The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-04-25
The Limited.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS.
Copyright. 1907. by c. clifre. q

chair at the desk, MS eyes staring at
the receiver as though the innocent
little piece of mechanism had sudden
" developed venom. His right hand
clutched revolver, and his left work
ed convulsively around his left breast
as though be was feeling something in
side.
1T can't be possible" he said once,
then again: ITS lie. know 1t Is.
Julie Gridon leader of a gang of rob
bers? No. It must he hi.,eous mis-
take"
But the words as they had come in
dots and dashes to him from BIT Cross
ing could neither he misunderstood nor
effaced. And he knew Loomls So well
LOOMS wouGnt say word about II
woman that could wrong her. And.
besides. Loon.,s Cid not know that
Prescott loved her. So the element of
jealousy would not play n 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 will be accosted by Julie Gti-
don. leader had gang. who win tall. hold
you up. Jake Gridon coming later with
gang. LOOMS.
1t wasn't long message. Prescott
laughed half insanely as he repeated it.
He got up and walked nervously to
and fro.
"Ioomis wouldn't lie," he said.
"And see how true 1t has come ~ 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 was
80 nice and cordial aud even affection
ate; the pretty girl saved from
drowning only month ago; the girl
whom was going to ask-God! Sup.
pose had! Suppose 1t was her hus-
band she, with Jake Gridon, was com
ing to rob. Suppose 1t! l can't sup
pose 1t. les all a.
He stopped at his desk again and
looked down.
"I've got 1t right" he said. And
Loomis 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 II from
him.
A sudden noise at the window made
him jump. HIS revolver leaped from
his pocket.
"Don't shoot me-" said quick, nerv-
Gus voice. "Dick-Mr. Prescott, you
received a package from the limited.
Yop"-
NO" he said. facing the sun tanned
face that looked In at the window. A
glance told him she carried rife.
you did notr
NO" he said. "The limited went
through without stopping"
"But 1t was sent--I know 1t was sent.
] know it, tell you"
"No, I received no package"
For moment she looked at him
steadily. and then peculiar smile
dashed across her face and disappeared
again. With an agility for which she
was far famed she sprang in at the
window.
'Dick Prescott" she said sternly,
"your face tells a different story. You
did get that package for Mr.. Beal."
Miss Gridon. r.
STOP have misunderstood you,
and make few mistakes In men. Dick
Prescott, you have opened my eyes to-
night. thought you were a mana
gentleman. You have proved me to be
wrong"
She stood leaning on her rifle, and
her great fearless eyes looked steadily
into his.
He felt himself trembling. How was
he to let her know that Loomis had
seut tue utWS tuut uuu 80 uuilunneu
him? Yet he must do something. Once
more Loomls 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, II 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 arev
He flashed 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 moment to
lose"
Her eye was as steady as any mans
of the southwest. Prescott was no
q