The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-04-04
The Limited.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS.
Copyright. 1907. by c. H. Isutclife.

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Dick Prescott sat huddled in hi,
! chair at the desk his eyes staring al
| the receiver as though the innocent
little piece Of mechanism had sudden
| ~ developed venom His right hand
clutched revolver. and his left work
ed convulsiyely around his left breast
| as though he was feeling something in
side
ut cant be possible" he said once
then again: It's lie. | know it is
Julie Gridon leader of gang of rob
bers: No. it must be 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 Loomis so we'll
LOOMS wouldn't say "A word about II
woman that could wrong her. And,
besides. Loomls 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 viii be accosted by Julie Gri-
don, leader bad gang. who will talk. hold
you up. Jake Gridon coming later with
gang. LOOMS.
1t wasn't n long message. Prescott
laughed half lnsanely 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 1t was a
strange, wild laugh.
80 this is the little girl who wis
SO nice and cordial and even affection
ate; the pretty girl | saved from
drowning only month ago; the girl
whom | was going to ask-God. Sup
pose | had Suppose it was her hus
band she, with Jake Gridon, was com
ing TO rob. Suppose It. | cant sup
pose It, 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 it? How can he know"
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
be turned for the night local There
was no one else. The ramshackle. one
horse station had a 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 a 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 a quick, ncry-
Gus voice "Dlck-Mr Prescott. you
received package from the limited
You
NO" he said, facing the sun tanned
face that looked in at the window. 4
glance told him she carried n rifle
You did not?"
NO" he said The limited went
through without stopping"
1 .
I know It, | tell you"
NO, | received no package"
For Il 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 spranR In at the
window
Dick Prescott" she said sternly.
your face tells n different story. You
did get that package for Mr.. Beal"
Miss Grldon, r
stop, have misunderstood you,
and | make few mistakes In men. Dick
Prescott, you have opened my eyes to-
night thought you we're a 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 LOOMS was proved correct. The
package had come. Then she had come.
The next would be the worst gang Of
cutthroats in Arizona, with Jake Gri-
don at their head.
Julie" he said, Il am not well.
am going out for air"
"Yes," she said, you don't look well.
Come outside"
He started to the door.
stop where you arer
He flashed a glance back He could
not pretend to be frightened He was
looking into the muzzle of her rifle
Dick Prescott, throw up your hands!
Quick You haven't moment to
ose."
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 hundred times $4,000. |
Up went his hands.