Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-09-17

- UP NaCA NaAAaOiG6g nAANA LAEI AIu
very quickly. IL any one Jagged the
robber had onss TO put his hand to his
hip to hurry him. There were but few
persons in advance of Mr.. Darlington
and myself, and the collector was upon
us almost Immediately. Catching sight
Of the revolver in Carrington's belt,
the robber jerked 1t out and thrust 1t
In his own belt. Darlington gave up
all the money he had in his pocket,
which was merely enough for the jour
ney's expenses.
you're pretty enough to KISS" said
the robber to me, land I'm going to
have one."
With that he stopped and kissed me.
/ shrank as far as l could, but dared
not offer any further resistance. 1 saw
that Darlington WINGED at this treat
ment, but he did not raise a finger to
protect me. The robber passed on
without asking me for my %yaluables,
and both l and my escort sat perfectly
still, as did the other passengers, till
l saw the man with the carbine in
front step out on to the platform and
jump off the car. Then I heard the
rear door open and shut and surmised
that we were free Of the robbers.
l was so filed with anger and con,
tempt for my escort that without q
word I arose from my seat and tool
another. Had he made any protest
whatever against the insult the rob
Der had put upon me by kissing me
l might have been less pronounced In
showing my feelings. Besides, the cpl.
sode completely changed my admira-
ton for the western fighting man, espe.
cially one who had been charged by
my brother to protect me.
What Darlington did after this ]
knew not at the time, for l made the
rest of the journey alone. When we
reached the station at which l was to
leave the train the news Of the rob.
berry had preceded us. When | step
ped on the platform my brother was
there listening to Darlington, who was
talking to him In a very earnest and
rapid manner. AS soon as I stepped
down from the car Darlington left him,
and | heard the latter say, mot a word
till ! see you again." Then he made
off, and Bob came up and took me in
his arms.
Poor grill" he said, "This has been
a sad introduction for you into this
lawless country. I should not have
brought you out here"
you should have sent a man and
not a coward for my escort I replied,
still burning under the insult I had
received and the absence of resentment
On the part of Mr.. Darlington.
Bob led me to a four mule team he
had in waiting, then went off for my
baggage. and when he returned l con.
versed with him. principally about the
holdup, ignoring Mr.. Carrington's &C.
ton, or, rather, want of action, Bob not
mentioning it himself. On reaching
the ranch house l was shown to nv
room, and the reaction from my excite.
ment brought on a flood of tears.
However, a rest brought back my
composure, and I tried to look forward
to enjoying ranch life, though my first
experience in the region had beer by
no means pleasant. Mr.. Darlington
did not appear, and 4 felt quite sure
that I would see nothing of him after
the cowardly manner in which he had
permitted me to be insulted. l did
not ask Bob what had become of him,
and Bob did not mention him to me.
/ inferred that Bob had been disap-
pointed in him, but that he did not
wish to make the matter worse by dis.
cussing it.
On the third morning after my arriv-
al Bob came to my door earlier than /
had been accustomed to rise and call
ed to me:
Get up, Bess. Ned Darlington is
here and wishes to see you"
"Indeed!' l replied. "If Mr.. Car
rington wishes to see me he can call
at a proper hour"
"He has something to show you.
Don't keep hin waiting"
My curiosity being aroused, 1 got out
of bed, dressed myself and went down
stairs. Bob met me in the great hall
and led me out on to the veranda.
There stood Mr.. Darlington and a doz-
en- other men, some of whom were
mounted and some holding their horses
by the bride. There were three others
loaded with chains. One of these | rec
ognized as the robber who had kissed
me. Darlington turned to me and said:
II have brought this villain here to
apologize for insulting you. If 1 had
lifted a finger to protect you at the
time l would have been shot dead by
a man at one end or the other of the
car, besides causing these men to shoot
up the car, possibly killing you, among
others. On reaching the station I call
/ ed together a posse. We made after
the robbers, got wind Of their where
abouts. tracked them there and sue
ceeded in getting them" Then, turn
ing to the robber who had kissed me,
he said:
Apologize"