Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-11-11

through some strange miracle. A
wild desire to cheer awept over him;
then the cool machine of his nature
caught it's true firm rythym once
more. Something was wrong! He
was unarmed, but he remembered the
place where he had laid one of his
revolvers one day after practice with
the old man. In a few moments he
had it; one finger traced the cool
grease of the cartridges-loaded
Now. then!
He turned up toward the house,
blindly in a way, yet following some
strange instinct of danger, slipping
softly along in his bare feet up the
familiar walks. AS he rounded
hedge of roses two figures sprang at
him. With the quick skill that comes
from muscles kept in perfect trim
guided by a keen, unwavering brain,
he spring to one side, and stretched
one figure silent on the soft walk.
The other fitted into the darkness,
stumbled and fell, blowing across a
bed of low blossoms and lay still
Stanton felt of the steel butt of his
revolver; 1t was damp and wet.
A low cry sounded softly on the
night air, the cry of a man caught UNI
awares with a strangle hold, and the
muffied noise of struggle followed
With his fist he smashed the light
window screen, turned the stair.
leaped by the form of staggering
xvirl tptD a y,<,oy,a ord or-arplad With a
black, plunging mass. The mass
parted and Stanton felt strong arms,
desperate in terror, encircle him; a
thrill of joy shot through him as he
whirled the body to the floor, and tore
something that cleaned from a
clntching hand. 1t was muscle to mus
Gle. Back and forth in the darkness
they churned and crashed. Brighten
ed cries rang here and there; cry to
Boreas for a light and his aid sifted
sharply through the rooms. But
Boreas failed to come, for suddenly
the struggling forms stilled save for
the hoarse gasping. Stanton's turn
had come.
A light flared in the room. Clemson
came up trembling, but with voice
ringing steely. .Boreas, here are the
men-bind hint
Stanton looked up and Clemson
staggered back. MY God! It's Stan
toni
Stanton spoke quietly: Yes, it's
Stanton
What does this mean?" Clemson
asked. Who? What"
Quietly, Stanton took command.
Hold the light here" he said to her;
she came up with it, he took it from
her and handed 1t to servant.
What do you intend to do?" she
asked
please go into another room," he
answered
Il shall stay here"
Very we'll"
Stanton took the revolver and
cooked It, He kneeled down before
the grim figure of Boreas.
"Boreas, suppose you tell all about
this" Coolly he said it, much as one
would ask some small favor
Boreas clustered. then he caught
something in Stanton's face that sud-
denly sobered him. He did tell all
of the plot, and more; that when he
had crept into the room the old man
had surprised him; then came the
struggle, and Stanton. AS Boreas was
talking. Stanton felt her hand rest
waveringly on his shoulder.
In a short time 1t was all over.
Stanton went out to the cell with
Boreas. He looked through the bars,
and smiled gently.
-Boreas, the boots on the other leg
so long"
He brought his horse from the
stables, rode up to the house and
went in for a few things he had left.
Now that all was over, in his heart
there was bitterness that she had
condemned him. AS he stepped from
the hall to the porch he found her
waiting. With her two hands she
caught his gauntleted arm. In her
voice was a woman's soul frightened,
unhappy, pleading for forgiveness;
into his name she put what brought a
revulsion of feeling like a tide that
sweeps clean.
"Dick!"
The note in her voice stilled his
heart.
Don't leave"
For a moment he looked into the
fearful, pleading dark eyes, begging
for something she had not found in
the strange landslide protection Of
undaunted love and unwavering
strength He opened his arms, and
with a little sobbing cry that marked
the burden lifted. she went to their
shelter.
Never! sweetheart" was his sim
pie answer.