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 ST. MART OF THE ANaELS; OB, HIS FIKST AND LAST LOVE R: BY THOMAS A. JA2JV1EK 1^ CHAPTER VL Iber Two /mctt acrost this a,tteimoon mnne of th' boya obt *? work at that tacatleâ€" an' Hardy realized tbat his case was des- j 'tajn't in near as good order now as 'twas •erate. About all that was left for him to J ^j^gn they begun. Th' company's been «o, he concluded, was to die game. He pjomiain' an* pronusin' th' government for remembered once having seen a rat let out 'i^gt six m^ihs th^'d pat in th' perma- •f a trap in the midst of a group of terri»s. j ^g^t bridge over that barranca â€" I guess Ifow he knew what the feelings of that rat they'll go t' work an* do *t now." must have been. It was rather late in the • ««You mean that you've cut that trestle (lay to be sorry for that rat, but he was ' ^q ^jj^t the passenger train wiU go down sorry for it, very. into the barranca " Hardy's heart stopped While he meditated to this dismal fashion j |,eating as he asked this question, and even lie heard the distant sound of horses gallop- 'â-  ^^ became white* But he kept his ing. As the sound grew louder he perceived ^oice steady, and in the dim light Barwood tiiat it came from two directions then he ^^ ^jt see the paleness of his face. keard clearly the splashing of hoofs in the I «.jjj gen'ralsort of way tbat's about the •water as a horse crossed the river and enter- gj^e of it," Barwood answered. "At first, ed the town from the north, and a few -^e was just goin' t' hold up th' train an' go moments later a man on horseback passed through th' express car. I'd rather 'a' done close by the station, coming up the track from the south. Don Pedro rose and stretched himself. "Glory to God!" he said, fervently. ' We now can have something to eat." Bat almost half an hour passed before Don Pedro was permitted to realize this piously expressed longing. Then the sound of footsteps and voices was heard, and Bar- wood, carrying a lantern, entered the sta- tion, followed by a couple of Mexicans. With the arrival of this relief, Don Pedro and the two watchers were off like shots to their suppers. Barwood put down his lantern, lighted the kerosene lamp on the table, and seated himself beside it. He was clad in full ranchero costume; tight-fitting ' trousers, girded with a red sash, and adorn- i ed with rows of silver buttons down the out- side of the legs wide-brimmed sombrero short boots, and great spurs. In this dress, the illusion being assisted by his dark hair and beard and black eyes he looked so thor- oughly Mexican that until he spoke Hardy did not recognize him. " Nice rig, ain't it?" he said, with a grin. ' An' it's as useful as its pretty. For th' little game that I'm goin' t' play t'-night I doii't 'specially care t' have any of my friends recognfeeme â€" an' I rather guess they won't. As a Mexican I should say that I was solid. " He chuckled a little and then went on "My friends here don't under- stand English, so we can speak right out, free an' comfortable. What sort of a time have you an' Don Pedro been havin' Did he talk matters over with you any "' "No," Hardy answered shortly, "he â- didn't. ' â- ' ' Well, difference, that's all I dun-know as 't makes much I've given th' main fac's, an' yo-a noed't mnke up your inind on. Have you got down t' bedrock yet, or are yon still scratchin' around in tli' gravel " Time's pretty near up, y-cii know." ' "I guess I've got down to .ihout as much beil-rock as I'm likely to get to. " "Well?" "Toucan begin your shooting whenever yoiipleasa." "Whoa! Steady! Now, who's been sayiii' anything t*' you about sliootin' Tliat Tnildewed fool of a Doii Pedro, I s'pose. An' â€" well, yes, come to think of it, I b'lieve I did 3'jit of hint about somothhi' of th;it sort myself. But that's only in case you v/oii't corns in, j-ou know â€" an' I thiol's yo;i'rc comiii' a!! right. Now, just you listeu t' me. Tin? afternoon I couldn't speak out as free as I v/anted to. It would 'a' been takiii' mos' too many chances if I'd talked out before th' up train Iiad passed, an' while th' telegraph was worfciu' â€" j^ou've caught on, I guess t' th' telegraph