The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-07-04
The LIMITED.
Courage Of Two Youngsters,
and One Of Them a
Tenderfoot.
By SEWARD W. X

0S tuOUEu u0 WIS lCClluE SOuu0luluX III
side.
1T can't be possible!!" he said once,
then again: 'It's a lie. I know it is.
Julie Gridon leader of a gang Of rob-
bers? No; it must be a hideous mis-
take"
But the words a they had come In
dots and dashes to him from Bat Cross
ing could neither be misunderstood nor
eftaced. And he knew LOOMS so we'll
LOOMS wouldn't say a word about a
woman that could wrong her. And.
besides, LOOMS did not know that
Prescott" loved her. So the element of
jealousy would not play a. part.
But there was the message, repeated
to make IN error impossible:
Dick Prescott, Cow Corners:
You will receive package containing
money from express messenger on lin
tied. Twenty thousand dollars for James
Beal. You will be accosted by Julie Girl
don, leader bad gang who will talk, hold
you up. Jake Gridon coming later with
gang. LOOMS.
It wasn't a long message. Prescott
laughed half insanely US he repeated it.
He got up and walked nervously to
and fro.
"Loomis wouldn't lie" he said.
"And see how true 1t has come so far.
I've got the package. Limited went
through on time. And now
He laughed again, but it was a
strange, wild laugh.
$50 this is the little girl who was
30 nice and cordial and even affection
ate; the pretty girl l saved from
drowning only a month ago; the girl
whom l was going to ask Suppose l
had! Suppose it was her husband she,
with Jake Gridon, was coming to rob!
Suppose it! I can't suppose ii. It's a.
a.
He stopped at his desk again and
looked down..
"I've got it right" he said. "And
Loomis wouldn't lie. But how did he
learn it? How can he know"
His v walk began again. BE
couldn't leave. His pony wasn't far
away, but the eastbound express would
pass soon, and then the switch must
be turned for the night local. There
was no one else. The ramshackle, one
horse station had a porter daytimes,
but at night, when all the deviltry took
place, the company did not think he
needed any one.
His brain was on fire. He had the
package, and the girl he loved was
coming with a gang to take It from
him.
A sudden noise at the window made
him jump. His revolver leaped from
his pocket.
"Don't shoot me-" said a quick, nerv-
GUS voice. "Dick-Mr. Prescott, you
received a package from the limited.
You
"No," he said, facing the u tanned
face that looked in at the window. A
glance told him she carried a rifle.
"You did mott"
"No," he said. 1.-THE limited went
through without stopping"
"But It was sent-1 know it was sent.
I know 1t, l tell you"
"No, I received no package"
For a moment she looked ut him
.ShtsadilY,. and then a peculiar smile
sdashedacrosasher*face and. disappeared
again. with an agility for which she
was fur famed she sprang In at the
window. -%
.Dick Prescott" she said sternly,
"your face tells a different story. You
did get that package for Mr.. Beal."
Miss GridOn, r.
"Stop! L have misunderstood you,
and / Nuke few mistakes In men. Dick
Prescott, you have opened my eyes to-
night. I thought you were a mana
gentleman. You have proved me to be
wrong"
She stood leaning on her rifle. and
her great, fearless eyes looked steadily
into his.
He felt himself trembling. How was
he to let her know that LOOMS had
sent the news that had 90 unnamed
him? Yet he must do something Once
more Loomis was proved correct The
package had come. Then she had come.
The next would be the worst gang OF
cutthroats in Arizona, with Jake Girl
don ut their head.
.Julie," he said. II am not well. !
am going out for air"
Eyes," she said, ''you don't look we'll.
Come outside" 4
He started to theAdoor.
.'stop where you are!!'
He flashed =. glance back. He could
not pretend to be frightened. He was
looking into the muxzle OF her ride.
"Dick Prescott, throw up your hands!
Quick! You haven't a moment to
lose.,"
4 Her eye was as steady az any mans
of the southwest. Prescott was no
coward, and he couldn't shoot the girl
he loved for q hundred times $4,000.
Up went his hands.
There was 4 peculiar sound IN her
throat AZ she stepped to his side. With
fingers that seemed to have had much
practice she took away his revolver,
swept her hand inside his coat and
took ont sthANpackAGo.