The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-11
Copyright. 1914. by the
LUBIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY


tening uneaslly. There could be no
doubt about it-from the west came
the roar of No. as she swept down
The long grade from the foothills. and
from the opposite direction the pant
ing of big mogul as II breasted the
slope.
Look" Jimmy suddenly shouted
ard spranG to bis feet.
AS No. I train Numbered into sight
passenger No 8. which should have
been waiting upon the siding at Bax.
ter station. TWO miles east. tore round
the shoulder Of hill and came on
with undiminished speed
Lord Cecil. with fair measure of sue
cess. had been striving to forget the
discomfort OF the dusty day coach and
the distressing reughness of the road
into which there came a slender girl
ish form and wistful eyes.
Suddenly his every sense seemed par
alyZed by sounds and shocks beyond
aware of splintering timbers. of shiv-
ering glass. of wild shrieks us passen-
gers started up and were hurled from
their feet. Then silent blackness. like
deepest sleep. shut down. crushing hin
into unconsciousness
Almost before the two trains had met
in mutual destruction Holt Peterson
and Elsie had spriln. from the veranda
and were racing toward the scene of
the catastrophe,
When they reached the spot 1t SEEM
ed that all the passengers had already
extricated themselves ur been assisted
to safety by those unhurt. AS they
stared In fascinated horror at q half
crushed and blazing coach. however. a
man crawied painfully forth. and Holt
sprang forward to mid him
I'm a right!' the passenger gaSped
But there's Il man In there couldn't
get him out"
He pointed toward the burning coach.
Come on" Holt shouted and. with
out waiting for Il reply, dashed to
the car, Peterson hesitated and drew
back. Under Elsies seornful glance
be writhed uncomfortably
mo use for two to go-and we've got
1 TO look out for your safety" he STAN.
mered. But the girl turned away Holt
soon reappeared, bearing the body of a
man.
Bring him to the house." Elsie said
with eager pity and gave Jimmy Holt a
glance to win which he would have
| gone through ten times the dire peril
he had just passed She hurried ahead
and with 'eterSon's assistance Holt
carried toward the cottage the uncon.
sciouS Lord Cecil.
| An hour later Cecil opened his eyes.
| glanced uncomprehendingly about the
! simple bedroom in which he lay. and
| then smiled into the troubled eyes of
! the girl bending over him
| Il don't know what it's all about but
I'm sure you're awf'ly good. v know"
he said and went TO sleep.
He'll he all right now-nothing the
matter except shock ;Id bump on the
head Holt said with cheerful relief
While not quite so energetic con
valescent as Jimmy had declared. Ce.
| ell was moving about the next morn
ing without much difficulty and took q
! walk
Half an hour before Peterson had
| received the express packaCe.-7for.
waried by horSemnn from the Juno.
tion-cOntaining the Sl.0uo for the pay,
roll and had handed over the money
TO Holt. taking his receipt therefor
Holt wrapped the packet of bills in a
sheet OF brown paper. secured 1t with
rubber band nnd placed 1t in the safe
! No sooner had Holt left the office
than Peterson applied himself to the
combination of the safe. and in few
moments had extracted the package
containing the payroll money, replac
ing 1t with a dummy package of iden
tical appearance, the latter maneuvef
! being In case Holt should chance to
look in the safe again that day. He
hastily closed the safe ana pocketed
the real money package as footsteps
sounded alongside the building few
moments later Lord Cecil entered and
inquired for Holt and was informed
that he would tiEd him on the works
| Thither he therefore went aud found
! that young man wearing II slightly
worried expression. which. however
vanished as Cecil gave his message
The cause Of H0lt's concern was a
brief conversation he had had with
the sheriff Il few moments before, dur
ing which that official had warned him
that a gang of yesgmep was believed
to be in the region
When Cecil had gone Holt returned
TO the Office to find that Peterson had
already left. fact that afforded him
some satisfaction. 1t being entirely
agreeable 10 him thar no one whose.
Fver should know that he intended to
carry ON his person until the next day
the payroll cash. The packet appeared
TO be as he had left it. and he careful.
ly concealed IT In nm inside pocket.
Peterson meanwhile had been busy
making arrangements with couple OF
tramps.
There will be- enough loose cash In
the safe to pay You for your trouble
aside from what have advanced.
Peterson assured them. "AIl want
yon to do is to remove and destroy the
brown paper package you will see."