The Meeker herald., 1919-09-27


Killers. She had watched her father
and his hired man piling the packing
cases on the great hayrack truck,
full load for Mayvilie. Then the hired
man went to his home nearer the VII
lage to get his supper and have
lunch put up to last him through bis
long trip.
Suddenly Nance bent her ear and
listened. A scraping sound echoed
from overhead. She thrilled as 1t was
followed by distinct groan. Her
heart stood In her mouth as she took
up lamp and went up the loft stairs.
A quick suspicion had come into her
mind. It was verified As. seated upon
the floor. she made out Knowlton.
"Oh. am 10 glad" she cried spon.
tnneously. and then flushed With con.
fusion. II mean. that you have en-
capped those cruel men,"
Knowlton was pale. one limb was
bandaged from the knee down. but
he smiled with swift appreciation Of
the kindness Of that gentle nature.
II was Just trying to ind something
that would do for 4 crutch." he ex-
planned. II feared might compro-
mise your father BY remaining here.
where / stole in early this morning.
must get to Mayville and get some Of
the buckshot picked out of my limb.
Ny wounds are not serious, but can
not stand ON the foot unsupported"
"Yea, you must get away. and I must
help you" spoke his practical little
friend, meditatingly. "Oh. I have !"
in place. then food and water. and
then. Nance supporting him. he was
helped down the back stairs to the
truck, the cover Of q rear-most box
removed. and within he ensconced him.
self.
"You are an angel Of mercy" he said
feelingly. as he kissed the fair hand
that had succored him. Nance set the
cover lightly on the box. securing only
two nails.
inside Of three hours you will b
within the safety zone" she spoke. I'm
eight at Mayville. l am 10 glad!"
She returned to her room. but only
to watch and wait until the hired man
returned. In the distance she caught
the echo Of some ribald crew in the
town engaged in drunken frolic. and
shuddered. She heard the truck
wheels crate over the stony road lead
ing to the river ford. Insenslbly she
drifted into slumber, her head on the
window sill. to start up wildly ad
hour later a. the voice Of the hired
man came up to her from the yard
below.
He had two horses. wagonless, and
he was shouting sxcitsdly for her ia
Their, who came hurryins out to him.
whats the troublei Where's the
wagon?" cried Duryea sharply.
Burned up. boxes. truck and all. I
met Blair and his crowd. roaring drunk.
They tipped over the wagon. set the
boxes< on hre. and are now dancing
shout tho ashes like fiends and boast.
ing that they hats taught you les
son for siding with that stranger,
Knowlton. who escaped them"
With wall of terror unutterable
Nance Duryea sank to the floor sense
less. She was like some crushed how-
err when she came downstairs the next
morning. Amid his troubles her IA
Their failed to notice the haunting ter
ror In her face. She was too stricken
and anguished to tell him Of the fate
Of the man she had bsfriended.
"You're to get ready to have the
hired man take you to Mayville at
once" her father told her. II shall
follow. It's getting too hot to hold NJ
down here"
she was like one in dreadful
trance all the way to MayvIlle. Her
aunt noticed the cloud that hung over
frame and spirit like a pail. Nance
for several days was confined to her
room under the care Of q physician.
She came downstairs weak and at
tenuated. The horror Of that night at
home. 1t seemed. would never leave
her.
She was reclining at an open win
dow. In an invalid chair, one day. when
4 man. aided by a crutch. passed along
the street. 1t was he!
"Oh. 1t cannot bew she cried. "Mr.
Knowlton; oh, come Into this house."
"Just out Of the hospital" Bert
Knowlton told Nance, "and bent on
going back to Crofton to thank you. II
nifty Killers stood in the way.
"But you were burned up"
"Quite the reverse. was nearly
drowned" said Knowlton. 1.-THE box
I was In fell of the load as the wagon
crossed the ford. floated for I'VE
miles, managed to get ashore, and
But you have been iii"
She burst into tears Of relief and
giadness. and and then her story, and
then
In the tender eyes Of the lonely girl
beside him. Bert Knowlton read q
token of love that assured him that
that there was no shadow Of another
parting.