The Irish standard., 1908-12-26

his open hand 80 swiftly and 80 fierce.
~ under the jaw that he reached back
against his companion. The colonels
surprise did not disturb the automatic
aim Of an old fighter Of the plains;
his revolver barked; and he sprang
out on the man he shot. "Get back in
the berths. all of you." he shouted:
give me q chance to shoot!"
The voice of the porter, whose
hands had been turning up the lights
not quite steadily, now pealed out
with camp.meeting power, Oats It:
give de colonel q chance to do some
killing!"
Both bandits were sprawling on the
floor of the aisle, one limp and moan.
ing; but the other got one hand up to
shoot; only to have Archie kick the
revolver out Of 1t, while at the same
instant an umbrella handle fell with .
wicked whack on the mans shoulder.
The New England professor was out
Of his berth. He had been q baseball
man in his own college days; his bat
was frail one, but he hit with will:
and a groan told of his success. Never
theless, the fellow scrambled to his
feet. Mrs. Melville was also out Of her
berth, thanks to which circumstance
he was able to escape; as the colonel
(who had grappled with the other man
and prevented his rising) must needs
have shot through his sister-in-law to
hit the fleeing form.
whats the matter?" demanded
Mrs. Melville, while the New Eng
lander used an expression which, no
doubt, as good church member, he
regretted, later, and the colonel thun-
dered: "All the women back inte
their berths. Don't anybody shooti
You, professor, look after that fellow
on the floor" He was obeyed; in
stinctively, the master Of the hour 10
obeyed. The porter came forward and
helped the New Englander bind the
PROSTATE outlaw, with two silk hand
kerchiefs and pair Of pajamas, guard
mount being supplied by three men In
very startling costumes; and = kind
of seraglio audience behind tho cur
tains of the berth being enacted by all
the women In the car, only excepting
Aunt Rebecca and Miss Smith. Aunt
Rebecca, in her admirable travelling
costume Of soft gray silk wrapper.
looked as undisturbed as IL midnight
alarms were an every-night feature Of
journeys. Miss Smiths black hair
was loosely knotted; and her face
looked pale, while her dark eyes
shone. They all heard the colonel's
revolver; they all saw tho two men
who had met him at the car door
spring of the platform into the dark.
The robbers had horses waiting. Tho
colonel got one shot; he saw the man
fall over his horses neck; but the
horse galloped on; and the night, be-
yond the little splash Of light, swal-
lowed them completely.
After the conductor and the On.
gineer had both consulted him. and
the express messenger had appeared,
armed to the teeth, a little too late for
the fray, but not too late for lucid
argument, Winter made his way back
to the car. Miss Smith was sitting be-
side Archie; she was holding the
watch. which had played 20 important
q part In the battle, up under the elec-
tric light to examine an inscription.
The loose black sleeves of her blouse
fell back, revealing her arms; they
were white and softly rounded. She
looked up; and the soldier felt the
sudden rush Of an emotion that he
had not known for years; 1t caught at
i his throat almost like an invisible
hand.
"Well, Archie" he said foolishly.
good for jiu-jitsu!"
Archie flushed up to his eyes.
"Why didn't you obey orders, young
| man, and hold up your hands?" said
Col. Rupert Winter. you're as bad az
poor Haley, who 10 nearly weeping
i that he had no chance, but only broke
away from Mrs. Haley in time to see
the robbers make off,"
IL did at first; but got so mad I
forgot" stammered Archie happily.
"Afterward you were my superior Of.
llcer and had to do what you said"
All the while he chaffed the boy, he
was watching for that beautiful look
in Janet Smiths eyes; and wondering
when he could get her of by herself
to brag to her Of the boys courage.
When his chance at few words did
come he chuckled: Regular fool
Winter! I knew he would act in just
that absurd. reckless way" Then he
caught the look he wanted; 1t surely
was lovely, womanly look; and it
meant-what in thunder did 1t mean?
As he puzzled, his pulses gave tho
same unaccountable, smothering leap:
and he felt as the boy Of 20 had felt.
coming back from his battle to his
nrst love.
CHAPTER w.
The Vanishing Of Archie.