The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-09-02

| of Mrs. Burton Randolph. where n
knew Esther was stopping in Rich
mon.l. He had just reached the hous
and had just been ordered to move OF
by passing policeman when Il taxi
cab drove UP and Blake and Bloom
alighted and entered the Randolph resi-
dence.
This visitation was such surprise
to tho policeman that he readily vouch
ed the Information as TO who these i'll
dividuals were when Quabba inquired
''The1n:'' said the policeman. Them:
two of the wisest guys in Richmond
Tom Blake, who runs the Blake detec
tive agency. and Abe Bloom, the big
gest gambler in this burg. Maybe they
are going into society,"
Then, ordering Quabba to move on
again, he moved on himself.
QuabEa with his monkey and organ
moved Oh, but only to the side of the
house. 4 detective and 4 gambling
house keeper? These were strange
visitors indeed, and, suspccting the mo-
tives Of Mrs. Stanley's sudden patron
age Of Esther as he did, QuabDa squat
ted close by the low window of the
reception room and listened. He over
heard enough to realize that Blail.
Stanlcy's return was being arranged,
and he knew this BODIED no good to his
fair young mistress.
After the detective and gambler had
departed, Quabba sent his ambassador
and collector Of external revenue ClaI-
ence, the monkey, up the Wistar.l vines
to the upper chamber. which he sur
missed might be Esthers
lie was right in his surmisc Esther
who, like Mrs. Randolph. had with
drawn when visitors on private bust
ness had been announced for Mrs.
Stanley. was in her room
The chattcring Of the monkey on her
window sill reused Esther from a rev
erie Of Arthur. and with Il glad cry
she ran to the window and plugged the
affectfonate little beast and waved a
welcome to the smiling Quabba below.
Then Qush ba laid his finger to his lil1S
as q sigh of secrecy. yanEed the string
to recall Ills ambassador and departed.
8
Beside The track in the glaring Cali
fornia desert. Arthur Stanley, or. as
he calls himself John Powell. law
stunned after being thrown from the
Overland limited, which he had board
ed from horseback as the train had
painted uD the grade in the desert
He had meant to warn the trainnlcn
ff the robbers lying in wait for them
but they had imagined him a dcsper
AGO single handetiIy attempting Il hold
up and had thrown him Off
Ills horse, as all horses be handled.
loved him. The faithful ANA affections,
ate creature reused him by nosing at
him Arthur. half stunned. mounted
his a1fcciionatc four footed friend and
Galoped after the train. 1t the ton Of
the grade the ambushed robbers halt
Cd the express With IN obstruction Oh
the track too great to be risleI bv the
engineer endeavoring to pass through
it,
When Arthur arrived. urou the scene
TWO robbers We're i'll the express; car
ana two were going through 1.-THE Pull
mans. Another had compelled the fire
Gcn to Uncouple The locomotive ana
covering The engineer. had made hin,
drive the detached machine up the
track some distance from the standinev
train
Scarce knowing what he did, Arthur
gailcrcd by and. mounting the engine
at the end of the tender from his
morse $ back, srapiled with the lone
robber covering the engineer.
a desperate struggle followed hy the
1 furnace door Selling large wrench
TIE engineer aimed Il blow at the rob,
bcr struggling with Arthur. but tho
dow missed foe and hit friend. ard ~
thur Was stretched -eils...es, Gu f,in
liflng board. The robbcr. with a curse.
jumped from the engine and ran. ra
joining Lis companions.
In one Of the PuIlmans Vivian Mars
ton, who was now Mrs. Blair Stanley
the two travelling as MIR. and Mrs.
'1uy leyton were among those held
ut plstoIs point. An obvious woman
passenger to whom Vivian had shown |
lHe Nahond from the sky had betray-
ad the TACT she possessed it. DESPITE
her pieaGin@s. cajolements and even
that were chorr1scd hv
ne cha2fineti Blail-the chuckl1ic rob |
oefs bore off the great gem with their
other booty. Laden with a sack of
'ai'lablcs, and, taking also S1Oa,GgO in !
o"lii notes from the express messcn-
ger, the robbers decamped.
" lthin Il few hours the sheriff SIND
lis posse Of deputies and railroa;l do
ectlVeS were hot on the trail and
John Powell" sheep herder, after be-
hg lIonlzed few brief moments. was
'ack at his lonely occupation.
Vivian, dcspoiled of the lowell 70.
Which she would have riskcd her soi1l
approaches herself and her rayiu.
bridegroom that they did not die rlori.
Dusty in defending it. In her bittor