bein' busted " Hardy nodded. "i'es, I thought you had, for you're one of th' quick kind. Well, then, you see I really can talk right out t' you, for nothin' j'ou can do now can do no hurt. You oan't'iT'End th' wires, for th' cuts are â- a; pr'etty'long ways off, both sides an' if you tried t' walk off I s'pose some of that rfool talk you say Don Pedro's been gi\'in' you about sliootin' would come true. Yes. I really s'pose 't would. ' ' Now maybe you've sized things up 's t' know that just for a little thing like drop- pin' on youâ€"in case we have to do it, that is â€" I wouldn't bother t' dress up in Mexican fashion, an' none on us would tackle sech a risky game as cuttin' th' tele- graph wires. An' so maybe you've got hold of th' idea that there's somethin' up that's really v,-orth talkin' about, eh " Hardy hal not reached any such con- clusion, and Barwood's words took him by surprise. In common with most men he regarded the taking of his life as the most important event that possibly could happen â€"forgetting that this is one of the cases in which the difference between the personal and impersonal standpoints marks also a difference between impor- and triviality. He had regarded. it that way, too. But I settled that that would be too risky. You see, th' trouble is, I dan't more 'n half trust these Greasers. If the folks on th' train tried t' stand us off it's more^'nlikelyth' Greasers 'u'd just drop th' whole business an'skipout.They'recurs, that's what Greasers is for th' most part. So that's why we settled t' do th' job this way. I can't say I just altogether like it, but I jguess it's sure. With things all in a heap in th' I bottom of th' barranca, an' th' cars afire, more'n likely, an' nobody much in any kind of shape for fightin' â€" well, I guess even Greasers can manage a job like that without gettin' skeert an runnin' away. ' An' th' haul is a daisy one Think of it Two hundred thousand dollars at â-  one whack It's more'n we could make in smugglin' an' stock-stealin' in ten years " In his excitement Barwood paced up and down the room, emphasizing his words with short jerks of his head and eager movements of his hands. "An' now that you know the whole business, Hardy," he went on, " will you or will you not come in I think it's pretty liberal in me t' give you the chance; but th' fact of th' matter is I never can more'n half trust these Greasers, an' in a job of this size I want somebody along as I know I can tie to. There'll be about twenty of us in th' job, an' that'll make ten thousand dollars apiece when we come t' divide up. Ten thousand dollars for o'ne night's work strikes me as bein' about th' everlastingest biggest wages I've ever knov/ed a man to earn. Tell me, is it a go " I In the indignation aroused by Bar- wood's cool presentment of tliis devilish project, and in his eager desire to prevent it. Hardy had lost sight completely of his own present danger and utter helpless- ness. His m:;;il vrns working so actively, â-  indeed, to find a iiij.'.:'3 whereby he could upset this plan for trai;;-Vircoking, robberj' 'fjfld murder that he did not hear Barwood's i question in conclusion, and did not reply to it. Evidently taking his silence for hesita- tion Barwood continued "Of course, I'm bound t' tell you onct more â€" though sech talk ain't pleasant be- â-  tween friendsâ€" that if you don't come in tilings are about up with j'ou. An' perhaps I'd better remind you of what I was savin' about Mary. V»'hat j-ou see in Mary, the Lord tn'y knows â€" it's more 'n I do But since you do see somethin' in her, I tell you again I'll chuck her into th' bargain, along with that ten thousand dollars that is wait- in' for you now in th' express car that at this minute is a-comin' up th' road. Don't be bashful on my account. I'm pretty well fixed, I guess, t' get along without her. An' ' don't you forget that the UHmey chance I'm givin' you ain't" th' kind tliat comes twict in any man's lifetime â€" accordin' t' mj experi- ence it's mighty seldom it comes onct. "Now, I'm goin' overt' see that my Greas- ers have got things straight in their fools heads about what they've got to do. They're a dumb