Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-04-25


shouting al the far end OF the street.
accompanied by loud laughter. Run.
ning men appeared. and a hooking
cheer was raised
Grafton started toward the trouble.
but s,anwood caught and whirled
him in the opposite direction.
Look" he shouted. there's cloud
OF smoke about Mrs. cree's house.
It's 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 a nan was
running with pail. But most Of the
male population was evidently at the
disturbance al 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 reared.
Upstairs" Mrs. Cree sobbed. in
the chimbley, oh. do something. Jim.
ME, II may get dangerous"
Grafton dashed past. went up the
stairway three steps at a time. and
ran down the hall 10 Madge's room.
The door was shut. but a blow from
his foot sent II back with crash.
and he tumbled into the room. Madge
was standing before an old.fashioned
bureau. She turned with q cry OF
alarm, which shrank into an embar.
raised 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
craxy!"
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. pulling and
breathless, and gave his daughter a
enraptured hug. One hand came free
over her shoulder. and he caught
Grafton's arm.
Il can--never thank you enough"
he gasped. You've saved her life.
Daughter, the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
no doubt The strikers-assassina
ton, Grafton saved your life!"
Madge turned, round-eyed. 'You!"
she exclaimed. Il was In danger?
oh. Mr.. Grafton-Jim! / thought you
were insane! A fire? Dynamite?
Oh, jim"
Grafton felt a 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
pretty neat blaze" he remarked,
land made a most amazin' smoke for
just a 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"
81 thought they were trying to kill
you," Grafton said, brokenly, to
Madge. Il thought you were in dan
ger"
| Il was" she whispered, as she took
| his arm and looked up with trem-
bling smile. Il was in danger Of
| losing Won"