OCR Text |
Show he passed voice was like a cannon roar with wisdom, get a man down to the train in time dently earned calls to Lakeville, Xew Burn and anger. Then she set her teeth, foldto search it, after getting Capt. Hened her arms, and waited. ry's message, there was g small Xew York at the aume time. Once she made a feint of receivCould she hum-Jeanette had not thought he would for his escape. ing reports on the call and after keep 27u from getting Saturne before i lie train passed there, a whole half-hogiving the bogus information courteously lo Capt. Henry recorded it on yet T the back of the tickets. Xew York probably his goal. 5.00 K. C. (no circuit). If she tould keep the train from be5.10 lty (busy). ing searched before it reached Xew The fight was on. 270 railed every York, he escape west, or acroes of t'.e days work w.i bat'. blood between him and Latbrop Have your men oxer in ihe t hphone a long time. I hear. he did go ou l bat 4 If watcli r.harp. Jeanette Whipple, off at Sa'urne. 1' furi'i" tin ncluc!: i ll bead li4::io. trank If be got utT ihst iu u 1! i r lo - iVn get there aboui rim h. ,:t Kldgi'ton, which 1 doubt, he can't i xx ; fcouus her thus would l'C II:. liaxc gone tar et. I ihitik he wil' Richard were She wondered if on towanl the west Hot it all? keep v.Hirfc!i:g 'lie dock as iivpaMeuily 8r 3 feet 11. dark, wr.no: h tuce, well C ri.c. Such a kiiii'. long lime to built, bmwu suit, black derby all udock and the happy walk home. right ? lluodhy. The chief operator (No. S3 Then, slowly, her brain cleared. wee working hack of the board. She had no trouble in realising now The moulicr walked u; aid down, what it all lucent. Kirhnnl Nash, up and down, back of the girls, who her Richard Xush had killed Latbrop. kat'-hi r nearly as mudi re they did Richard had escaped, mid the police i heir chief. She had br.n 10 yean were trying to bead him off by teleIn the business. -- and she bowd it. phoning ahead to the stations ut She wan rriiorted to have a soft vpot which tli train Mopped. in her heart for the young, curly His face come up before her, clear headed assistant chief oratur at cut as a cameo, the wise, tender face, desk. the the frank, steady eyes. Why, everyThe messenger hoy called him the one had hated Lathrop but Richard. follow with the "pretty blue hair." He had only laughed at hint. It f, could not lie true. Someone was The girls called him being assistant to No. LO. playing a Joke ou her. A drop fell, it was 270. Site took Jeenefe laughed to hetsclf as she thought . it. Then she turned down it before the rcrording oiierator could a jack to see If N;a 270 were still reach it. and plugged in on the line. tslkicg to Rldgeton. t'apt. Henry's Her voice sounded strange to her as lig voice boomed In her ear, and site she spoke. "Toll Line." caught a aenten.'e. rail and dark, about SO years (live me police station, Saturne, old, been foreman of the electric rapt. Rrlggs to the telephone. And company its years." right away quick, too, central." She made out. the ticket slowly. Mechanically she turned up the Jack. Then as she res Used what she Her Ungers were stiff uml cold. She had heard she listened again, Rtch-er- d fell numbed all oyer except her brain. was foramun of the electric corn Thai seemed on lire. She linked down What nmld hare hapjiened. at the small diamond on her left There is no hand. Whether it were t run. or not. "O, Lethrop'll die. chance. Ikin' t know Just how it hap- he whs Richard yes and she loved pened yet, Nash has always horue him. a good nans, though there lir.s been had uot been able to if Ridgi-m-h THE ur s might other breath. Jeanette tried to keep him good the water. 270 was railing again. "Cau't you get Saturne, Central? What is the mutter?" "Wire is busy. I will call you," she answered clearly, it was only 4:43 now. She cast a furtive look at the monitor, who was coining toward her. She answered two other ralta and made quick connect lone. The monitor glanced at her board, then walked slowly away again. Time seemed to stand still, 4:57 4:58 27u called again. Cupt. Henry's voire bodied trouble for somebody. "Whv can't 1 have Saturne? I must hare them before 4:30. Jeanette almost laughed. Her blood whs up now. 270 must have . Capt. Henry said so. 270 must not have Jeanette Whipple said so. Which would win? Capt. Henry fumed. Jeanette listened In silence. Then be slammed up his telephone. She watched the dink and wuited. 4:55 shs drew a long breath, stitt" bussed the call. In a few momenta they were talking. Capt Henry gHve the same details ilmt he had given to Kidgeton. gave them like a Hush. Then, having evi ofit.