The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-09-18
CHAPTER XII.
Cllckety-CIiekety-cIickety.

Marjorie, as the supposed wife OF
the rescuing angel, was permitted
first search, and the first thing she
hunted for was a certain gold brace
let that was none of hers. She found
II and seized It with a prayer or
thanks. and concealed 1t among her
own things.
Mrs. Temple gave her a guilty start,
by speaking across a barrier:
Mrs. Mallory, your husband is the
bravest man on earth"
"Oh, know he is" Marjorie
beamed, and added with a 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 If they
were all new gifts found on a 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 of tips
was not blighted after all.
Mallory completed his bliss, by CIV
ing him DR.. Temples brace OF guns,
and establishing him as jailer. with
warning: Now, porter. don't take
your eye off EN-"
''Lordy, | won't bat an eyelid."
IF either of these lads coughs, put
a hole through both OF en-"
The porter chuckled: My fingers is
just a-itchin' fer them lovin' triggers"
Mallory pocketed two of the cap
tured 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
airy 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 a 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 the
track, with a farewell; Goodbye,
troubled"
AS he drew his head in, side
glance showed him that up near the
engine a third train-robber held the
miserably weary train crew in line.
He found the conductor just about
to pull the bellrope, to proceed. The
conductor had forgotten all about the
rest of the staif. Mallory took him
aside, and told him the situation. then
turned to Marjorie, said: Excuse me
a minute" and hurried forward. The
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 a mysterious
bullet that fiicked the dust near his
heel. and a sonorous shout OF Hands
up!" AS he whirled in amaze. he
saw two revolvers aimed point blank
at him from behind a 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 a burning demand:
You dear old fraud, will you marry
me?"
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 the
ceremony, the conductor appeared.
looked him over, grinned, and reached
for the bellcord, with cheerful: "All
aboard"
Mallory had sort Of superstitious
dread, not entirely unfounded on ex-
perience, that II the train got under
way again. 1t would run into some
new obstacle to bis marriage. tie
turned TO the con- uctor:
Say, old man, just hold the train
till after my wedding, won't your"
II Vaa not mnoh n ask An rofurr