The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-07-25

sic to the station master and rushed
out upon the PLATFORM But the train
winch made up at Gilt Gulch was not
yet ready to depart A freight car had
lett the rails. blocking the track. Five,
ten. hfteen minutes passed. and still
the obstruction remained Darlington
grew uneasy. Jim Busby might at any
moment deem that he had imbibed q
quantity of liquor commensurate 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
siding. Even as it did so harrington
caught sight of the $50 train as it
rounded the curve just beyond the sta
ton.
A moment later Susie Cutler. her
trim little figure set off by a skilIfully
tailored gray travelling suit and her
face wearing the look of determination
BETTING a girl who had just completed
journey nearly across the continent
, alone, descended to the platform of
| Gilt Gulch station. harrington 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-
volver. Behind the revolver stood Mr..
! James Busby.
! Now, young man." said Mr.. Busby,
"we'n attend to your little matter, aud
We won't be long doing it,
Then Busby became suddenly con-
scious Of voice, evidently feminine,
proceeding from some point in his
rear and of the light pressure of
hand upon his arm.
do you know" said the voice, Its
dreadfully careless of you pointing
that thing at anybody so. Why, it
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, it was
a rather pleasing face to view.
so it might said Busby slowly.
$50 it might"
We'll, then, stop aiming it at Har-
Mr.. Darlington" she commanded
"YOu make me nervous"
Fact u.s." said Busby, Il was sort
He had lowered his weapon and
spoke very calmly and deliberately.
"Whatv shrieked the girl. You
have the audacity to stand there and
tell me you mean to commit cold
blooded murder? Where are the po
lice? A splendid place this must be t
. live in, where a man goes out to xii
another as coolly as he'd eat hi
breakfast
, That's the way with all you folks
from out Boston way" grumbled Bus
by. You're always getting murde
and the administration Of justice
mixed. / amt going to murder him
I'm going to execute him. He's don
{ me dirt, and if he amt killed he'll d
somebody else dirt. So for the goo
! of everybody he'd ought to be shot
What do you care anyway? Amt n
relative Of yourn, is hep
= ''Why, no." she answered in som
: confusion, "he isn't a relative exactl
I that is. he
A CLEAN of comprehension shone
Busby's eyes.
Come to think Of it,. said he,
heard something about his being g
ing to get married Be you the girl
y. She nodded.
u YES" she answered simply. Ell
e. the girl
u Then said Busby, Its Gle,
= enough to my mind that in interferi1
10 with this execution you're preventiI
8 Howsomever, if you stick to it th
IL you don't want him shot and if you
ST take him out of Nevada and keep hi
- OUT
The girl did not wait for him to ii
4 ish. She transferred her grasp fro
- Busby's arm to that of Barringto
III who during the preceding conversati
ST had stood silent, his face white,
We limbs trembling, cold sweat beadil
wv his forehead.
ns Come, Harry" she said imperious
u! Meekly, with bowed head and dow
en- cast eyes, harrington suffered her
lead him aboard the train, which W
ep- now, the track being clear, about
cd move eastward.
use Jim Busby sat down upon the ed
10 of the platform and burst into a &c
Mt of laughter. Long after the train b
l." disappeared around the curve bell
ch the station the station master fou
ties him there, his broad shoulders S
shaking with merriment.
my ''Well, you doddering idiot" said
for station master. whats the joker
The "Oh, amt he going to get his
nd right, thought" queried the mirth
Busby. Did you hear her Come, II
re- ry,' him and snake him aboard
train like he'd been puppy hitcI
IT'S to string? He got out Of being e
her cuted, but he's getting life senter
to and that's a whole lot worse