-ial-1:- ) "twelve-aud-a-fcai- d. No. 25 and It he should call would complain, an investigation quickly nettle everything. She would he sent away on the sot. Every minute's delay meant hope, perhaps life. The intense strain was telling on her. She tried to hold heeaelf still and calm that she might think clearly. She began to realise the terrible thing that had happened. The agony she of It sank in slowly. would wake up suddenly and find that she had been dreaming. But 270 was grim reality. He was calling again. Then for over an hour she stubbornly fought every inch of the way. Capt. Henry was a big man and a smart one, but he could not manage something he did not understand. He had been obliged to wait for busy wires before this. It was nothHe never ing new nor surprising. even dreamed that this peculiar combination of busy wires, with other technical terms thst sounded perfectly proper, even familiar, was due his lo a slip of a girl, age, iu the central telephone office just four blocks up the street. Pei-hai- HEXRYS VOICE. TWAS CAPTAIN do that. The train did not get into 6 o'clock. New York until nearly Dared she delay that call so long a . time? one-quart- er the rails slowly, making hltu repeat several times, until his She took The numbers danced before her tired eyes. Her Tars was hot with tbs excitement. But when o'clock came she had just put up the connection between 270 and Xew Yoik. She had won. She had done all she could to save the n.an she loved. She stumbled out of her chair. She was so rigid she could scarcely move. She put on her hat and cloak with stiff fingers. The girls seemed to rbun her, or was it fancy? They must know it, too. Everyone must know it. Why, the world was full of it. Richard was a murderer, flying for his life, and yet so strange and untrue it seemed that, even ae she said it, she waited at the street door a minute for his familiar figure. Then she started home alone. It bad evidently been raining. The dark was comlug early. The mist clung to her skirts and dampened her hair. The electric light flickered on water in little pools of wind-swethe road. Susan met her at the door, her kind, sisterly face placid and smiling. Then she started. "Why, Jeanette, dear, what has pt happened?" But Jeanette could not speak. Something was beating in her throat like a mad thing. She brushed past her and went in. Susan did not shut the door. Jeanette beard her saying, "Have you two been quarrel- ing?" A Who was Susan lulklng to? man's voice answered. "It does look like It. he said. She has been over a block ahead of me all the way, going like a race horse." "Richard!" She turned back to the door tried to call his name, hut it wM a gasp. Then he caught her. "Sweetheart, has some ou frightening you? Why, Jali Why, Jeanette?" With a great effort she strugeM out of the darkness that 'hveatenj to engulf her. The murder, Richard, xoq He lifted her up into hf am. carrying her In, sat down in ;j'it m rocker wim There, there, child It's ;; Nash Furiw.xxnr'h Jeanette. Lathrop. but he is tun going to i though they thought he was ut Arc Did you get It wrong? It w..s mixed at first. In the excitement, mj (h( tell you It was RIt hard Xueh did it? Ills first name U:y one, and description hciag rather alike did make a little, huihi-r, got away, I guess. 1 imagine lie got 4 o'clock train. Why. Mule girl that you could not think it was I who shut him, could you?" And the hush, while Susan got supper, and the light from ike fir played on the walls, the rocking chair swayed gently with its burden, while she told him how she had played iha part of fate to a man she never xav After she was quite herself agalx he looked at her solemnly and shook Ms head. Vita Just as the poets and plillono-plier-s always tell us. he said. "A big door hangs on little hinge, it take a woman to fool a man. every time and to save one. tixx, God blew her. even if it did not hapix-- to bi me." . QUEEN OF THE HILLS But I want you to come with woodland near the house to smoke The morning found him still torn with whom he stopped could identffy them. Be careful what you do." me," he pleaded. I want you to mar"I think It would be rather good and think. by conflicting impulses, but of this her even with the aid, of a sketch, It would he a At lost the fight was ended and he ry me. much he was certain ; no mutter what and it was with a peculiar sense of fun," he laughed. picked up the canvas and with a cry he sprang toward her. 8he eluded his oulstreuched arms and BENTON He lindit with work sank Into her usual place beside his been at on it for aeveral days now, chair. "I couldn't come yesterday," she and yet scarcely mure than the out1 wasn't line! showed on the brown surface, said plaintively; fceilug though there was no lack of inspira- right smart. You should tell me who you are. tion in the rugged bills that formed his subject. he said crossly, then I should not Benton loved nature, but he found have to worry about you when you do keener Interest in the elfin little not come. Then 1 could come to you creature who daily came to WHtrh and see you." "Do you rare if I don't mine?" she Mm work and who sat at his feet and chatted while be made desultory ssked in surprise. Benton lilt. Ms Up. dabs at the canvas. "I wan afraid that you might have As a prise winner at the Paris and London academies, Ilnnton hHd been hurt yourself," he said. There was ninch of a social lion abroad before no way of finding out." Her