lot. Th' Alcalde's th' best of 'em- he's down t' th' trestle now, boesin' things â€" I but even he's more 'n half a fool when he's ' sober, an' a good deal more n' half crazy when he's drunk. Lord wiiat a relief it'll be t' have you aroimd t' help look after 'em! "I'll be back in a little while, an' when I come I 'except t' find you gettin' your hat on ready t' start. It's taken you sort of sudden, I see, an' that's the reason I'm not hurryin' you for an answer. But don't you forget what it is you're choosin' between it's havin' Mary an' ten thousand dollars, or go- in' by a pretty short cut to kingdom come " With this valedictory Barwood departed, the two Mexicans remaining on guard just outside the door. In a moment he came back again. "I forgot you hadn't any supper," he said. "I'll send some over t' yon â€" -you must 'be hmigrier'n th' " As he turned away he added with a grin "An' I'll fix things so's tanee „ „ „ therefore, the cutting of the wires, and you won't be lonely while you'ris eatin' it, Barwood's assumption of Mexican dress either." by ways of disguise, as natural measures of prudence, which so grave a matter as his prospective murder abundantly justified. Indeed, he had accepted the cutting of the wires as a sure sign that his murder had been irrevocably decided upon. But this As he passed the two Mexicans Hardy heard him say, "The Senor is composing his mind to join us. He's all right." He added something in a lower voice, of which Hardy caught only the words " Senora"and "keep out of the way." Then the sound of presentment of the case from the standpoint his footsteps died away as he walked toward of an impartial outsider, while it was suffi- ciently convincing and somewhat humiliat- ing, was not enlightening. He looked puzzled. i "So you ha vn't tumbled to it?" Barwood went on. "Well, all I can say is, you're not quite as quick as I thought you was. Yes, siree, we've got somethin' on hand for to- night that really is worth talkin' about. It's a joy, it is. Why, man, there's two hundred thousand dollars in coined silver on th' up train t'-night, an' we mean t' have it how does that strike you '" the town. One of the Mexicans turned with a friendly nod toward the prisoner. "The Senor is very wise to join us," he said. It was evident that a climax was approach- ing rapidly. Hardy's excitement was in- tense, bat he did not lose his coolness. His nerves were strung to the highest pitch, but he had them absolutely imder control. For the accomplishment of such a piece of work as he perceived was cut out for him this was not a bad state to be in. His mind was in Now, admirable condition to plan, and his bodily ' strength to execute was increased prodigi- Hardy looked steadily at Barwood and oualy. The fact that his situation lilreacly made no answer. He was strongly disposed was desperate, made liim absolutely indiffer- to believe that Barwood was lying. i ent to danger. The thought of the tremen- "It's th' everlastin' truth," Barwood dous responsibility that rested upon him went on, perceiving the look of doubt on for he alone could prevent, if prevention Hardy's face, and answering it. "It's were possiUe, this imminent wholesale just th' solid, everlastin' truth. We've ' been layin' for this haul for th' past two months â€" ^waitin' for enough of th' stuff t' xme along in one lump t' make it worth while t' stnke for 't Now it's comin' an' we're goin' t' get in our work. " "How are you going about it?" Hardy asked. "Well, we've sort of fixed things down murderâ€" gave him a firm foundation of moral purpose and high resolve. Under these conditions, a strong, simple nature, such as Hardy's was, rises readily to the plane of the heroic. Before the sound of Barwood's foosteps had quite died away he had conceived the out- lines of the only practicable plan for succor that the circamstances of the case allowed, to the Barranca Grande. I forgot, you The best thing to be date, of oonrae. -vaa don't know nothin' ' â€" *^' ^â€" ♦« »-* f^ rflTc-.^ _l-..