The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1912-08-01
'coDyrirh,. 1911. by Associated Literary PRESS

light, eh?"
Jess opened her eyes. She had
been browsing for the last hour The
view was gorgeous from the car win
dows. She leaned forward. and looked
out at the great encircling mountains,
the still. dark lake far be Ow the
track, the vast, outstretching dis
tances beyond the pass itself. Some
where over toward the golden sunset
lay her brothers ranch. and the new
life that had swept her out of the rut
down east After ten years of school
teaching in the country. it seemed like
enchantment that she should be out
here, Swimming over the last ridge of
the Rockies.
1T won't be all easy work, Jess"
Tom had written, but I've got the
upper hand of things here now, and
I think youT like it
The man across the aisle was talk
ing to his fellow passenger, a sleepy
old man, who had been doing com
/ fortably. and refused to warm up to
the glories of the scenery.
Il wouldn't give a hands breadth
/ of this country up here for all Man
haitian.
Where you from?" growled back
the other
"Deerfoot, sir. Finest section and
richest our here. Come into the
smoking compartment with me and
let me tell you about it"
He rose impulsively, a tall, strong
limbed youngster, with all the vivid
assurance and hope of the west in
his face. Suddenly he hesitated and
looked across the aisle at the girl
there. Their eyes met. He almost
smiled and reached for a handbag in
the upper rack.
Gould l leave this with you just
while l step into the smoker?" he
asked. Il won't be more than half an
hour"
Jess bowed her head assentingly
and he slipped the bag in beside her
own suitcase on the floor 1t seemed
very heavy. After he had gone Jess
threw her fur scarf over it and won
dered who its owner was
Not ten minutes later the train
slowed up. There was the sharp hiss
of air brakes. The wheels seemed
to CRATE and grind along on the rails.
Almost instantly shots sounded up for
ward Some of the men passengers
rose. Jess held her breath and won
dered if, after all, she was not to
reach her new life.
The doors at the end of the car
swung open. Two masked, armed men
entered
Hands up and shut up, and no
body'll be hurt" said one tersely. |
The other started Systematically to
search. At Jess seat he reached for her
suitcase and saw the girl had tainted. !
Her pretty head lay back on the roll
top of the seat, white and death-like,
and it checked him. He glanced at
the suit case back at her face, and
passed on. Under her skirts rested
the leather satchel unobserved.
When she came to some one was
bathing her face in cold water.
"Plucky? Well, rather. That's bet
ter. It's all right now. We're on
our way and the gang didn't get what
it wanted after all" he leaned nearer;
thanks to you"
q don't know what you mean" fall
tered Jess.
"Of course you don't, but I'm
mighty obliged to you just the same
They passed by the smoker and miss
ed me. and didn't look for my belong
ings in your seat, that's ALL
You mean the satchel?"
You didn't try to lift it, did you?
It's full OF solid gold. | think you de-
serve to know, don't you? Do you
mind if l sit here? Wen be into
Eagle View in 20 minutes, and leave
The train there"
so do l." aid Jess shyly.
Where hound?" There was no mis-
-aking his eagerness.
ITO the Sawtooth ranch It's my
brothers."
tom McQuaids? Why, were neigh
oors. It's a queer little iuggler's ball
hat we dance on this world, isn't it?
IN Raleigh Sayre superintendent at
he Deerfoot works Why. when | first
spoke to you. and you looked at me,
why, ! just felt as if we must know
zach other. Don't you know what l j
nean?"
Jess long dark lashes dropped down
VArd.
q know" she said I'm glad too.
hat you will be near-Tom."
But do you know what you've
one this day? Why, you'll be the t
eroine of the whole valley We a
ay off in gold up there. So, we'll s
he gold is in that satcbel, and back t
onder il the pass there's a band Of ?
rain robbers wondering who gave the c
irong tip that the Deerfoot money
ras to go through on this train. DO
on see now? It rested safely right
ere under your blessed feet" a
But | tainted | wasn't a bit t.
rave" protested Jess |
And made doubly sure thereby" e
e laughed. |:
The train was pulling around the c
Ist mountain curve into Esgle View. CT
e helped to slip her long cloak !,
ho,f hor and fold tho dark furo cIoaa II