The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-05-05
"A Story of
Crausfork
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON
Joy

Lis WA ~stS
ton. Four or five men approached
him from the shadows Of the freight
houses, ugly, unsmiling fellows. They
demanded OF him the cause of his un-
seemly mirth. With tears in his mer-
ry black eyes he related the plight Of
the pretty slumberers. They piled him
with questions. He described the cou-
pie, even glowingly. Then the SIMS
ter fellows smiled. More than that,
they clapped each other on the back
and swore ~splendidly.
And so it was that the news spread
over town at 8 o'clock that Truxton
King was where he could do no harm.
1t was well known that the train
would make forty miles an hour down
the steep grade into the lower valley.
When TruXton King first awoke to
the fact that they were no longer
lying motionless in the dreary yards
he leaped to his feet with a startled
shout of alarm. With frantic energy
he pulled open the door. For a min
ute he stared at the scudding walls of
stone so close at hand, uncomprehend-
ingly. Then the truth burst upon him
with the force Of a mighty blow. He
staggered back, his jaw dropping, his
eyes glaring.
"Great God, Lorraine! We're going!
We're moving" he cried hoarsely.
She shot to her feet and lurched to
his side. Don't fall OUT" she almost
shrieked.
Suddenly the train shot out into the
open, farm spattered valley. Truxton
fell back dumfounded.
"'The country" he exclaimed. We've
been carried away. God in heaven!
The prince-he is lost!!' He was be-
side himself, raging like a mailman.
He had shouted to her that he must
get back to the city.
"You would be killed." she cried,
clutching his arm fiercely. You never
can jump, Truxton. See how we are
running. If you jump shall follow. l
won't go on alone. | am as much to
blame as you"
A small station few by. Rom, sew
en- kilometers to Edelweiss." He look
ed at ner IN despair.
"We're going faster and faster" he
grated.
Just then his gaze alighted on the
pathetic breakfast. He stared as II
hypnotized. Was he going mad? An
instant later he was on his hands and
knees examining the mysterious feast.
She joined him at once No two faces
aver before were So puzzled and per-
picked.
"By heaven" he exclaimed, 81 see it
all! We've been deliberately shang-
haied. We've been bottled up here
and shipped out of town. Don't touch
that stuff It's probably full Of poi
son Great Scott, what a clever gang
they are!'
Whereupon he proceeded to kick the
unoffending breakfast u of the car
door. To their dying day they were
to believe that the food had been put
there by agents Of the great conspira-
tor.
Hello" said he. Were slowing up
He looked out and ahead. There's a
Va ibSN WV Ohu a 15, tlltIt =
our same old river. They're running
slow for the bridge. We can swing
off, Lorraine. Now's our chancer.'
The train vas barely creeping up to
the bridge. He clasped her in the
strong crook of his left arm, slid down
to ii sitting position and boldly pushed
himself clear of the car, landing on his
feet. Staggering forward with the i'm
petus he had received, he would have
fallen except for a mighty effort. A
sharp groan escaped his lips as he low.
cred Lorraine to the ground. She looked
anxiously into his face and saw moth
ing there but relief.
Come along" said the man briefly
"We must try to reach that station
back there. There l car telegraph il
OH" His first attempt to walk brought
out a groan of pain.
He had turned his ankle In the leap
to the ground.