- ., ""^t" ^^ Grande, or whSte^ six or seven kilometers _^^^_^ a hundred feet deep, I guess, in th' middle, had rejected as impowible. Supposing that an' there's a wooden trestle acroet it aboat he should be successful in Ivea^^gaway four Jiondred feet long. As mod as Num- from Ida guardsâ€" the first point to ]» gain. eventâ€" it was dear from what had said abont tfie wmk of de- stroying the trestle still being in progr«s tiiat he could not hope to §o down the line of the railroad without being discover- ed. That there was a trail parallel with the railroad was probable, but he did not know where to find it and to try to work his way thomgh the chaparral "» toe darknessâ€" an undertaking of great diffi- culty even in broad daylightâ€" was not ev*n worth considering. His plan, there fore, was to go up the track, away from the scene of the intended wreck, to the first station beyond the cut in the wires, and thence telegraph for assistance. This was not a sure thing, like the other but there was ground for strong hope that a force of men could be collected at the northern ter- minus, and run down by a fast engine to the Barranca Grande in time to scatter, or pos- sibly capture, the wreckers, and give warn- ing to the north-bound train. The next station north, Las Palomas, was twenty miles away. Three hours would be the shortest time in which he could make this distance on foot and three hours would be a perilously large amount of time to take from the six hours -intervening before the arrival of the up train at the broken trestle â€"and he still had to make his escape from his guards. • j It was strong evidence in favor of Hardy's coolness that he decided not to begin operations tintil he had eaten the supper that Barwood had promised, to send over to him. His excitement kept him from feeling hungry, notwithstand- ing his long fast, but he knew that he needed the strength that food would give for a fight for life with two Mexicans, followed by a twenty-mile dash on foot along so trying a course as a railway track, made a combination of arduous diffi- culties that he wisely decided had better not be assailed on an empty stomach. In the meantime, since his only chance of get- ting clear of his guards lay in taking them by sm-prise and so mastering them, he set himself to developing with them something in the nature of friendly relations. Fortun- ately, Barwood's too-assured statement that the Senor was composing his mind to take part in the ro'obery, made them quite ready to meet his amicable advances. They talked freely of the projected wreck, and with great satisfaction of their anticipated dollars. They even â€" thus exhibiting an amiable national characteristic â€" ^went so far as to express their sorrow for the passengers and train-hands destined to be wounded or killed. ' ' Poor little ones It is very sad " they said. While this pleasing conversation went on. Hardy was startled by hearing what seined to be the sound of an approach- I ing train. He raised hia head and list- i cned. One of the Mexicans noticed his 1 motion and at the same time heard the i noise. "Be not alarmed, Sciior," he said re- assuringly ' 'it is only the little ear on which j the Alcalde returns. " A couple of minutes I later a hand-car, with two men working i the brake, appeared for a moment, as it I passed through the ray of light th^t the lamp j in the station shed across the track through I the open door. The car stopped, and the I men started toward the town calluig back, i in answer to enquiries, that the work at tlte i trestle was completed, and that everything was all right. Hardy's-heart gave a bound 1 as he saw the hand-car if he could get awy.y j on that he could make the run to Las Palo- i mas inside of two hours, and the salvation of i the train Mould be a.ssured. I "Here comes your supper, Senor," said one of the men. "Roman and I will retire. The Senor will not be disturbed at his feast. " i The men laughed a little, and to Hardy's I surprise walked aM'ay through tlie darkness I a considerable distance down the platform. j And then, to his far greater surprise, through the doorway came Mai-y. Hardy started forward, "You!" he ex- claimed. Mary's face grew red and then, in the moment that they stood in silience, very pale. " Will made me come," she said, speaking slowly, and with a sort of