The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-02-19

| Lets ask the GIRL" growled the
man with the lame shoulder.
| He looked around. The girl stood
in the doorway. Her face was flushed,
her eyes dancing.
| You mustn't get inpatient" she
said. II am hurrying dinner as fast
as l can"
The man with the sprained ankle
raised his hand.
way, I'VE want to divert few mo-
ments of your valuable time. Can We
do so?"
Not more than five minutes" said
the girl. "Arlie is apt to let things
boil over"
The man who had spoken last took
out his watch.
Stopped" he said.
| The man with the bandage fumbled
in his pocket.
Smashed" he snapped.
Use the kitchen clock" growled
the man with the lame shoulder.
Kind lady," said the man who had
spoken first, Il want you to formally
meet your beneficiaries. This" he
pointed to the lame shoulder, is Jim.
The other man, the bandit with the
bandage, is Tom. I am Jack"
The girl courtesied.
Happy to know you," she said. 81
am Sis
They laughed at this and WINGED
afterward.
| Now said the man who had called
himself Jack, "let me tell you some
thing. We were on our way to Mon
ticello when Tom here dumped us out
of his car. Our errand was an i'm
portant one-to us, at least. 1t con-
Germs a short line railroad that is to
be sold at the county seat to-day. We
meant to stop this sale-it should be
stopped. We were hurrying to Mon
ticello over a road that was un-
familiar to us, but which we were told
would bring us there little sooner.
| Now we want your advice. Can you
find us a messenger who by any pos
| sibility could reach Monticello by 2
o'clock"
She shook her head.
No." she answered.
II was afraid you couldn't" said
the man who called himself Jack. He
| looked around. Its all off, boys"
he growled.
But l can go myself" said the
girl.
They stared at her.
"You," cried Jack. But how is
it possible?"
"Cut that out, Jack" said the man
CALI ! Tom. Isis says she'll do it.
That's enough"
The girl laughed.
Il have pony" she said. "He will
carry me five miles across country to
Burbank, and there the morning mail
train stops on signal. I know the
station master. He will help me.
And the train reaches Monticello at
100"
The man called Jack drew a long
envelope from an inner pocket.
Here is the packet" he said. "You
will hurry with it to the law Office of
Thorpe & Holmes. Hand it to Thorpe.
Go with him to the court house.
Bring back the papers he will give
you. Here is money for your fare"
"I'll pin the envelope inside my
dress" said the girl. II can catch the
80 train home. Look for me be-
fore dark. But your dinner?"
"Never mind the dinner, Sis" cried
Jim. This ride means many dinners
to us. Go, dear girl, and luck be with
you"
A moment or two later Sis on the
pony clattered up the road.
Presently the boy came out on the
porch.
II had to quit in there" he apollo
gized. Sis said I'd spoil things.
She'll get the dinner when she gets
back. And if you are hungry there's
plenty of cold beef and bread and
butter and milk and sauce and
cheese"
That's all right, laddie," said Jack.
"And now tell us how you two chill
dren happen to be living here alone?"
"We amt afraid" said the boy.
isis has got a gun an she can handle |
it as we'll as any man. Our mother |
is at Springfield nursing. Father died |
out West last spring-he went there |
because he wasn't very well-and we
had him brought home and buried |
beside my baby brother. And-well, |
it cost SO much that we had to give up
our house in Monticello and come |
here and mother goes nursing to help |
out, you know. It's awful lonesome
here sometimes-we're SO far away
from everybody-but SIS has some
books and she reads to me- and we [