The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-11-26

allow, | will Go what | can to see hel
safely across the border"
Alma murmured her thanks. She
did not like the man. She vas sus-
picious of his ready presence. She
fancied her uncle had said something
about his being untrestworthy. An un-
protected young girl, however, she re-
fiected that because of his former en-
ployer Boyard might strive to really
serve her.
There was no stoppage to the train
during the long night. Alma did not
sleep She felt uncomfortably con
scious somehow of the constant glance
| Boyard kept upon her. Was it pos
sible that he knew Of the rich treasure
she carried?
Just at daybreak the train was halt
ed at little town in the mountains.
A body of soldiers ordered all to
alight; Boyard was carrying the little
satchel belonging to Alma. Suddenly
he disappeared. He did not return
Then Alma was persuaded that he had
made away with it, believing its con
tents valuable. Her passport was
gone. She was ordered to remain in
the country.
What fate for the delicate young
girl, when that evening, distraught
footsore, affrighted she neared the
light of lonely hut in the mountains.
She dared not remain in the town
where the prejudice against an alien
would pursue her. She feared being
| imprisoned, searched, and the jewels
taken from her, so she had wandered
away from human habitations, blindly
hoping some chance might put her
across the border.
Once she believed she was pursued
and in the distance fancied she noted
the lurking Boyard. Now, hungry,
athirst, exhausted, she FASTENED
toward the light. AS she neared it a
cry of acute pain came from the hut
A wild figure of a man dashed by her.
The cry from the hut was repeated
Alma entered to find a peasant woman
lying on a bed in spasm of pain.
| Then she aroused to minister to the
sufferer. 1t was her keen womanlr
sympathy that helped her successfully
The man, who had fastened for neigh
Dor and found no one at home, came
back frantic. When he learned, how
ever, of the timely aid of Alma he
overwhelmed her with his sincere
gratitude.
That night there was dread alarm
at the lonely hut. Half dozen armed
men appeared outside and demanded
that Alma be handed over to them as
prisoner. When Alma recognized
Boyard as their leader she knew that
, he was after the diamonds.
She had learned during the evening
that her host wes smuggler of laces
over the border of France, yet in her
dire extremity Alma felt that she must
trust in him. She told him her story
while the group outside were clamor
ing vociferously for admission. The
smuggler's eyes frightened.
"Ah," he said, you wish to save
your jewels from that horde? Then |
can help you and show my gratitude
for your kindness to my wife. Tell
me the Paris address of your friends.
The diamonds shall be there within
two days"
And then the speaker whistled for
keen-eyed little dog Alma had no.
ticed about the place. He secured the
chamois bag about its neck, scrawled
few lines, and inclosed the screed
inside of a padded coat he fitted to the
dog, and, going to the window, opened
it, dropped the intelligent animal in
the dewy grass and away it sped.
Boyard soon learned that he had
been baffied. Three days later the
smuggler managed to get Alma across
the border. There was a great re-
union when Mr.. Dacre arrived to find
the gems safe and sound, for the SNUG
gler's dog had carried the treasure
safely over the border to trusty friends
of his mas Ter, who had sent 1t on to
Paris.
Copyright. 1914 by w. C. Chapman.)