasn't far
away, but the eastbound express would
pass soon, and then the switch must
hfa fr1ysr nd N1n nj
was no one else. The ramshackle, one
horse station had porter daytimes,
but at night, when all the deviltry took
place, the company did not think he
needed any one.
His brain was on fire. He had the
package, and the girl he loved was
coming with gang to take it from
him.
A sudden noise at the window made
him jump. His revolver leaped from
his pocket
Don't shoot me-" said quick, nerv-
Gus voice. "Dick-Mr. Prescott, you
received a package from the limited.
YOU
mo- he said, facing the sun tanned
face that looked in at the window. A
glance told him she carried a rife.
you did not?'
NO. he said. 1.-THE limited went
through without stopping"
But it was sent-I know it was sent.
know 1t, tell you"
mo- l received no package"
For a moment she looked at him
steadily, and then a peculiar smile
dashed across her face and disappeared
again. With an agility for which she
was far famed she sprang in at the
window.
"Dick Prescott" she said sternly,
"your face tells different story. You
did get that package for Mr.. Beal."
Miss Gridon, r
"Stop! l have misunderstood you,
and make few mistakes in men. Dick
Prescott, you have opened my eyes to-
night / thought you were mana
gentleman. You have proved me to be
wrong"
She stood leaning on her rife, and
her great fearless eyes looked steadily
into his
He felt himself trembling How was
he to let her know that LOOMS had
sent the news that had so unnamed
him? Yet he must do something. Once
more Loomis was proved correct. The
package had come. Then she had come.
The next would be the worst gang Of
cutthroats in Arizona, with Jake Girl
don at their head.
"Julie," he said, 81 am not well. l
am going out for air"
eyes" she said, "you don't look we'll
Come outside
He started to the door.
"Stop where you are"
He flashed a glance back. He could
not pretend to be frightened. He was
looking into the muzzle of her rife.
"Dick Prescott, throw up your handsl
Quick! You haven't a moment to
lose"
Her eye was as steady as any mans
Of the southwest. Prescott was no
coward, and he couldn't shoot the girl
he loved for a hundred times $4,000.
Up went his hands.
There was a peculiar sound in her
throat as she stepped to his side. With
fingers that seemed to have had much
practice she took away his revolver,
swept her hand inside his coat and
took out the package.
"Now, Dick Prescott, obey every
word of mine or | will shoot you
Stand still moment"
She stepped to the desk. A few
Sticks had sent this message along
the line:
Agent at Cow Corners robbed. Send
relief on express
Now, Dick" she said, walk out
quietly Leave things as they are
here
but, Julie-my good name-my rep
utation''-
She laughed harshiy
your good name! Oh, DickP'
She pointed sternly. He walked
ahead of her. 1t was a dark night
The single lamp in the station was the
only light visible. But the girl knew
the way in the dark as well as Pres
colt She ordered him to walk to his
horse. He found her own tethered
near it.
Release both horses" she said. He
obeyed.
His heart was bitter He could not
fight her. He might as we'll do as she
commanded He had little hope for
mercy from the gang, but she had the
Mount" sne said Now ride to
that clump of mesquite"
He rode in silence, she following.
wait"
They sat their in their saddles, it
seemed to him, for hours. Then the
racket of the express could be heard
and at the same time the pounding Of