despairing solemn- ity. " He told me tha* the train was to be wrecked to-night. He told me that you had agreed to help in it ifâ€" if â€" oh, John, I can't " She swayed from side to side, and seemed alx)ut to fall. Hardy put out his anns to support her, but she steadied herself, and motioned him away with, a positive fierce- ness. " Don't touch me," she said, " don't dare to touch He told me, John â€" he dared to tell me â€" that you had agreed to help if â€" if he would give you me /â- " There was heroic grandeur in the tone of disdain in which Mary uttered these words. But in a moment this gave place to heart- breaking sorrow and entreaty, as she added, " Oh, John John forGbi's sake tell me that he lied â€" or else kill me One or the other, John, one or the other â€" " she broke off into a moan. It was not diflScult for Hardy to see how Barwoodâ€" permitting his hopes to mould his convictions, and being quite incapable of understanding the revolt that it would stir up in Mary's soulâ€" had been led into this false move. He answered her with intense earnest- ness "Mary, I swear to you before heaven that it is a most infernal lie " For a moment she made no reply. Then she held out her hands to him. "Forgive me, John," she said. "I ought not tohave believed that it even might be true. But after â€" after what you said to-day, and after all that I have seen and known in these past two years â€" oh, you don't know â€" it's enough to make me lose faith in everything. Thank God, though, it isn't true. Oh, thank God for that " She came close to him, and seemed to gather strength as he put his arm about her. As he drew her to him, soothing her, he heard the sound of a smothered laugh in the darkness outside. Then he remembned Barwood's whispered words to the men as he went away, and connected with them the withdrawal of the men when Mary appeared. He felt that he had an account tosettiewith those two Mexicansâ€" and he hcqted that he would be able to settle it very soon. Cer- tainly, if the train was to be saved he had no time to lose. " Mary," he said " I want yon togo into the inner room andshnt the door. Yon wont be afraid alone in the dark in thm for a little while, will you? And, Mary, sajmose yooâ€" suppose you say your pray «b in ther^ That sort of thing is not much in my lin^t bat Utm» s a t3)od deal in pray for to-ni^it, and I gness it won't do any hwm^" "Yes, John,' she answered. She spoke in a tone of simple obedience, as a child m^t have spoken. He led her to the door- ^y'^%J««l»ed her inside, and dosed Shefaadbnn^t a haAet at food. He opened it, but he found eating hard work. He forced himself to swtJlow some bread and meat. Then, from a bottle otmescal ttiat Barwood thouj^tfully had put into the bas- ket, he drank a good half -tumblerful at a draught. Hefdt the bracing effect of this potent liquor immediately. He was ready for his work now. In one comer of the room^was an iron tamping-bar belonging to the section gancr. He put this within easy reach of his hand. Then he went to the door and called "Friends' !*' The two Mexicans came to- ward him. " The Senor Barwood has sent me some mescal. Let us drink that all shall go well to-night." The men grinned He held out to the one called Ramon the bottle and to the other the glass. Ramon raised the bottle to pour the other man held the glass carefully. This was Hardy's moment for action. In an in- stant the iron bar had risen like a hash and had fallen with a dull, crushing sound on Ramon's neck. He dropped like a log. The other man let the cup fall and started back, fumbling for his pistol. But before he had it free the bar had risen and fallen again, and he, too, went down. It was not as clean a stroke as the first one, The man groaned and made an effort to rise. Hardy sprang on his breast and settled his hands tightly on his throat. For a moment he struggled con- vulsively then he grew quiet. Presently his arms lell limply by his side and all his muscles relaxed. To make the matter sure, Hardy retained his grasp for a couple of minutes more. Then, drawing a long breath, he let go his hold and stood upright. He looked at Ramon. There was nothing to fear from that