Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-04-02

you can walk Ia II. and take train.
Possibly | may furnish you with dis
guises."
III you VIII de- this said the man
I'll bless you forever"
The girl seemed 10 be too much nf
fccird to speak. She imiulsiycly seized
my hand aud kissed II
Fortunately FOR Our unccnimcnt. the
wood we were hi extended To within
hundred yards of the farmhouse where
| was staying. | conducted the couple
TO this rear point. and from there we
passed through u long arbor covered
with grapeyines aud entered the
house. introduced them TO the fam.
lily as friends Of mine who had come
to the country and were looking for a
boarding place. | took them both up
to my room. where they would not be
, seen II any one should call to look for
them.
After brief conversation apart be-
tween the lovers the man came 10 me
and said that the girl felt the deicacy
OF her position aud thought they should
be married. concurrcd In this. for
| thought that marriage under the
law would give him authority over his
wife In precedence to her guardian.
But on talking the matter over we all
concluded that TO bring In clergy.
man ut so critical period might give
the couple away. Indeed. they trcm-
blcd during the day lest the family In
the house. knowing Of their presence.
might reveal 1t TO their pursucrs.
kept them In my room, and only
once did they get scare. A man
drove by In buggy. stopped. and
heard him ask the farmer II he had
seen anything Of two old men whom
he described. The farmer said he had
not. and the man in the buggy drove
on.
When night came and the family in
the house had gone to bed. ] looked
about the house and. returning. In
formed the couple that the coast was
clear. Before leaving they both ex-
pressed their gratitude TO me with
tears In their eyes. The man begged
me TO go to the bridge the next day.
secure the valise and bring II TO my
room to keep for its owner till IL should
be called for. was battered by the
confidence reposed In me and made
the desired promise. With this the
girl flung her arms around my neck
and kissed me- Then put out the
light. and. all of us moving on tipto,.
led them out into the starlight. They
started of In direction away from
where we had been IN the morning.
Then ! went upstairs TO my room.
not only feeling that fine breach had
been made In the monotony of my life,
but that | had done what | could to
right great wrong. lay awake for
some time thinking Of the pair ptir-
suing their way through the darkness
and sincerely hoped they would be so
far away before morning that pursuit
would avail nothing.
For my walk the next morning had
an object would 30 TO the bridge.
secure the valisc hidden there. bring
II TO my room and keep II locked In
my closet. There Is something fasci-
mating In possessing such u secret and
especially so In having n treasure com
mittcd To- cnes keeping. ! wondered
what was the value of the bonds TO
which the man had referred. rcsolv
ed 10 make nm inventory of everything
the valise contained In order that there
should he no doubt about the exact
amount for which ! was responsible.
| was rather glad the young girl had
held on 10 her jewels. There was n
triile more responsibility even In the
bonds than would. under less inter
csiing circumstances, have cared To
take.
ON reaching the bridge looked
about me md listened 10 make sure
no one was near 10 observe my move
mcnts, then went down and thrust
my arm back into u pocket where
had seen the man put the valise.
No valise was there.
| confess | was somewhat surprised.
When they left me they had moved
away from the bridge. They must
have changed their minds and return
cd. or had the treasure been dlscov.
cred:
Reluctantly I left the place and was
walking MP the incline when heard
voice:
Hands ur."
Not having been used 10 this order.
was gaping around 10 discover where
the voice came from when Il bullet.
followed quickly by report. sang
over my head This admonished me
as to the meaning NJ the words put
my hands above my head.
4 man with drawn revolver ad-
vanced from behind n tree and clap
ped pair Of handouts Oh me.
'Will ynu kindly lnform mo. sir"
asked. what this mrins:'
1T means TINT you were booking for
the swag captured before daylight We
tcr,lay morning IN the --ll National
bank. suppose some Of Your pals
have taken IT,"