Free press., 1907-01-26
A CLOUD OF SMOKE.
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
BY r. C. RuzER

I -Dago' George are still looking for
trouble 1t seems they have a grudge
against Madge. They think she in
| huenced the committee. One of the
boys just stopped me. He said these
I fellows were tanking up, and might
make trouble. I'm worried. Graf
ton"
Grafton threw the stub of his cigar
away. His jaw squared itself. and his
eyes grew dangerous. Where are
they?' he asked.
Il don't know In some saloon. But,
good heavens, Grafton, don't start
anything. I'll get Madge ont OF town
! in the morning"
Il think I'll get somebody out of
town tonight" Grafton said. And
the boys viii 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 mocklng
cheer was raised.
Grafton started toward the trouble,
but Stanwood caught and whirled
him in the opposite direction.
Look he shouted, there's cloud
of smoke about Mrs. Cree's house.
It's a 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 were gath
ering at the gate, and man was
running with a 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, in
tIa@ chimbley. oh, do something, jim
mie. 1t may get dangerous.
Grafton dashed past, went up the
stairway three steps at time, and
ran down the hall to Madge's room
The door was shut, but blow from
his foot sent it back with a 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 do
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 be-" Madge cried. Put
me down! Oh, help! help! He's
crazy!"
Grafton half jumped and half fell
down the stairway, and ran out upon
the lawn with his burden. Madge
| screamed again.
Help! help" she cried
You're safe" Grafton murmured.
as he set her on her feet
Stanwood came up, putting and
| breathless, and gave his daughter
enraptured hug. One hand came free
over her shoulder, and he caught
Grafton's arm.
L can-never thank you enough,
he gasped. You've saved her life.
| Daughter, the house-fire- dynamite,
I no doubt The strikers-assassina
ton! Grafton saved your life!"
Madge turned round-eyed. "You!"
she exclaimed. 4 was in danger2
Oh, Mr.. Grafton-Jim! l thought you
were insane! A free Dynamite?
Oh, Jim!"
| Grafton felt lightning shock
| 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 of
Mrs. Cree's boarding house "She was
a pretty neat blaze" he remarked,
and made a most amazin' smoke for
Just chimney
What" Stanwood cried; "a chin
ney? Wasn't the house on fire?''
But Red Cassidy and Dago
George?" Grafton gasped. Didn't
they set it?"
A newcomer advanced from the
gathering crowd. We've just got
done runnin' 'em out O. town." he
said They're hikin' for the plains
by now
Il thought they were trying to kill
you,' Grafton said, brokenly, to
Madge. Il thought you were in dan
ger
I was" she whispered, as she took
his arm and looked up with a trem-
bling smile. Il was in danger of
losing you"
Birds High temperature.