Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-01-27

lairied sister VINO nau 0leQs Sucn 3
arrow, laborious, innocent existence
g she described! How cheerfuEy,
too, she had shouldered her burdens!
They talked of the south and OF the
Philippines; little they talked OF
Archie and his sorrow and OF the
eternal problems that have troubled
the soul of man since first death en-
tered the world As they talked, the
coloners suspicious faded into gro
tesque shadows "Miilicent 10 ridic-
ulous," quoth he. Then he fell to won
dering whether there had been O ro-
nance in Miss Smiths past life. Such
a handsome woman would look high"
he sighed. Only "a hours ago he had
called Miss Smith -nice-looking," with
careless criticism. He was quite un-
conscious of his change 1t view. That
night he felt lonely. Of a sudden: the
old wound In his heart ached;' his fsa-
ture looked as bleak as the mountain
walled plains through which he was
speeding. After long time the train
stopped with jar and rattle, ending
In a sudden shock. He raised the cur
tain to catch the fash of the electric
lights at Glenwood. Out of the deep
defile they gIittered Ike diamonds in q
pool Of water. Why should he think
of Miss Smiths eyes? With an impa-
tient sigh, he pulled down the curtain
and turned over to sleep.
His thoughts drifted, f1oated, were
submerged in wavering procession
Of pictures; he was back in the Philip
pines; they had surprised the fort;
how could that be when he was ON
guard? But they were there He sat
up in his berth. Instinctiyely he
slipped the revolver out of his bag and
held It In one hand, as he peeped
through the crevice of the curtains.
There was no motion, no sound of
moving; but heads were emerging be-
tween the curtains in every direction;
and Archie was standing. his hands
shaking above his tumbled brown
head and pale face. A man In soft
hat held two revolvers while another
man was pounding on the drawing
room door, grufiy commanding those
inside to come out. NO, we shall not
come out responded Aunt Rebecca's
composed, well-bred accents. her neat
enunciation not disturbed by quiver.
If you want to kill an old woman,
YOU will hare to break down the door,"
Let them alone, Shay, 1t takes too
long; let's finish here, first" called the
man with the revolver; they'll come
soon enough when we want them.
Here. young feller, fish out Nobody1l
get hurt ii you keep quiet: IL You
don't you'll get dose like the man In
No. 6, two years ago. Hustle, young
feller!"
The colonel was cycling every mo-
tion, every shifting from one foot to
the other. Let them once get by
Archie
The boy handed over his pocketbook.
Now your watch" commanded the
brigand; take 1t, Shay"
Won't you please let me keep that
wstch?" faltered Archie; that was
papa's watch"
The childish name from the tall Lad
made the robber laugh. @And mammals
little pet wats to keep 1t, does he?
Well. he can't Get move on your"
The coloncl had the sensation OF an
electric shoe as the second robber
grabbed at t. fob in the boys belt
Archie struc' i'm with the edge OF
his open hand swiftly and so fierce
ly under the iT that he reached back
against his c. .anion The colonel's
surprise did IN. listurb the automatic
aim of an old fghter Of the plains:
his revolver barxed and he sprans
out on the maa he shot, Get back In
the berths. all Of you," he shouted;
give me 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 ard 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 baseball
man in his own college days: his bat
was frail one. but he hit with will:
and grcan 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 grappIed with the other maa
and prevented his rising) must needs
have shot through his sister-in-Iaw 70
hit the fleeing form.
Whats the mattery' demanded
Mrs. Melville. while the New Ens-
lander used an expression which. ne
doubt. as q good church member. he
regretted. later. and the colonel thun-
dered: "All the women back int
their berths. Don't anybody shoots
You, professor. look after that fellows
on the floor" He was obeyed: In
stinctively, the master Of the hour u
obeyed. The porter came forward ane
helped the New Highlander bind thA
Araatrata outlaw. with two silk hama
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