Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1915-03-04
aNdI. ahe vhIapeyed. ~pdI"

are yOu pouiy huhI No' $50
whispered.
my left arms broken. and I've got
q crease alongside Of the head; but
I'll be all right. You're not hurtf
mo. They didn't see me. They're
in the express car after the money.
What shall we do?"
81 don't know. My head 10 spinning
30 I couldn't walk q step to save my
life. II we were only nearer the
mine! We've got the pay-sack-over
twenty thousand dollars-in there?'
Cant you start up and run for itf"
Betty asked anxiously.
"If I did they'd be out Of the car
and up here before we'd get ten yards.
II Phelps was only alive. he could 90
back and hold them with his gun un'
til l got her going so they couldn't
jump. But" g..
I'm here" said Betty quietly. She
bent over the body on the floor and
fumbled for an instant. When she
Strengthened up she held the dead
mans revolver.
"You can't" began Bell. but Betty
interrupted him with q gesture.
81 can and I WILL" she said deter
minedly. Even II you could walk.
your duty Is here. You can't leave
the engine. II those men get clear
away, there's no telling whether
they'll ever be caught can shoot
If have to. You watch. When you
see me in the car door, start, and
don't stop short Of the mine"
Bell reached out his uninjured hand,
and she took It in both Of hers.
God bless you," he said simply.
The girl turned away without q
word, and began to make her way
over the tender. The door OF the ex'
press car was open on q crack.
One Of the highwaymen stood with
his back to 1t. the revolver In his
hand covering the express MESSENGER
who was backed up in q corner. The
other man knelt in front Of the safe,
transferring notes and gold to
gunny.sack on the floor beside him.
Cautiously the girl descended the
perpendicular ladder at the back OF
the tender and stood at last on the
platform. She raised the revolver.
Through the stiffness her voice rang
clear and steady:
Hands up, or I'll shoct!"
Instantly the man with the gun
wheeled and sent bullet IN the d.
rection of the voice. It whistled harm
lessly over the girls shoulder. and
as the report Of her own revolver
rang out, the man slowly doubled up
and slumped down into heap on the
floor. The train started.
With an oath the man at the safe
sprang forward. Then he stopped.
The blue eyes of the girl in the door
way were blazing into his, the steady
barrel Of the revolver never wayered.
A pair Of arms suddenly went
around him from behind, and he was
hurled backward to the floor, where
he struggled in the powerful grasp
of the express messenger.
"Take his gun away from him. Joe,
and tie him up" suggested Betty
catching up a coil Of rope from the
floor and moving into the car.
The train rolled over the long tres
tie and into the woods beyond.
Through the darkness there came a
rapid series Of short blasts from the
whistle.
The girl hesitated. Ed must want
her help, but dared she go?,
Can you hold him, Joe?" she asked.
Sure. I'm all right" was the re-
ply.
Up the steep ladder and over the
tender she climbed, steadying herself
against the rock and reel Of the fly
ing train, while the whistle shrieked
again and again.
On the narrow seat Bell was sway
ing unsteadily back and forth. His
eyes we're half closed, his clothes
stained red with the blood that
dripped from his wounded arm.
"Betty!" he murmured.
She could not hear, but In the dim
light she saw the movement Of his
lips.
I'm here, Ed; It's all right" she
him.
"Tm-I'm all in-I-" his hand fell
forward on his breast. "Stop-her-
his voice trailed on into
silence.
The light Of the station was coming
into view. On the little platform Bet
ty could see q knot Of men gathered.
Again the whistle sent its clarion
into the night, but this time
It was Betty who pulled the cord. She
shut of steam and applied the brakes.
As the engine came to q standstiA, she
tottered to the gangway. She could
see the crowd surging into the ex-
press car; one or two sprang toward
her. The lights Of the station danced
dim, and went out alto
gether. go. ~ |
Doing nicely-just fright and |
.,,o-o,-or1ton- al riOhk IN a daV or