The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-02-25
Copyright, 1914. by Louis Joseph Vance

where did you drop 1rom!
From that freight" Judith ex-
planned carelessly, n"glecting to eluci-
date the exact fashion Of her drop. 81
judged you'd be along presently, and
Well-what luck?"
Her father shrugged with his n
movable shoulder. Mr.. Marrophat
grunted Indignantly. The others shut.
fed uneasily and looked all ways but
one-at the girl in mans clothing.
"None?" Judith interpreted. You
don't mean to tell me that after l had
taken all that trouble-cast the ca
boose loose in the middle Of that
trestle at the risk of my life-you
didn't have the nerve to go through
with the business!"
1--WE went through with it all right"
replied Marrophat defensively; but
as usual, they were too quick for Us.
They jumped out and dropped off the
trestle before our engine nit the ca
boose. We smashed that to kindling
woodruff they got away just in time
to miss the crash. And by the time
we had stopped and Gained down the
engineer-well, it was dark and no
way of telling which way they had
run"
The girl started to speak, but merely
dropped limp hands at her sides and
rolled her eyes helplessly.
1--WE do our BEST" Marrophat OBJ
served. 1--WE can't be blamed IL
something somehow - always hap
pens to tip the others Off"
The girl swung to face him with
blazing eyes. Just what does that
mean?" she demanded in a dangerous
voice.
Marrophat lifted his shoulders.
"Nothing-much," he allowed. 81 am
only thinking how strange it is that
Mr.. Law can't be caught by any sort
of stratagem-when you are on the job,
Miss Judith"
The girls hands were clenched into
fists, .white knuckles showing through
the flesh. you contemplate %puppy!"
she snapped.
But on this her voice failed; for her
tyes travelled past the person of Mr..
Marrophat to the doorway of the draw
ing room and found it framing a
stranger.
Excuse me, friends" he offered in
a lazy, semi-humorous drawl. 1T pains
me considerable to butt in on this
happy family gathering, but business
Is business, same as usual, and | got
to asst you-all to please put up your
hands,"
"Wha do you want?' the invalid de-
manded.
Why" drawled the bandit, nothing
in particular-Only your cash. Shell
out, if you please-gents all and the
lady, too" He ran an appreciative
glance down the figure which Judith's
disguise revealed rather than con-
cealed. Tf you'll pardon my takin'
notice." he amended. Perhaps l
wouldn't If the lady's clothes didn't fit
her so alfred quick!"
Keep a civil tongue in your head,
my mani" Judith counseled, without
any show Of fear.
At the same time her fathers voice
brought her to her senses.
Judith! Be quiet. Let me deal
with this gentleman. / am sure we
can come to some arrangement"
you bet your life," agreed the gen.
tleman as the girl mutinously stepped
back. II know what / want, and YOU
all know you got it: SO the name Of
the said arrangement is just shell
out"
"One minute" the invalid inter-
posed. Don't misunderstood me: I
guarantee you shall be amply salts
fed. l give you my word-the word
Of Seneca Trine."
The eyes Of the bandit widened.
mo? Is that SO? Seneca Urine, the
railroad king? Sure's you're born
you're him: I've seer your picture
in the papers a dozen times. Well,
now, it looks like I'd drawn a full
house to this pair of deuces, don't 1t?
You ought to be able to pay something
handsome"
I'll pay you far more handsomely
than you dream of II you'll do as l
WISH" Urine interrupted quickly. do
me the service l wish-and name
your price: whatever 1t is. you shall
have It'll"
Nothing could be fairer'n that"
the two-gun man admitted suspicious
ly. but what's the number of this
here service-like you call it,"
Listen to me-" Trine bent his head
forward and jabbed the air with an
emphatic forefinger. Whats the life
of a man worth In this neck Of the
woods?"
How much you got?"
III pay you ten thousand dollars
for the life of the man I will name"
The eyes of the bandit narrowed.
Hold on. my friend: Ia that what you
call my naming my own pricef"
Name It. them" said Trine.
~Give me . thousand on account" said
the other. and q paper saying you'll
pay me nineteen thousand more in ex-
change. for Il and one dead man. prop-