The Raymer enterprise., 1919-11-13
Nelle's
Adventure

D. RALPH HAMILTON


arrival at the bank where she was
employed an hour or more late. She
had not gone three hundred yards.
however, when hearty voice hailed
her, and the driver Of load Of hay.
old Ezra Ward, q neighbor. sang out
cheerily:
"All aboard. little miss. II you aren't
afraid OF a climb up the boom rope"
and Nellie astonlshed him with
bright laugh and landed among the
fresh, understanding hay behind him
In jlffy.
"And this here special will deliver
You at terminus In time" chrruped
the accommodating old fellow. cid
dap" and Nellie was as comfortably
settled as though riding on 4 pillow
of down.
The novelty Of the ride mingled with
pleasing thoughts. for within two
months Nellie was to be married to
Bryce Winslow.
Perhaps Mr.. Lupton will open his
heart and give me bonus when !
leave" unused Nellie.
Mr.. Lupton was the owner OF the
Belleyille bank. a small country tnsti-
tuition, and not inclined to either senti.
ment or lIberality. Nellie was stenog-
rapher. bookkeeper and cashier She
did her work well, but her employer
wa. close-fsted and exacting.
''Oh. dear" uttered Nellie. as there
was a JOLT. II shifted the box con-
/ tanning her MONDAY lunch and her
handling from her lap. The latter
SINK quite out Of sight amid the yield
ing hay Nellie CROPPED for II. Then
she barely suppressed a cry OF alarm.
for up from under the hay human
hand was projected, extending the
handbag new lurch brought to
view a mans face. Nellie shrank back.
Just enough of the jacket worn by The
stowaway was revealed to show that
It was Of the striped pattern worn by
the eouylcts in the penltentiary. ten
miles from Belleyille.
Nellie sat staring aghast at this un-
expected manifestation and shlyered.
| The eyes Of the fugitive wore a hunt
ed. pleading look. She comprehended
that escaping. he had found tempo
rary hiding place In the load of hay.
Don't tell !" he whispered There's
wife and little one awaiting me, II
can ever reach them"
Take this" said Nellie, impulsive-
| by. and pushed her lunch-box townrd
him. "And this" and she opened the
handbag and took thence a silver half
dollar.
BLESS youl" breathed the man
gratefully. you have given me lib
crty and hope" and drew again out OF
sight beneath the hay.
Nellie alIghted at the bank quite as
dexterously as she had gained the sum
nit. 'T'm glad" she whispered to
herself MS she went up the bank steps.
HE didn't look wicked He has a wife
and children waiting for him. oh, I
hope he gets away free!" and an hour
later she learned that four convlets
had escaped from the penltentlary the
night previous.
She told her lover only Of her I'M
petuous act that evening. and he COM
mended her for her kind heartedness.
The next day Mr.. Lupton went to visit
a branch bank In another town.
Miss Bross," he said. "you will
have TO take charge here until l re-
turn. Ny father viii drop in Off and
on during the day and help around
what little he can.
II was no new thing for Nellie TO at
tend manifold details without assist \
ance. Old Mr.. Lupton came In about
two o'clock In the afternoon and help:
ed her with some Of the heavy bank
ledgers and vault boxes There were
not many visitors and the bank was
deserted except for themselves, when
abruptly two men quietly entered the
bank. One directed revolver at the
shrinking old man and addressed Mel
lie.
no one will get hurt II you are
quiet" he told her and his compan-
ion glided behind the counter and be-
gan to All satchel he carried with
the bank treasure.
Suddenly swift form passed the
open doorway. Ii was that Of man
wearing heavy goggles and broad
brimmed hat that wen shaded bis
face.
"Drop your gum rang from his lips
TO the man on guard. Leave that
bag and get out OF here as fast as you
can" he ordered the thief behind the
counter, "or-"
His leyeled weapon emphasized the
mandate The two men skunk out Of
the bank and disappeared down the
street. The latest caller approached
Nellie.
"They asked me to join them he
spoke to her. II wouldn't anyway. for
I'm through with crime. Then when
| knew II was your bank they were
after. remembered. and"
He lifted his goggles, and Nellie rec.
ognized the man Of the hay wagon.
Bread on the waters" he said sim.
ply" and was gone.
So thrilling story did old Mr.. Lup-
ton tell, and so surely had Nellie