The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-10-11
No. Is

girl looked up anxiously. The sturdy
motorman was bending little for.
ward, his eyes keenly watching the
track.
The girl had been much provoked
at the motorman. He had spoken in
an uneXcusable manner to her ut the
station. He had come up to her and
pulled off his cap and said: II beg
your pardon, but is there any special
reason-any reason of an important
character-why you want to go to Earl
cliffy
She had been quite annoyed ut his
effrontery. She hesitatcd about reply.
ing. She meant to turn away from
him without word.
II consider my reasons sufficiently
imperative" she replied. She said this
in tone that was meant to be chilly.
He looked at her finery and shook
his head.
II suppose you are going to the wed.
ding" he said. 'That's sufficiently i'm.
perative, no doubt"
The girl had drawn back and ap.
parently was absorbed in an illustrated
weekly. The mans voice was low but
penetrating. She could hear the sta.
ton masters muffled tones, but his
words were in,!istinct BY his gestures
she fancied he was warning the motor
! man. But presently the latter turned
away and stepped into his vestibule.
| Then he opened the door between the
| vestibule and the body of the car, and
noGdins at the girl with quick smile
cried, "All aboard" and started No. 1G.
Anna Hartman had just returned
from Europe. In New York she had
remained only long enough to see her
mother comfortably settled at
friends home, where she could recover
from the effects of a stormy voyage.
Then Anna had come on alone to attend
the wedding of her school friend,
Elaine Earle. And here it was two
o'clock in the afternoon with II miles
to go and the wedding set for four
O'Clock.
Presently the stream that ran
through the valley abruptly turned, and
the road curved sharply to the right.
| At this curve the speed Of the car was
greatly reduced and the girl noticed
that man suddenly came from be-
/, hing telephone signal booth and
swung himself aboard the car.
The new passenger entered the car
very quietly, stopping little as he ad-
vanced. AS he passed along he gave
her a sharp glance. Then he went up
the aisle.
The girl noticed his face as he
passed. She watched him with a look
in which curiosity was blended with
anxiety. When he was close to the
motorman's yestibule he paused and
quickly looked around.
But above the sheet that now trem-
! bled in her hand she saw the dark man
produce a cleaning knife.
Instantly Annals shrill scream rang
| through the car. 1t startled the
crouching man, and it caused the mo-
tOrman to shut off the power and
whirl himself about with the controller
In his hand, seemingly With single
/ movement. So close was the crouch
/ Ing man that the controller struck him
sharply in the face. And the next in
slant the motorman's clenched left
hand send him sprawling.
The motorman came down the aisle
and paused near the girl.
"Thanks for the vociferation," he
said. "It beats all the college yells
I ever heard. I couldn't have stopped
work more promptly If it had been the
five-thirty whistle"
His banterng tone Jared on the
girls sensibilities.
"DOn't you know that the man meant
to kill you?" she asked.
II wish you would take one Of the
front Seats" he said. II have rea-
son for asking this. It will be ex-
planned later"
He stopped quickly and took her
handbag and paper and started up the
aisle.
Suddenly something ratified on the
car roof. Almost instantly there was
crash of glass. A window in the
vestibule was broken. A half dozen
missiles thudded against the wooden
sides Of the car. There was hoarse
shout ahead. A number of men sud
denly dartcd from behind the bushes
The motorman had checked No. 10
Now he was running it backwards.
do you hear me?' said the motor
man in n quick, sharp way. Get w
In the angle Of the front seat, ava,
from the window, and look out for fly
ing glass. I'm running the car bacl
from this ambush to the clearer field
1