Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-03-04

grew uneasy. Jim Busby might at any
momen deem that he had imbibed a
quantity of liquor with
his contemplated task and begin to
search for him. But at the end of
twenty minutes. to his great relief, the
perspiring train crew succeeded in re-
placing the derailed car. and the
freight train pulled slowly out upon a
siding. Even as 1t did so Darlington
caught sight Of the 2:50 train as 1t
rounded the curve just beyond the sta
ton.
A moment later Susie Cutler, her
trim little figure set off by a skillfully
tailored gray travelling suit and her
face wearing the look of determination
BETTING a girl who had just completed
a journey nearly across the continent
alone, descended to the platform of
Gilt Gulch station. Darlington rushed
toward her joyfully. Within three
steps of her he encountered an obsta-
cle-a very serious obstacle. This was
nothing less than the muzzle of a re-
yolver. Behind the revolver stood Mr..
James Busby.
"Now, young man." said Mr.. Busby,
well attend to your little matter, and
we won't be long doing it."
Then Busby became suddenly con-
scious of a voice. evidently feminine,
proceeding from some point In his
rear and of the light pressure Of a
hand upon his arm.
do you know" said the voice, Its
dreadfully careless of you pointing
that thing at anybody so. Why, 1t
might go off,"
Turning about, Busby looked into
the piquant features of Susie Cutler.
He decided unhesitatingly that, not
withstanding some freckles and the
tendency of the nose to turn up, 1t was
a rather pleasing face to view.
80 1t might" said Busby slowly.
$50 1t might"
well, then, stop aiming 1t at Har-
Mr.. Darlington" she commanded.
"You make me nervous"
"Fact is" said Busby, 81 was sort
of planning to shoot Mr.. Darlington"
He had lowered his weapon and
spoke very calmly and deliberately.
"Whatr' shrieked the girl. You
have the audacity to stand there and
tell me you mean to commit a cold
blooded murder? Where are the po-
lice? A splendid place this must be to
live In, where a man goes out to kill
another as coolly Is he'd eat his
breakfast"
"That's the way with all you folks
from out Boston way" grumbled Bus
by. you're always getting murder
and the administration of justice
mixed. I amt going to murder him.
I'm going to execute him. He's done
me dirt, and If he amt killed he'll do
somebody else dirt. So for the good
of everybody he'd ought to be shot.
What do you care anyway? Amt ~
relative of you1n, is he?"
"Why, no." she answered in some
confusion, The isn't a relative exactly
that is. he
A CLEAN of comprehension shone in
Busby's eyes.
Come to think of t." said he, 81
heard something about his being 60
ing to get married. Be you the grip
She nodded.
eyes," she answered simply, Pm
the girl"
"Then," said Busby, Its clear
enough to my mind that in interfering
with this execution you're preventing
me from doing you a great favor.
Howsomever. If you stick to 1t that
you don't want him shot and il you'll
take him out of Nevada and keep him
OUT
The girl did not wait for him to fin
ish. She transferred her grasp from
Busby's arm to that of Darlington,
who during the preceding conversation
had stood silent. his face white, his
limbs trembling. cold sweat beading
his forehead.
Come, Harry" she said im%periously.
Meekly, with bowed head and down
cast eyes, Darlington suffered her to
lead him aboard the train, which was
now, the track being clear, about to
move eastward.
Jim Busby sat down upon b edge
OF the platform and burst into a roar
of laughter. Long after the train had
disappeared around the curve below
the station the station master found
him there, his broad shoulders still
shaking with merriment.
"Well, you doddering idiot" said the
station master. whats the joker
"Oh, amt he going to get his all
right, thought queried the mirthful
Busby. Did you hear her Come. Har-
ry,' him and snake him aboard the
train like he'd been a puppy hitched
to a string? He got out of being exc
cuted, but he's getting a life sentence,
and that's a whole lot worse"