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

night. under cover Of tho darkness.
you can walk 10 Il. and take train.
Possibly may furnish you with dis
gulscs."
III you VIII do this" said the man
I'm bless yuu forever"
The girl seemed Ia be- too much az
fccicd to spcak. She iniulsivcly seized
my hand aud kissed II
Fortunately FOR our nnccaimcnt the
wood we were IN extended to within
hundred yards Of the farmhouse where
I was staying. ! conducted the couple
to this rear point. and from there we
passed through n long nrbor covered
with grapcyiDes aud entered the
house. Introduced them to the fam.
lily MS friends OF mine who had come
to the country and were looking for n
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 delicacy
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 n clergy
man at 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 II to their pursucrs.
kept them In my room. and only
once did they get n 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 valisc and bring II 10 my
room to keep for its owner till II 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 I'm 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 pur-
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 go to the bridge.
ScCuIt tuc NHliSc upiutu tht'N' p'"S
II to my room and keep II locked In
my closet. There Is something fnsci-
mating in possessing such Il secret ana
especially so In having treasure com
miticd to ones keeping. wondered
what was the value of the bonds 10
which the man had referred. resolv'
cd TO make an 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 to her Jewels. There was u
triile more responsibility even In the
bonds than would. under less inter
esting circumstances. have cared To
take.
ON reaching the bridge looked
about me nd listened to make sure
no one was near To- observe my move
ments. then went down and thrust
my arm back Into pocket where
had seen the man put the valise.
No valise was there.
I 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 discov-
cred:
Reluctantly left the place aud was
walking up the Incline when J heard
voice:
Hands w"
Not having been used To this order.
I was gaping around 10 discover where
the voice came from when bullet.
followed quickly by n report. sang
over my head This admonislcd inc
as to the meaning Of the words. put
my hands above my head.
A man with drawn revolver adj
vanccd from behind II tree mud clap
ped pair Of handouts on me.
"Will ynu kindly lnform me. SIR" |
asked. what this meansi''
at means thai you were looking for
the swag captured before daylight we
tcr,lay morning IN the --th National
bank. suppose some Of your pals
have taken H."
'Do you mean to tell me-" ex-