The Southern herald., 1915-01-15
"Edl" she whispered. aHdn.

h.
huddled figure on the floor = 4'
Are you badly hurt, Ed7s =.
whispered. sn'
my left arms broken, and I've %,
a crease alongside OF the head. ~. ~.
I'll be all right. You're not hurt,9 ~
mo. They didn't see me, Tbev,..
in the express car after the mo5os
What shall we do?"
Il don't know. My head is snipn,,-
so l couldn't walk step to save ns
life. If we were only nearer 4.
mine! We've got the pay-sack-ovs.
twenty thousand dollars-in tbsreIs
Cant you start up and run for ~
Betty asked anxiously.
IF did they'd be out Of ths -,
and up here before we'd get ten yards
If Phelps was only alive, he could 4
back and hold them with his gun M.
til got her going so they couldn't
jump. But"
"Tm here" said Betty quietly. shs
bent over the body on the floor ana
fumbled for an instant. When sbs
Strengthened up she held the dead
mans revolver.
"You can't" began Bell, but Betty
interrupted him with a gesture.
II can and l will" she said deter
minedly! Even If you could walk
your duty is here. You can't leave
the engine. If those men get clew
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 1t in both Of hers.
God bless you" he said simply
The girl turned away without 1
word, and began to make her way
over the tender. The door Of the e.
press car was open on a crack.
One Of the highwaymen stood with
his back to it, the revolver in bis
hand covering the express messenger,
who was backed up in a 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 tho
platform. She raised the revolver
Through the stiffness her voice rang
clear and steady:
Hands up, or I'll shoot!"
Instantly the man with the gun
wheeled and sent a bullet in the d.
rection Of the voice. 1t 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 wavered
A pair of arms suddenly went
around him from behind, and he was
hurled backward to the floor, Whefe
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 tfes
tie and into the woods beyond
Through the darkness there came >
rapid series of short blasts from TOO
whistle.
The girl hesitated. Ed must WanI
her help, but dared she go?
Can you hold him, Joe?" she asKee
Sure. I'm all right" was the y
ply.
Up the steep ladder and over w.
tender she climbed, steadying heiSen
against the rock and reel OF the Y,
ing train, while the whistle snrlsA'1
again and again.
On the narrow seat Bell was SsT n.
ing unsteadily back and forth. hls
eyes were half closed, his clO.ls. ,.
stained red with the blood 'ua'
dripped from his wounded arm,
Betty" he murmured. ~.
She could not hear, but IN tne ~. ~
light she saw the movement Oh ~
lips.
Pm here, Ed; it's all right Sns
reassured him. ~,
'T'm-Pm all in-I-" his hand lsn
forward on his breast. "Stop-n1l
, at-the-" his voice trailed Oh p~
silence. .,,g
The light of the station was cOn.s n.s
into view. On the little platform, y, y
ty could see a knot Of men ga'n'i'~
Again the whistle sent its claI9. ~.
warning into the night, but TINS 'iS. -.
it was Betty who pulled the core. =. =
shut off steam and applied the p,sa,. ,r ~
: AS the engine came to stanos'lll .~Is 1I
tottered to the gangway. Sne ~, =.
see the crowd surging into tns 49,
press car; one or two sprahs ~. .,.esd
her. The lights Of the station lAu,. .,,o
madly-grew dim, and went Ou' -
gether. "a, and