The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-07

Il think IN get somebody out Of
town tonight" Grafton said. Ana
the boys win help me. too
He was Interrupted BY distant
shouting at the far end Of the street,
accompanied by loud laughter Run
ming men appeared, and mocking
cheer was raised.
Grafton started toward the trouble,
but Stanwood caught and whirled
him In the opposite direction.
Look" he shouted, there's a cloud
Of smoke about Mrs. Cree's house.
It's riot They've fired the house!
They're trying to kill Madge. They
may have dynamite there!"
Grafton gave one glance. jerked his
arm away, and raced up the street. A
few women and children we're gath
ering at the gate, and a man was
running with pail But most Of the
male population was evidently at the
disturbance at the other end Of town.
for the distant laughter and cheering
fIoated UP the narrow valley. Mrs.
Cree stood on the porch, wringing her
hands.
Where is she?" Grafton roared.
Upstairs, Mrs. Cree sobbed, "ln
the chimbley. Oh, do something, jim
mie- It may get dangerous"
Grafton dashed past, went up the
stairway three steps at a time, and
ran down the hall to Madge's room.
The door was shut, but blow from
his foot sent 1t back with crash,
and he tumbled into the room. Madge
was standing before an old-fashioned
bureau. She turned with cry Of
alarm. which shrank into an embar
rassed silence when she recognized
the intruder.
GO away" she said. quickly re-
gaining her composure. What dc
you mean"
Grafton did not stop to explain. He
caught the girl In his arms, and lifted
her from the floor She screamed
loudly and struggled to escape. but
he turned and ran into the hall.
Let me bel' Madge cried. Put
me downl Oh, helpl helpl He's
crazyi"
Grafton half jumped and half fell
down the stairway, and ran out upon
the lawn with his burden Madge
screamed again.
Help helpl" she cried.
You're SAFE" Grafton murmured
as he set her on her feet.
Stanwood came up. pufflng and
breathless, and gave his daughter a
enraptured hug. One hand came free
over her shoulder, and he caught
Grafton's arm.
Il can-never thank you enough,
he gasDed. You've saved her life
Daughter, the use-fire-dynamit
no doubt The strikers-assassin
tionl Grafton saved your Hfel"
Madge turned, round-eyed. 'Youl'
she exclaimed Il was in dangers
oh, Mr.. Grafton-Jiml / thought you
we're insane A fire? Dynamite
Oh, Jim!"
Grafton felt a lightning shocl
strike him; she was in his arms
Looking up In an ecstasy of wonder
ing Joy he met Mrs. Cree's eye. The
widow stood staring, and on the in
stand burst into loud laughter. Some
how the smoke overhead had dimin
ished. and the noise of the distant
mob had stopped.
A grimy-faced man came out o
Mrs. Crees boarding house. She wal
a pretty neat blaze" he remarked
"and made most amazin' smoke fol
just a chimney"
What" Stanwood cried: "a chin
ney? Wasn't the house on fre7"
But Red Cassidy and Dag
George2" Grafton gasped 'Didn'
they set it?"
A newcomer advanced from thl
gathering crowd. We've just go
done r1nnin' EN- out o. town." hi
said. They're hikin' for the plain
by now"
4 thought they we're trying to xii
you" Grafton said, brokenly. Il
Madge. Il thought you we're in dan
ger"
Il was" she whispered, as she tool
his arm and looked up with trem
bling smile. Il was in danger o
losing you