quarter. Ramon was lying just where he had fallen. From the ugly way in which his head was taken with his should- ers, it was evident that his neck was broken. Beside him, lying unbroken and still half full, was the bottle of m-isccd. Hardy felt faint and a little sick. He picked up the bottle of meji"al und took an- other drink. This steadied him. Whenhehad taken their pistols and cartridge belts he dragged the two men out from the room to the platform â€" far enough from the doorway in the darkness to be out of range of Mary's eyes. Then he opened the door of the inner room and called to her. She was on her knees. â-  » " You must be strong and brave, Mar3%" he said. "Our one chance of saving our own lives and of saving the train from being wrecked is to get up to Las Palomas on the hand-car. Come." ' ' But how can we, John The men won't let us go. " " The men won't bother us," he answered grimly. " At least, not the ones left here to watch us. They are not keeping very good watch just now." "John," she asked, in a low, horrified voice, " have you murdered them " • "Never mind about the men," he said, speaking quickly. " Any court of justice in the land^even a Mexican court of justice- would have hung them. What we have to think about now is ourselves or, if you don't care for yourself, think of the passengers on that train. Come, Mary for God's sake, come Every second that we lose here may make us too late." He caught her by the wrist, and dragged her through the outer room, across the plat- form, and down to where the hand-car was standing on the track. He saw. her give a shuddering glance around and heard her sigh of relief. The skirt of her dress was touch- ing one of the dead' men as she gave this sigli, but the merciful darkness hid from her the sight what she had expected,, and had so dreatled to see. Five minutes later she would not thus have lieen spared, for above the mountains already shone the glowing light of the rising moon. I "Remember," he whispered, " we are working to save innocent lives, whidi surely ' will be lost if wo fail. Don't speak out loud. Use every bit of strength that you liave. You understand how to. work the can- It's like pumping you work one end of the brake and I work the other; If you find yourself getting used up, you must sit down and rest, while I work the car alone.. Now, before we start, drink this. " He gave her a little mescal.. She took it in entire obedi- came to «, 1^ and a minute later Here was the grej matter how gently he nn.J!^. jT*- rumbling of the^iS^S'S^i'S on the perfect stilhiess ^f'^JJ'k i;^! they left the embankmenf ""glT? the trestle the i"*c^ J the mountams with a iJ: t"" sl.i" of brilliant light tu^t'^S'-J^^ At the same mstant camJ« *« W the sound of shouts.and l^'^tJ.^S later a dozen shots were fir J^ «C the car-wheels on the bri ^S tion in which to look fw tk 'V nioonUght strikmg on M^ t"' '«S showed their whereabouts T^u*? »«ii4 sin^g through the air cIobI "'•S heads. '" aV ,j? Hardy set his teeth hard «v on the car and took his pk^^t,? li Mary grasped the other r/„nlflS "Nowforiti-hesaid tft,^C Another volley of baUswlTtWi, and above them as the car^« "y'S and stray shots followed thpT^^""' were a quarter of a mile or so onT" ' up the long grade. But it wa^i? *»I ing at a moving mark, and dd ** Mary was very white, hut ,l,l^\^^ strength mto her work-as H-a J ""^i by feeling the spring of Se cff:;;^! ^^ •-- bar end of the br:ike? went do^n, "" H »eqw«n, ^t*^ arms swung; up anJ.l.^vnv.ltl^i"' â-  K^2U^% •^ Hardy t iSth^ SI«r5»e tend* ^.duUfihn ^ith her w -jden-trown j ^the moonUg rtontl»ecarat S»rf,obeyu i||Qoagb tne (fenced soun of the walkinji-ljeam of a steanT""^*^" '"tKeskOh,;' with the same strength and'S^ Between them they drove the csr steep incline as though thev worT „ "Ptht encei ' I will try my best, John," she \whi8per- ed. "I am glad that you told me to pray. " " Stand out of the way of the brake. I'm going to push the car as far as the other sideof the bridge. It will make les» noise. Stand steady â€" here we go." They lost time this way, but the noise made by the car was very much' lessened. If they could get across the bridge before