The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-07
THE LIMITED.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS.

Dick Prescott sat huddled in his chair
al the desk. his eyes staring at the re-
ceiver as though the innocent little piece
of mechanism had suddenly developed
venom. His right hand clutched re
volver. and his left worked convulsively
around his left breast as though he was
feeling something inside.
1T can't be possible.' he said once,
then again. It's a lie. 1 know it is.
Julie Gridon-leader Of a 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 Crossing
could neither be misunderstood nor ef-
faced And he knew LOOMS SO well
LOOMS wouldn't say a word about a
woman that could wrong her. And be
sides. LOOMS did not know that Pres
colt loved her. SO the element Of jeaI-
ousy 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
thousand dollars for James BeaL You
will be accosted by Julie Gridon, leader
bad gang. who VIII talk-hoId you up
Jake Gridon coming later with gang.
LOOMS"
It 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 affecdonate
The pretty girl I saved from drowning
only q month ago The girl whom / was
going TO ask-God. Suppose had, Sup
pose it was her husband She with Jake
Gridon. was coming To- rob. suppose f.?
/ can't suppose 1t. It's all a."
He stopped at his desk again and looked
down
eve got it right" he said And
I.oomis wouldn't Die. But did he learn
e.? How can he know
His nervous walk began again. He
couldn't leave. His pony wasn't far
away. but the east-bouud express would
pass soon. and then the switch must be
turned for the night local There was no
one else. The ramshackle, cne-horse sta
ton had a porter daytimes But ut night.
when all the deviltry took place. the
company did not think ne needed any one.
His brain was on fire. He had the
pdckage-and the girl he loved was com
ing with gang 10 take it from him.
/ \ sudden noise at the window made him
jump. His revolver Ieaped from his
pocket
Don't shoot me-" said a quick. ner-
vous voice. -Dick-Mr. PresCott-you
/ received a package from the Limited.
/ You"
No" he said, facing the sun-tanned
/ face that looked in at the window. a
/ glance told him she carried a rifle.
You did not?"
No" he said. "The Limited went
through without stopping"
But it was sent-I know it was sent.
I know it, I tell YOU
no. received no package"
For moment she looked at him stead
/ lily, and then a peculiar smile dashed
across her face and disappeared again.
/ With an agility for which she was far
/ famed she spraHg in at the window.
/ Dick Prescott" she said, sternIy. your
face tells a different story. You did get
]
Miss Gridon, L"
stop I have misunderstood you, and
I make few mistakes IN men. Dick Pres
/ colt, you have opened my eyes tonight.
I thought you were a mana gentleman.
! You have proven 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
LOOMS was proved correct The pack
| age had come. Then she had come The
next would be the worst gang Of cut
| Threats in Arizona, with Jake Gridon at
! their head
Julie he said. Il am not we'll I am
going out for air"
Yes" she said, you don't look well.
| Come outside"
He started to the door.
stop where you are?'
| lie 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 hands
| Quick. You haven't a moment to lose. "
Her eve was as steady as any mans
| of the Southwest. Prescott was no COW
ard, and he couldn't shoot the girl he
loved for a hundred times twenty thou
sand dollars. He threw up his hands
There was peculiar sound in heI
| throat as she stepped TO his side. With
! fingers that seemed TO have had much
/ =.