Year: 1874

he has to live, yes, and for Charlie
sake spare me spare me and l vii
always be your friend as l have been
and will do anything | can for you
future, but I cannot be your wife
and / shall not. I know that som
one will come to my rescue befor
your plans can be accomplished. Hea
my last plea--on my bended knee
ask you"


"No, Edith, it has gone too far.
have heard you through. Mine you
must be, and when we are welded
you can return to your father and moi
before. So you had better make the
best of it and be ready at the time ap
pointed"


With these words Fred left her and
went to seek his chosen friends, tc
spend an hour drinking to the health
of the fair bride. No sooner had the
wine begun to flow than Dick began
to banter Fred for the two thousand
dollars.


"You see, Fred, we've got the girl
Gagged and if anything should turn up,
that her folks should get on her track,
you might lose her before the knot is
tied and should never get cent of
the two thousand. So come down
with a little now."


"Now see here, Dick, you know
the trade was, that you should not
have a cent till the job was done, and
you will not. Come, you have drank
enough for now. Go and get on your
fixing for the sooner the thing Is over,
the better. Cd, [ begin to feel little
nervous about it now, so lets hurry it
up"


'I'm off; but have you got the pa,
pers, l mean your license. You know
we must have something to show"


eyes | have got everything ready
Now be off, and don't be fooling round
here any longer"


80, I'll be back in a minute. Have
got all my toggery under this roof
By the time you and Scotty finish that
game, III be ready"


we&{ &{A sRs 9ssss 6 uaS SS{as as gRg6s Rg6st b G5aagPa
man, and in few minutes returned
another man; perfect transforma-
tion.


"Come, Fred, are you ready?"


"Yes, but let us take one glass to
keep up our courage, and then we will
be off for the wedding. By the way
this liquor is fit for bride and III
take some up to mine"


Up the stairs they went more drunk
than sober, but before them had gone
two stalwart policemen, who found
it easy to pass Fred and his compan-
ion while deeply engaged in their
game. Yes, Edith, your deliverers are
at hand The would be bridegroom
and his companions had just unlocked
the door when the alarm-bell from the
bar they had just left told them all
was not right, but before they could
flee a hand was laid on their should
ers, and they were prisoners. Then
poor Edith gave way to a flood of
tears, the first she had shed since her
capture, while she thanked God for
her deliverance.


"Nliss Weld" said one of the po
licemen, "allow me to introduce to
you Mr.. Frank Worthen, your deliv,
erer."


"God bless you, kind sir. Can you
can you tell me of my father, and Mr..
Wilmot 7"


"They are alive and in fair way
to recovery. 1t was cruel attack,
Miss Weld, and Mr.. Wilmot, was
badly injured, but the doctor thinks
he can bring him out all right with
the help OF little good nursing. But
we must not stay here any longer, and
if you will accept my escort | will take
you to your home"


"Thank you, I am but too ready to
leave this place. had nearly buried
all hopes, and had you and the officers
been few minutes later there would
have been a mock marriage"


Fred and Dick were safely conduct
ed to the station house and the station
door shut on them, place they long
ago deserved Scotty was not seen
after the alarm bell struck, tor he dis
appeared through one Of the many
trap doors which Sibb had provided
for his guests, which he sometimes
said were enough to provide door for
every other man.


Poor Edie was almost prostrated