The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-04-19

the first command, and now he tower
ed above her, still smiling.
There is some mistake lie said. III
you will kindly turn aside my coat you
will find a detectives star there that
should vouch for me"
he approached as though to permit
her to carry out his request, but she
retreated before him.
mot much" she declared. "That
would give you a splendid chance to
overpower me. You keep your dis
tance."
"But l can't hold my hands v e my
head all night" he pleaded. what are
you going to do with me?"
"Some one will come for me If I do
not go home," she explained. "You
won't have to wait for more than an
hour
The intruder groaned. You don't
suppose that 1 al keep my arms in
the air that long, do you? he demand
ed. I'D rather have you shoot"
Il will if you come any Closer" she
warned. He stepped back, and for ten
minutes lie looked eagerly out of the
door. Then he gave a cry, and with a
sigh of relief Bertha turned her head
to greet the newcomer.
For an instant she gasped, for the
newcomers arms went above his head
promptly, and his revolver went clat-
tering to the ground. In general ap-
pearance he was the double of her first
visitor, though he lacked the frank
ness, expression and genial lines about
the eyes.
His action reminded her of her cap
tive, and she turned. To her surprise
he had whipped out a revolver and had
the other covered.
"Will you oblige me by feeling in my
coat and taking out a pair Of handouts
you will find there?" he asked.
Bertha drew out the glistening brace
lets and snapped them about the new
comer's wrists. Then the other man
came forward, and with the heavy
leather belt he wore about his waist
he fastened his victims feet.
"This is Butte BILL" he explained as
he dragged his captive to a chair.
'There are probably two others of the
gang waiting outside. You stand over
him and shoot nm if he attempts to
get away. ''Ill see if l a round up
the Others"
Depriving the bandit of his weap.
ons, the stranger slipped out. Pres
emily there was a sound of firing, then
a silence. The girl and the man in the
bank stirred %uneasily. Bill was anxious
as to the fate of his accomplices, anG
Bertha felt an unaccountable strong
interest in the welfare of the stranger
The minutes that sped by seemed like
hours until, with a whoop, a crowi
burst into the bank and relieved her Of
her guard duty. The stranger was il
the van, a bloody handkerchief wrap
ped about his left hand and a thil
stream of blood trickling down the sid.
of his face.
"I'm not hurt" he aid. with a laugh
as he saw her look of dismay-"just
scratch on the head and a ball through
the palm"
"The sheriff can take care Of thes,
men," she said. "Come home with m.
and let me fix you up"
Rapidly she closed the vaults and lei
him down the street to the little home
where her first aid to the injured hat
more than once gained her the title Of
"the little DOCTOR"
Over the bandaging he told her thai
he was a railroad detective looking fol
some car thieves and that one of the
Butte band had mistaken him for the
leader and had uncovered the bank plot
to him. He had seen a chance to earn
the reward, and 20 he had sought an
excuse for lingering around the bank
until the desperate had put in an ap.
pearance.
Il did not want to alarm YOU" he
explained, $50 1 said nothing, though
If l had had my hands in the air much
longer l should have had to speak in
self defense"
"And I thought l was earning the re.
ward" she laughed.
"You did," he insisted.
"Not at all.' she contradicted.
"Then half" he pleaded.
She shook her head, and it was six
weeks later before Greg Hallett's hand
healed and they effected a compromise.
Then they used the reward for the
honeymoon.
The Value Of an Opinion.