Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-06-14
VIVlEN'S CAPTURE
Not a Bank Robber as She
Thought, but a Willing Serv-
ant and Lover.
BY. CARY DELoNE.

ullbthkhDle eiupubSio.
How careless that would be-" re-
piled the man In tone of gentle
irony.
He paused in his efforts to get him
sahf and pair of saddlebags over
the rude fence. and turned calmly in
the direction of the voice. A black
haired. black-eyed girl of about TWEEN
~ stood at the edge of the clearing
not two rods away. She had on
serviceable brown suit and leggings,
her cloth cap was slightly askew-
and she was pointing straight at him
a light but businesslike rifle. Her
cheeks were afiame with excitement,
and the man could see her bosom ris-
ing and falling rapidly.
Excuse me for referring to It," he
said quietly, standing motionless by
the fence, but If you keep up that
careless. unsociable way of pointing
guns at people. some day thereH be
ali accident"
IF you resist. or try to draw your
gun, I'll shoot you sure as fate" ex-
claimed the girl, land can shoot
straight. too. Put up your hands!"
Before you get utterly foolish, and
do anything you may be sorry for,
said the man. disregarding the order.
and still leaning easily against the
fence. stop and think whether you
hadn't better tell me what is on your
mind, and why you threaten to muir
der an unarmed stranger"
las II you didn't know, and you
standing there with the saddle-bags
lhemselves-my own saddle-bags, and
the money probably still in them"
"Oh. as for these saddle-bags, well.
perhaps there is more method In your
madness than there seemed to be at
first Do these belong to your
"Of course they do; and you are the
robber who stole them from our sta.
BILE last night: and there Is my silver
monogram on them; and what have
you done with my horse? And oh.
you robber and murderer. l ought to
shoot you anyway. But If you will
keep your hands up and walk ahead
Of me, will take you back to Clin-
ton and give you up. ! don't know
but they will hang you as soon as
you. get there. They ought to-
My dear young lady," said the
man. with unruffled calm, to the pant
ing girl. whose eyes blazed anew at
this address. 81 can see that there is
some reason back of your mistake.
But you are making a complete blund-
er. | am no yobber. And these sad.
dle-bags found"
mo doubt" said the girl. with
raging sarcasm; found them growing
ON hucklcberry bush probably. And
you didn't shoot at the cashier of the
Clinton bank; and you didn't steal
my horse and saddle last night to es-
cape with; and there aren't a hun
dred men with guns looking for you
this minute. Now, tell you what,
mean business! Will you surrender.
Or shall 1 shoot?"
We'll. ON reflection, think I'll sur.
render"
Put up your hands then shall
make you walk ahead of me and car.
ry those bags.
How can carry them with my
hands above my head?"
We'll. you know what l mean You
must--Oh, aren't you hirrid villain
You smile as il II was all a joke.
Take up those bags at once and go
ahead; and remember, my rifle will
be pointed at you all the time. And
| shall be close behind you"
She started toward him But she
had not fully counted on the difficulty
of keeping a steady aim and at the
same time walking over the very
rough ground. Her foot caught In a
root. and she fell fiat, the rife going
off as 1t struck In three leaps the
man was at her side, one hand grasp
Ing her weapon, and one held out 10
assist her. She sprang to her feet;
and her brave, bewitching little face
went deathly white.
Now. fortunately. you will be com
PEELED to listen to me-" said the man
In the same quiet. commanding tone
that he had used throughout See,
my mistaken young friend. have
your rife. You are powerless now
Pray, keep your self-control, and just
listen reasonably to what l have to
world And am no more a bank rob
Der than you are"
The girl stood white and motion
less. her lips trying not to tremble
II am a lumber surveyor.
stranger in this part of Michigan. /
walked over from Port Coleman this
morning. More than an hour ago.
down the road. l met a riderless
horse. white horse. with one dark
stocking. I tried to catch him, but
he was shy, These bags I found
while was prospecting through the
woods; they lay near the body of a
man in that clump of bushes over
there. You can go over and look at
the body, IL you don't believe me.
guess he is your robber all right and
/ judge he didn't get away without
carrying some lead in him. | looked
in the bags and fo6nd they were
stuffed with bankbills. and / guessed
pretty near what had happened. |
was trying to find my way to the
nearest town when you SO suddenly
hailed me-"
The reaction was too much for the
girl. who was. after all. little more i
than a child. She swayed INSTEAD.
fly. The man caught her by the arms.
supported Der to a big log and she sat |