Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-11-01

| MIS-. MaIlOry, your nusOduu ID tue
bravest man on earth"
ooh, know he is," Marjorie
beamed, and added with spasm Of
conscience: but he isn't my hus.
band!"
Mrs. Temple gasped in horror. but
Marjorie dragged her close, and
poured out the whole story, while the
other passengers recovered their prop.
critics with as much Joy as II they
were all new gifts found on bush.
Meanwhile, under Mallory's guild.
ance, the porter fastened the outlaws
| together back to back with the straps
of their own feed-bags. The porter
was rejoicing that his harvest O. tips
uas not h;:gh.ef alter al.
Mallory completed his bliss, BY Civ.
Ing him DR.. Temples brace of guns.
aud establishing him as jailer, with
warning: Nov. porter, don't take
-FOUR eye of EN-"
"Lordy, I won't bat an eyelid"
IF either Of these lads coughs, put
hole through both of EN-
The porter chuckled: my fingers 10
Just a-itchin' fer them lovin' trigger"
Mallory pocketed two of the cap
lured revolvers, lest need might
arise suddenly again. AS he hurried
down the aisle, he was received with
cheers. The passengers gave him an
ovation, but he only smiled timidly.|
and made haste to Marjorie's side.
She regarded him with such idol
atry that he almost regretted his deed.
But this mood soon passed in her ex-
element, and in a moment she was
surreptitiously showing him the
bracelet. He became an accessory
after the fact, and shared her guilt,
for when she groaned with sudden;
droop: She'll get it back!" he grimly
answered, "Oh, no she WON'T" hoist
ed the window, and flung the bracelet
into little pool by the side Of tho
track, with . farewell: Goodbye,
troubled"
AS he drew his head in, . side
glance showed him that up near the
engine a third train-robber held tho
miserably weary train crew In line.
He found the conductor just about
to pull the bellrope, to proceed. Tho
conductor had forgotten all about tho
rest of the stan. Mallory took him
aside, and told him the situation, then
turned to Marjorie, said: Excuse mo
q minute" and hurried forward. Tho
conductor followed Mallory through
the train into the baggage coach.
The first news the third outlaw had
Of the counter-revolution occurring IN
the sleeping car was mysterious
bullet that licked the dust near his
heel, and q sonorous shout of Hands
up" AS he whirled in amaze, he
saw two revolvers aimed point blank
at him from behind trunk. He
hoisted his guns without parley, and
the train crew trussed him up In short
order.
Mallory ran back to Marjorie, and
the conductor followed more slowly,
reassuring the passengers in the other
cars. and making certain that the
train was ready to move on its way.
Mallory went straight to DR.. Tenn.
pie, with burning demand:
You dear old fraud will you marry
me" elA o.
DR.. Temple laughed and nodded.
Marjorie and Mrs Temple had been
telling him the story OF the prolonged
elopement, and he was eager to atone
for his own deception, by putting an
end to their misery.
Just wait one moment" he said,
and as a final proof of affection, he
unbuttoned his collar and put it on
backwards. Mrs. Temple brought out
the discarded bib, and he donned 1t
meekly. The transformation ex-
planned many a mystery the old man
had enmeshed himself in.
Even at he made ready for tho
ceremony, the conductor appeared.
looked him over, grinned, and reached
for the bell.cord, with a cheerful: "All
aboard"
Mallory had sort Of superstitious
dread. not entirely unfounded on ex-
perience, that If the train got under,
way again, it would run into some
new obstacle to his marriage. He
turned to the conductor:
Say, old man, just hold the train,
till after my wedding. won't you?"
1t was not much Ito ask in return
for his services, but the conductor.
was tired OF being second in COM
mand. He growled:
mot minute. We're way behind
time" &os
You might wait It'll I'm married."
Mallory pleaded
mot on your life!" the conductor,
answered, and he pulled the bell-rope
twice; in the distance. the whistle an
swered twice. 81
Mallory's temper fared again. He
cried: This train doesn't 60 another
step till I'm married." He reached
up and pulled the bell-rope once; in
the distance the whistle sounded
once.
This was high treason, and the con.
ductor advanced on him threatening
ly, as he seized the cord once more.
"You touch that rope again. and I'll"
"Oh, no, you won't" said Mallory.
as he whisked revolver from his
right pocket and damned 1t into the
conductors watch-pocket. The con.
ductor came to attention.
Then Mallory, standing with his
right hand on military duty, put out
his left hand, and gave the word:
snow, parson."
He smiled still more as he heard
Kathleen's voice wailing: But can't