hand slide into his. "I'm sorry he decided to return to bis own CounI you out," she w'hispered "I put women bad sought his try, and other won't again. society, while more than one had You tee," he laughed awkwardly, tried to win Ms heart. He had riling to Ms art and had passed unmoved you aerm almost like a part of my like the paints or the easel." through temptations only to lose his outfit, oji ought to lork me up in heart to a Utile wisp of a girl with thst"TIimI llitis blark case," she laughed, uncouth speech but an almost etbersl "ho you could carry me around. beauty. "Better take rare," he warned A season in New York, where he "or I might try." had been ons of the lions, had tired smilingly, I guess you'd hsvs trouble getting him of society fur a while, and he me into that, she laughed, indicathad turned to the mountains of his ing the tin case filled with color native state for relaxation. Here in 1 tubes. "I fancy I'm safe." the primitive simplicity of the Ten"I might have a larger one made," nessee wilderness he bad found rest he suggested. "If I find that you are and incentive to work until Barbara beconing essential I may have to do had come. that." She bad stolen behind him one day When I see the big box raining when he sat paint Ing on a ledge of I'll run." she declared. "I'm not rock far up the side of Hie mountain, afraid of you. anyway." and be had not known that she was With a laugh he turned to Ms there until he felt the curious sense work nnd for a few minutes ulnted of someone watching him and had with desiierste energy. Then a little turned to look into the most glorious hand stole up to his arm sad the rest of the afternoon was taken up w'ith eyes he had ever seen. She had fled like a frightened child chatting. That night Benton sat and smoked when the saw that she was found out. but the next day she hsd come again until lung after the moon had passed and ha bad succeeded in getting her over tho hills. He knew now (hut he to talk. Since then they had lulked was In love, lie hsd withstood the more than he had pulnted. fur as soon of some of the handsomest as she came he stopiied work and and cleverest women in Europe only made only a pretence of painting, to fall a victim to the love god here v.hlle she hung upon his laics of the In the Tennessee mountains, mirl with a girl who iu spite of an absence of world beyond in wrapt silence. There had come a day, when she tuoM of the marked Idioms of the did not appear, and he had fretted niuntrv was scarcely to he over the matter until with an ex- to dlsplny culture. Another thing bothered him. The clamation he had sprung tip from his chair and packed up his paints He girls face seemed r.milllar. Reason enuld not paint without Imr any told Mm he had never seen her bemore than ha rould give the lime to fore, hut where bail in' Hin her his art when she was there. counterpart. Try ns he might he He was at his pince t In' next flay could mil recall where he hsd seen when she crept out of tin thicket. S similar beautiful fare. splendid story to tell over the dinner rose and knocked the ashes out of table when I got back to civiliza- his pipe as he prepared to return to the house. As he came toward the tion." They might puf you in a box in- hut he caught a glimpse of a figure stead of your taking me in n box, flitting toward the house, and mindshe said, with a pitiful little attempt ful of Barbara's warning he concealat a Joking allusion to the talk of ed himself in the shadow. At last the figure stole out into the open and he sprung toward it. With a little gasping cry It sank to the ground, and with an exclamation of surprlae he saw it was Barbara. "What are you doing here? he cried, as she knelt at Mh feet, her hands covering her eyes. "is it you? she whispered os she rose to her feet. "1 thought that they had reprbed here first." "They? he ashed, puzzled. "The moonshiners, she explained: "they are after you. I heard the plot and slipped out to see If I could get to ytu and warn you. It was no use to argue. I have told them over and over again tbnt yon are an artist and not a revenue, but they will not believe me, and they are coming to take you out and kill you. What can we do?" he demanded. If they are after me they will catch I me long before I can get away. have a revolver and Crawford must hava a gun. We enn muss them up some before they can get me." "There Is no use making a sacrifice," she cried. "I can save you; that was why I came, (live me your hand and walk as softly as you can." She slipped her hand into his and as rapidly as possible ntado off toward the mountain. For half an hour they tolled up the ascent through a dense undergrowth sometimes so thick that they had to make a detour. At last they came to the mouth of a small cave and here she paused. You will have to crawl in there," she said. "It is a plun'! they used beHAVING SEEN HER DRIVING THUOl'GH THE PARK. fore they found the larger rave. They will never think of looking for you Benton took her here. pered. "You must be careful. I hear the day before. "You wlil have to stay here until that some of the hoys think jou are head between his hands. a revenue." Would you care?" he asked ear- tomorrow night," she said, as she cast her eyes over the cheerless sur"I guess they won't bother me," nestly. he laughed. 