their departure was discovered they would secure a fairly good start. If they could reach in safety the top of the long grade beyond the bridgeâ€" up which their progress necessarily would be slow^â€" thej- would be certain of getting safe away. From the top. of the divide, as Hardy remembered, there was not a check in the down-grade to Las P^omas, anda straight track all the Way. On this part of the runâ€" if they ever got to itâ€" Mary would not have to work at aU. He alone, easily, could send the car along at a r^e of nearly twenty miles an hour. Once over the divide, therefore, the rescue of the 1 train would be assured. "Ifâ€" if anything should happen, Mary," Hardy said as he started the car, bending over toward her, "you'll reniiCiBber that I did love you truly, won't you And you'llâ€" you'll forgive me for my wi«iedness and cruelty to you this afternoon." "Yes, John, dear indeed, yes. â-  But please don't speak to me again nntil it is j^°^ â„¢e to go to \frork. I'm praying. As the oar slowly passed down the Une beyond the station platform Hardy saw u J §^* of a lantern swinging in the hand of some one cMning across from the ^^'^V T^® temptation to start the car rapidly down the grade was strong, but he restrained himsdf. Silence was more preMous just ttien than speed. Then he suddenly realised that he had dwie a very staj^ tbine in the way that he had dis- ^^ '^!u^u ^«» of the two Mexicans. AUthathehad thought of at the moment was hidmg them from Mary. In the dark- ness, of course, she had not seen them, but any one going on the ptatform with a hmtem SSifS,!^•°'***'"**-7»«' â- 'y nothing of the fact that in two or tifee minute, more ttiemoon would nse. ButhewasahuiMjfed it along a level grade. Vnm'li, ""'" I position of the flashes as^the riflSJ« charged they could tell that W^ followed, a little way. Then tl,! I '"' stopped, and tliey knew that mn^^" horseback ^..s l-ing orffanized:'^? k! I were cheered by the knovrledge tbt first pomt of danger was safely tewed Hardy knew ixothins of the trail. ' j could not tell whethei^the ^IrSttt I directly along the track oiNvo„rSr short cut to head them off. Li a m- â-  I along the track tliey would have a deeidS advantage, for horses would stand a sod chance of stumbhng on the cross-ties, andof I breakmg their own legs and their rideR' iiecRS atone or another of the many little bndges. Ridmg beside the track prakicallv was impo3sil)le. Tlie embankment rose di rectly from the chaparral, and thronoji the cuts the way was more or less Uock°ed bv fragments of rodk. Pursuit, therefore, voiill be slow, and would give- them tie further advantage that their puisnm would be clearly in sight-in whick case Hardy thought that he Tonldl be able to account for twoor three of tlml before he was overtaken. On the othal hand, if a trail ran parallel withithe tB(i,[ or cut across its curves, as was liigUJI prol)able, t!:ey were liable at any KOMtl until they had cros.'-.e.l the crestofthe diiiie,! to run into a volley of riflc-halls. ' They could hear notliing l)ut the claiij of the brake as it rose and fell, and tie loud rattle of the wheels, ilary stwi up to her work in a way that tilled Harij' with wonder. Her face was ateolutelj colorless; her eyes seemed to have grow larger, and sent out a strange hgtt: her teeth were clinched; her long gold- en-brown hair b.ad bro'i;«i loose ireu its fastenings, ami bang wavuig anJ shimmering around her like a glwy Ler light dress lluttered in the r:-.owilijkt. stirred by the ra.pid motion .and the soft strong current of the night wiud. It never liefore had thought ot her save as one whose v.-eakness reqnired pro'.ectioi, but he saw her now putthig out strength. physical and moral, almost as great ss his own. AVbeu the balls went siagins over them she liad not quailed li this fierce struggle of bodily enduraice against time, with their lives for the state. and the saving of lives for their revvani, she was keeping even stroke- with him at tk brake, steadily, strongly; doing work the like of which a woman had nerer done be- fore. He beheld her transformed,glorifieii,i superb exaltation of weakness to heroit strength. Never had he loved her as then. As they swung along through the mooo- light, in that va.