Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-11-22

aoout New York railroads to gain in
formation from them. There was one
thing certain: even if he a been mis-
taken about his supposed pursuers, by
morning there would surely be some
n searching for him. The duped
Holman combination would stop at
Of the paper, and he could not hope
that so sharp eyed a man as MI. Hol-
man had seemed to be would be long
in discovering the absence of his pri-
vate mark on the paper. Undoubtedly
he knew 1t already. AS for the fran
tic bridegroom, Gordon readed the
thought OF meeting him. 1t must be
put off at any hazards until h mes
sage was safe with his chief, then, If
he had to answer with his life for car
rying off another mans bride, he could
at least feel that he left no duty to
his government undone. 1t was plain
that his present situation vas a dam
gerous one from two points of view, for
the bridegroom would have no diff
Guilty In finding out what train he and
the lady had taken; and he was salts
fled that an emissary of Holman had
more h a a suspicion of his identity.
The obvious thing to do was to get off
that train at the first opportunity and
get across country to another line Of
railroad. But how was that to be done
with a sick lady on his hands? OF
course he could leave her to herself.
She probably had taken journeys be-
fore. and. would know how to get back.
She would at least be able to telegraph
for her friends to come for her. He
could leave her money and a note eX-
planning his involuntary villainy, and
her indignation with him would prob
ably be a sufficient stilmulant to keep
her from dying of chagrin at her plight.
But as from the first every nerve and
fiber in him rejected this suggestion.
1t would be cowardly, unmanly. horri-
pie! Undoubtedly it might be the wise
thing to do from many standpoints. but
never! He could no more leave her
that way than he could run off to save
ms life and leave that message he
carried. She was a trust as much as
that. He had got into this, and he
must get out somehow, but he would
not desert the lady or neglect his duty.
Toward morning, when his fitful
vigil ecam less lucid it occurred to
him that he ought really to have de-
serted the bride while h was still un-
conscious. jumping off the train at the
short stop they made SOC after she
fell into his arms. She would then
nave been cared for by some one, his
absence discovered, and she would
nave been put off the train and her
friend sent for at once. But 1t would
have been dastardly to have deserted
her that way not knowing wen If she
still lived. he on whom she had at least
a claim Of temporary protection.
1t was all q terrible muddle, right
and wrong juggled in such a mysteri-
u and unusual way. He never re-
membered to have come to a spot be-
fore where 1t was difficult to know
which of two things it was right to do.
There had always before been such
clearly defined divisions. He had sup
posed that people who protested not
to know what was right were people
wished to be blinded on the sub
ject ecause they wished to do wrong
and think it right. But now he saw
That he a judged such too harshly.
Perhaps his brain had been over
with the excitement and an
of the day, and he was not
quite In a condition to judge what was
right. He ought to snatch q few min
utes' sleep, and then his mind would be
clearer, for something must be done
that soon. 1t would not do to risk
entering a large city where detectives
n officers with full particulars might
be on the watch for him.
was too familiar with the workings
OF retribution in his progressive age
to know his danger. But he really
must get some sleep.
At last he yielded to the drowsiness
that was stealing over him-just for a
moment. he thought, and the wheels
on their monotonous song:
Don't let anything hinder! Don't let
anything-! Don't let! Don't!
H~in-der-r-r-!"