The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-20

Keep charge OF my sheep . day or
two" he said. I'm going to Butte"
Something wrong with the wife?"
asked the neighbor alphabetically.
YES" answered Larry. riding away. |
However. he had no intention Of 60
ing to Butte. He knew that the night
train from Butte stopped to take on
water ct . siding . few miles down
the valley. He could catch her II he
rode hard. And. once aboard-well.
Larry had . revolver In his cost
pocket.
Yet his object was Lees to be ~.
vsnged upon Collins than to preserve
Dorothy's good name. to save her from
herself.
He rode hard. The moon came mp
and lit the mountain way. Time and
again he thought he heard The Butte
train snorting up the incline in the
distance, but always the sound proved
imaginary. And now he was nearing
the railroad track. which ran, mar.
row. edged ribbon, beneath him. He
spurred his horse down the mountain
way.
At last he dismounted and. turning
the beast adrift To srase, waited b.
side the rails. Terrible thoughts ~
sailed him a. he waited there. What
II, instead Of killing Collins, he were
to place one Of the huge fallen hrs
across the rails. dislodging the engine
; from the metals - It came swinging
round tho curve? He could destroy
Collins and . hundred others, sending
them to their death among the bowl.
ders far below the grade, and escape
unknown in the confusion.
Was Dorothy worth the sacrifice Of
his own life In retribution?
The temptation grew stronger. until
the man shook with the agony that
assailed him. At last he went toward
the tallest Of the hrs. giant tree a.
hard 40 ebony, which lay with it,
trunk projecting only Q few inches
from the rails. With the exercise Of
all his strength he could shift 1t .
few inches down the incline. He knew
that just where 1t lay the curve was
the most dangerous. He stopped.
Then, in the distance. he heard the
puhing Of the engine % she forced
her way up to the summit before de-
scending on the grade that led to the
siding. There was Just time.
, But the sight Of the fiery eyes Of
the monster above him paralysed hid
mind, and he could not turn his mus
cles to the accomplishment Of the
task. And now the engine was dc
scending the grade. numbering and
screaming a. she made her way toward
the siding. Larry stood still. II wal
too late now. But It was not too latl
to carry out his original purpose.
Suddenly the moving mass seemed
to stand still. She swerved. reared
and then, with . scream Of escapinl
steam. the engine left the metals and
toppled upon it, side. followed BY hal
tho cars, yet clinging almost miracu
lousy to the mountain side.
Flames burst out among the wreck
age. The screams Of the injure'
! reached Larry's ears plainly. Entire
" forgetful Of his purpose. the maj
| ran at full speed toward the scene Q
/ the accident. Men and women 10,
| half buried beneath the wreckage Lal
ry ran along the side Of the ovel
i turned cars, searching for Dorothy.
! And he found her She was unil
jured. and. on her knees. she crouche
beside . man with . CHASTITY woun
across his breast. Larry knew Co
| Inns. though the face had been ba
tered almost out Of recognition. H
must have been killed instantly.
L He touched Dorothy upon the arm
J There 10 nothing to d." he sal
1T 10 too late"
n EYES," she answered. rising to HI
feet In q mechanical manner and mo
a. ing away. She seemed stunned by Il
catastrophe. She hardly realize
N where she was.
N Larry devoted hour after hour
"a aiding the injured. until the hospit
n. train that was rushed out from But
of came up. Then he found Dorothy asai
or She was standing near the body Of b
ad companion. looking uncertainty abo
70. her.
~ what are you going to do!" ask
az Larry.
!. II don't know" she answered cal
tv ~. She seemed to have lost ill pow
air Of feeling. go on to California. I o.
70 pose. You see. have my ticket"
IN but what will you do there?"
sVyhat Anoa that mattor IN VI
Anything"
he Dorothy. you said you did not 10
I'd. that man." said Larry.
,er "Well!" abe returned.
ed Dorothy. In the old days used
Ia love . little girl in Wales. She =
lie highstrung and willful sometimes,
a she was never bad. Nobody col
,cs have said that Of her. And one d
Amt after . Quarrel-she didn't know
uf. took II, but I took . vow. It was Il
nae would always protect her, agai
Al. herself even. And though that '
long ago, and she 10 married now.
IN. you suppose that makes any din
,en ence. Dorothy, I am never 60
AZ back. I am going to California
nea Il It to be togetherr
,ne And suddenly she was weeping u
his neck in an agony Of shame.
mt Copyright. ISIS. BY W. q. Chapman
ion. Marriage Age for Women.
ote Training and efficiency, and not ,
should be the qualifications Of tn
lad, wishing to fin positions in life. 9