«t solitude of night, itseeni- ed to Hardy that they were a part of sow wonderful tuneâ€" partly played by thesteaily beating of the brakes and the rhythmic rattk of the wheels partly sung m the huzzu^ and humming that was going on mside to own brain. Mary's white face shone m t» moon-light like polished marble, the mooi- light danced and sparkled in her goW^ brown, swaying hair the strange light gi«» brighter and vet brighter m her eyes, n felt no sense of bodily effort in h^*""'^;? felt only in a vague, far-away fashion, m^ had any body at all. He was strongjj- «»^ scions only of the throbbing tune that " was a part of; of the wonderful light " came from her eyes uito his-aud '»:â-  sinking down into his heart, made his «w being go out to hers in a perfect ecsi*j and passion of love. j Not a volley, but a single rifle shot-* Mary, the gleaming light fading ftom eyes, looseS her hold of the brake mJ clutehing at her breast, fell affoss tne Another shot grazed Hardy's head, »" third ligjitlycutthe flesh of his leii Before a fourth was fired his ow P cracked, and brought the engagnient end. Theattack had come from *^vh(i standing on the edge of the low cut the ball from Hardy's pistol 8t"=* Tfof- staggered for a moment and then i ^1 ward and downward on the tr»K- ^^ lay there, motionless, the ^^'^^^t^l full upon his upturned fa"eâ€" "J*f mrtridiia Urged by hate and anger, he h»" »" j the all the rest, and had hea.led themoD ^j^j^ last point where heading off *r^ ^f ti« The car had stopped oii the cresi divide. ..â- l i.u pisi» i Hardy stood for a moment ^J° "^ilt fnrtber M' Hardy cursed hfe^^dlly," Fe fhw- gedly pushed fte oar aSead of himsA ^i ^^k ^*y P*^ '^« tSk, iS mg up like some strange huce weataiPB in the light t^t preoel^ thfm^^ ready, m expectation of But none canie. Then he turned » bending over her. i. • Her V"f " You mustn'tâ€" stop, John- ..^-^j 0i F came very faint and brokenly. yoac" â€"go on andâ€" and savieâ€" the train. save it now.' -.nst" Her hand still was pressed ^^ breast. From under where her j^ ed, a dark stain was spresjdingr^ )fi black in the moonlight. The w^ ^t, I voice, and the g^ps with whicn ^^\ showed what bitter agony eacu ber. ^.ted. "' " You must go on," she re^,^ W waitâ€" a minute, John, l^ that" i thai that. Not longer than-^"" ,^ Hardy groaned in ^^^ ^^ ^^ He took her hand. Already" This black stain on her breast (^ fast. In her cold hand she »« W closely, and so looked up \^tff*^\ strange light was gone ^^' ^^^\ In them he saw another ug"' I S. desolate 1 Take an Eng y, American gi ^lish and the" fcetween them i' jhe American »d Blighter lim more vivacious The English gir heavier in build die American is English girl is r will find the gre in the feet and 1 is small, thin, h the ankle. The and full in the difference in th( an English and j can distinguish Reattachments and more tendo; in the English. Certainly thei general appearai the American, in the one as of a lily. Where -rantage over the and intonations, is a pleasure to 1 pleasant in its m icang whine witl wish they woul I them, "as the b by the bad voice the English, bee: fully utter their I Anerican girls ai and they general and feature, if n too, there is a ce dependence whic far (as if frequen The Girl W] There are gi who p And girls And girls wl With char But there's a Much mor And as a -wij The gu-1 w Although it She grants Nor does she Her ma is She has a kii For pareni She proves a The girl w She may not Nor sigh f She may not Nor pine f Such lives a« v^ And love She scatters The girl m Butter and The number |*wsh system is fad. 1,1 many ' actory existed, a ^y by small ^°»ei-s. In this *« from various r^ it is teste butter produced '^aade in th. *q'«lityin mak *?«d. Meani ^nas not sto "??ortant indus **»«* stiU exten Sf^tity of mai 21'uiHolhmd P°dnccd inthii rJ.P'rtbeen st; ^^"mwithaca Eleotric( *» interestin f^byHerrT. I?*e8kin froi gjttablecUy. ^*w galvano! l?f«dback, a ^2^ts w; ^^ tickling V Ij^^fconds^ P itT^uigstr. I Siu^* «*ct rf n.j?^ Q Clo8e« 4^* causes 523® ""an o: "^T««t these ' *oe aensa •fiwt J '•mooni ^thei QBOlh it a] twj mMmk m miM