Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-08-13

NANANNe@NaNs hRhN saw
assent; and Stella crept back 10 the
parlor. where she lowered the lamp
and again sat down with her fears.
Had Gideon been able TO get a seat in
Uncle Dilly's coach? She would go ,
and see. She opened the door and ,
peered out. The street was deserted.
Yet bright, unshaded windows CLEAN.
ing In all directions; extra lights In |
the saloon across the way; knots OF |
mon at the doors: the rattle OF chips. |
the clink Of ice and glass. and an oc.
casional voice raised above the sub |
dued murmur that came from Sally |
BIS barroom-all told Stella that the !
town waited awake for the nights
event.
She stole out. passed the hotel and
peeped guiltily into the stage once.
Only the clerk on duty was within,
and he was noddIng. Cautiously she
approached and looked over the pas.
senger list that lay open on the coun'
ter. Gideon had not booked.
Though half stunned by dread and
fear. she yet could not face Sally b.
again and the busy kitchen. She paced
restlessly, stopped to reread her letter
and add a penciled word. and went
into the hall to listen for Uncle Billy.
Silence. No one was stirring in the
house outside OF the cooks domain.
Back she turned to her nervous
tread. counting her steps mechanical
ly. Her mind was painfully alert,
supersensitive. The half.hour struck.
THE clock is surely wrong!" Stella
whispered. But the diningroom clock
quickly rang a confirming chime: and
the doomful tick. tick. went slowly on.
She crept out again to the stage Of.
flee, where the clerk no longer Co
quoted with duty in his chair, but
lay full length on the counter, frankly
seduced by Morpheus. The passenger
list still lay open, and Stella looked
Gideon's name was not there!
. She wondered why. since his looks
/ even more than his words told her
r that he would seek Alfred at once.
/. AS she walked back new fears beset
. her. Why was Gideon not going on the
J., stage? Could Alfred be already on his
0 way to Colfax? Near? Coming now,
3 and Gideon had learned &C.? A terrify-
ing vision Of their meeting shook her;
4 yet quick comfort came with the recol.
!. lection Of Alfred's promised telegram.
He would surely keep his word.
Ten minutes OF two! Ten minutes
past-fifteen!
A light step came down the stair
and Stella flew into the hall.
Uncle Billy" she called softly, and
drew him into the parlor She put her
letter in his hand. told him OF Gideon
brcathlessly describing Alfred's dan
ger, though concealing its cause She
did not dream that Uncle Billy guessed
II well
He promised TO mount guard ovei
Alfred though he scofied at her fear
and declared that Gideon. son Of tn,
night was doubtless alone somewhere
fighting out his anger.
oh, Uncle Billy. you're such dear
good father 10 me" she cried impetu
ously: and, needless, did not see tn,
light die in his eyes. rocked not OF
missed heartbeat.
His back was toward the lamp. hi
face downcast; yet when he lifted
II |
l though Stella caught a vibrant sad
\ ness in Il she could not understand.
/ Honey, there's something I've bee
| wishing TO speak to you about for
| month O. Sundays, but euldn't rails
| the pluck" He stopped, and Stella
| so overwrought, grew suddenly ar
l prehensIve, though she did not SPEAK
| "Yo' Uncle Billy's stake In Man
i mons mighty small; but such as It is
4 1t is decided to you. child. haven
any kin OF my own, that is, none that
as neah 10 me as you are. honey.
4 fixed the papehs in Auburn yesterday.
For an instant Stella did not con
prehend. She looked questioningl
into his face and he smiled back q
Il her. waiting for her to speak. Then
| broke suddenly will! All youn
hearts dread Of death came into he
eyes. Uncle Billy dead! And sh
| profitlng by Il? II could not be. II
surely would live long years still. Sh
4 could not spare him!
/ The precipient sorrow. the generou
deed, broke down Stella's defense
and tears flowed uncontrolled Will
she haltingly told her gratitude. UncI
/ Billy had barely dried her eyes whe
/ Sally BIS step sounded in the hall.
I'm In heah. Sally b." he calle,
and all ready" Before she could tur
Ter back from the stairs and enter
a drew Stella TO him and kissed he
ng Don't forget my luck posy. honey"
iy. whispered. as Sally Il. opened n
tx. door. And in that instant Stella's eye
or. were opened.
set Ten minutes later the coache
ey Uncle Billy's leading. lined up bSsit