The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-11-01

| The small shed where the forge
stood was close by the tracks and as
he pulled up before It, Elisha espied
through its doorway not only Peter
McGrath, the blacksmith, but also the
rotund figure of Artie Nickerson, the
Sawyer Falls station agent.
ARTS inside! Amt that luck?'' he
remarked, clambering out of the car.
They went in and after the usual
greetings, Elisha stated his errand.
McGrath took the handouts ami
badge to the light and examined them
"Humph! Looks as If you'd been
In some sort of a scrimmage," he COM
mented. But I'll start on em straight
away. l amt busy on nothin' that
can't be put aside"
| Elisha and Eleazer strolled over to
box and sat down to wait.
"How are you, Art?" Elisha In.
quired. Didn't you have nephew
or cousin ISOLATED with a police
force somewheres?"
Bonnie, you mean? oh yes. He's
a policeman out in Chicago. Just now
he's laid up in the hospital, but he
'spects to be out again fore long. Got
shot through the arm a couple of
weeks ago. Winged by a stray bullet
while chasin' up guy that had broke
into store. The shrimp hit him.
Luckily he didn't kill him. Ben
thought he got off pretty easy"
| Elisha's smile faded.
"These fellers that's at large now
don't give a hang who they murder"
went on the station agent affably.
They're a desperate crew. They'd as
soon kill you as not. Bonnie landed
his man, though. He's done great
work on the force. Been shot three or
four times while on duty. 'Tain't a
calm I myself would choose, but he
seems to get big kick out of it."
Elisha, pale to the lips, suddenly de-
cided he had heard enough of Bonnie
and shifted the subject.
"S'pose you're still goin' round in
the same ole treadmill over at the sta
tion Art" he observed.
| "Yep Same ole rut. I've had,
though, a bit more telegraphin' to do
of late than formerly. Know Teller
over to Wilton named Heath? He's
sent off several wires"
Both Elisha and Eleazer straight
ened up.
Heath. Yes, indeed. He's stoppin'
in town for a while"
$50 gathered. Lives in New York
at one of them big hotels. He sent
wire to his wife. Leastways, l figger
twas his wife. He signed himself
Lovingly, Stanley an addressed it to
Mrs. Stanley Heath"
"You don't say! That's news to
me-" Elisha cried. He darted a glance
at Eleazer.
| Artie. gratiied at seeing he had
created sensation, beamed broadly.
| "'Course amt permitted to d.
vulge messages that go through my
hands. They're confidential. But for
that could tell you somethin' that
would make your eyes pop outer their
sockets"
| "Somethin' about Heath?"
"Somethin' he said in a telegram"
Elisha had an inspiration.
"S'pose l was to ask you Oficially?"
he suggested. "S'pose it's important
| for me to know what was in that mes
sage? S'pose 1 demanded you tell me
in the name of the law? I'm askin'
you as sheriff of the town of Wilton"
"Oh, that's different. The wire was
just sent to friend. The part that as
| tonished me was it's beginnin'. It ran
somethin' like this:
"'Safe on Cape with my lady. Shall
return with her later"
"What interested me-" droned Artie,
"was who this lady could be. Heath,
apparently, is a married man. What
business has he taggin' after some Will
| ton woman an totin' her back to New
York with him when he goes?"
HE amt got no business doin' It,"
Eleazer shouted. Hes blackguard
that's what he is! But don't you
worry, Artie. He amt goin' to put
| no such scurvy trick over on any Will
| ton woman. Me an 'Lish1l see to that.
How much more tinkerin' have you got
to do on them trinkets, Pete? The
sheriff an me is in hurry to get
| home"
you'll have to give me good hall
hour more"
"That'll mean we won't fetch up at
| Wilton It'll after dark" Eleazer fretted.
There's no use goin' up in the air
an rilin' Pete all up, Eleazer," Elisha
interviewed. "We'll just have to be
patient an put off what We was plan
min to do until Tomorrow. l reckon
mornin'll be a better time, anyway.
Certainly twill do just as we'll"
"Mebbe," Eleazer grumbled. "Still,
I'm disappointed. Wal, that bein' the
case, s'pose you an me step over to
the drug store while we're hangin'
round an do them errands we men,
| toned"
Elisha agreed.
A faint flush had crept back into his
cheeks and his eyes had regained their
light of hope.
He had wrested from Fate another
II e.