Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-10-22


peeped guiltily into the stage office.
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,
representative The half-hour struck.
The clock is surely wrong!" Stella
whispered. But the dining-room clock
quickly rang a confirming chime; and
the doomful tick, tick, went slowly on.
She crept out again to the stage Of
fee, where the clerk no longer CO.
quetted 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
that he would seek Alfred at once.
As she walked back new fears beset
her. Why was Gideon not going on the
4s-zo Co,1l Alf,oJ ho o1roo1Ir nm hiC
way to Colfax? Near? Coming now,
and Gideon had learned it? A terrify-
ing vision of their meeting shook her;
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
l past-ffteen!
A light step came down the stair,
and Stella flew into the hall.
Uncle Billy" she called softly, and
5 drew him into the parlor. She put her
letter in his hand, told him of Gideon,
l breathlessly describing Alfred's dan
ger, though c%oncealing its cause. She
did not dream that Uncle Billy guessed
it we'll.
He promised to mount guard over
Alfred, though he scoffed at her fear,
and declared that Gideon, son Of the
Z night, was doubtless alone somewhere
fighting out his anger.
ooh, Uncle Billy, you're such a dear,
good father to me-" she cried impetu-
ously; and, needless, did not see the
light die in his eyes, rocked not of a
missed heartbeat.
His back was toward the lamp, his
4 face downcast; yet when he lifted it
again, he was calm, his voice steady,
though Stella caught a vibrant sad
ness in it she could not understand.
Honey, there's something I've beer
I wishing to speak to you about for
\ month O. Sundays, but l couldn't raise
the pluck" He stopped, and Stella
so overweight, grew suddenly ap
\ prehensive, though she did not speak
"Yo' Uncle Billy's stake in Nam
l mons mighty small; but such as it is
4 it is decided to you, child. l haven
A any kin of my OWL, that is, none that
as neah to me as o are, honey.
fixed the papehs in Auburn yesterday
For an instant Stella did not com
prehend. She looked ~questioningl,
1 into his face and he smiled back a
her, waiting for her to speak. Then /
broke suddenly will! All a youni
hearts dread of death came into he
eyes. Uncle Billy dead And sh
profting by it? 1t could not be. H
surely would live long years still. Sh
could not spare him!
The precipient sorrow, the generou
deed, broke down Stella's defenses
and tears flowed uncontrolled Will
! she haltingly told her gratitude. Uncl
Billy had barely dried her eyes whe
Sally BIS step sounded in the hall.
"Tm in heah, Sally b." he called
and all ready" Before she could tur
L back from the stairs and enter b
drew Stella to him and kissed he
Don't forget my luck posy, honey" h
whispered, as Sally B. opened tn
door. And in that instant Stella's eye
II, were opened.
Ten minutes later the coache
Il Uncle Billy's leading, lined up besid
the thronged sidewalk. Some passel
gers stood near the second coacI
Only a privileged few coming on tt
\ train would go with Uncle Billy.
Stella, a rose in her hand, stoc
with others near the stage oft
door. as Mr.. Ingram going wit
Uncle Billy or in the other coach
in she asked the clerk, as he returned
ne, his post from some errand.
ingram? He left town hours ag
led Took Balls best horse, Mig, Told Ba
The if he broke the nag's wind he'd pa
mp any figure Ball
rs. Stella did not wait to hear hi
in through. Book me for Virgin
go City," she cried. I'm Uncle Billy
IND coach"
ed. "You can't" he began.
I'M A whistle shrilled through the dar
IN ness.
Of Eyes! yes! I'll make him let me
lps, she painted, and was gone.
oc- (TO BE CONTINUED.)