'Tie been priming in "I ran bring you some With a little cry she slipped from roundings. this one sKit so long that they must his grasp and went running down food In the morning and tomorrow Imagine that I am a very hud painter. the mountain side. Slowly Benton night I will bring a horse to the road That Is the trouble," she pseked up and went toward he place and come and guide you down." "You see you ranitnund the where he was stopping. I think," he said slowly, you en trance to n cave, and they think The excitement left him nervous ought to come with me. you ere making your painting nil ex- and unsullied, and after the evening "Hun away with you? she asked. cuse fur stu;. lug where you cun watcli meal he weut out into a patch of "That wouldn't da" impotence that he parted from her when the lengthening shadows warned her that she must be going. Hr had turned sway to puck the easel when she came bock to him. He glanced up qulrkly. I had almost forgotten, she whis the solution of the problem might be, it was this girl whom he should love so long as he lived. He had told himself that be would not paint that afternoon, but Irresistibly he found his step drawn In the direction of their meeting place, and HE REMEMBERED though he was ahead of time he chafed at her delay. She came all unconscious of the tumult she had created, and for the rest of the afternoon they talked of themsvixes instead of the towns he had seen, lint no matter how skillfully he might seek to lend the conversation. he could glean from her no exiM-cte- 1 , information as to her parentage. Iiiig ago hn had found It impossible to dcMTihe her so that the people There is no danger of discovery let me go now, she said. He moved toward her, but she dropped the torrh in the little spring that bubbled up at the for end of the cave, and before he could strike i light she was gone. s He sprang to his feet. Barbin stood before him, a basket on her arm and another torch was burning redly. "I have brought your breakfast," she said softly, "and It will be all right about the horse tonight.'' "We nhall need two horns," ha said quietly. "For unless you coma, too, I shall not go." You must, she insisted. If yon stay here your life will not be worth if you will a penny." And life will not be worth living unless you are with me, he sail Will you come?" "You are marrying me through gratitude, she protested. I want to marry you because I love you, he insisted. "I shall not go from here without you." Do you really mean that?" she asked anxiously. "My mind is made up, he declar I love you, dear. At one time ed. I thought that perhaps you would not be happy in the city, but If yon are not we shall come hack hers and live, for wherever you are there must 1 be." "I like New York better," (he whispered. "What do, you know about Netr York?" he laughed. I live there," slit said, quietly. T am here for my health." Yon "Your health?" he gasped. are a New York woman?" "And an amateur actress," shs You took me for a girl of added. the country, and it has been zurh fun to fool you. Afterward I was sorry, but It is all right now." Then in an instant a great light broke upon him. He had seen ths the face before. This was Barbatx Manning, rich, n young society lesd-e- r and prominent In the best amateur theatrical circles. He remembered that he had twice seen her driving through the park while out sketching, hut he had never even his queen of the bills of being other than what she preteded to be. d A LUCKY PALL . hay more was frisky that She (lanccl, she sidewise, and will'll Covington iuniped inm ilie saddle she li fix M r heels and all lull hit till- sn'etaii-- f :iei yi'ioni. The I" hind n po-t- , groom ret i rid hf'-iilliotn whit It point nr x imi.ise lie ventured a few xxnrds nf v inning. "I.ink (fi; in- - Vi'. Mi. I'livington. Fiiei- wi'lnuli'is ii'iirninc. she his, sii. Hi see hit in er l.eye. fii.' "Sl'.e's nil rial . Sliipw.ii." laughed t iie nu:n In the saddle. "jnd a litli H run tle playful, hai'i a'!. will i aim hr tie'x-- s Steady. olJ girl! Steady, tin:'. and Tor the m;. livain lei fl i:i r iiei , which struck the po:1' will' i'll hi ilnous thud. The .1 Iwij'Stal!. giO'.i'l r e- vi ;; d to (.ovM.i,- !: iic.i lii-- l her Bghtly with the i.rt;, a:::! the:. iwni thundering o I of th riu'iie ;iiid uu ;he bi reel , tV; np.re R'BvidaR iiiuiily. nnd Slnip-:- a in the stnhid il:ir shaking liis THE mot tii hr. : . i'-- he'-l- . canter, then she dmpjied into se-ila- lir-n- Coving ton sv.iur hrr up the street through an .rtiniu-- inm ike park, mi the and they 'cent gnlloping bridle-pat- h a, a ;mcc 'her set the Ion I Mr rrrning ihci. pedestrians nlci the fixing x.iars Two miles of this gnit i'. anil the uiae settled down to an CHy did n-e- a walk. Cox Inginn patted her sleek reck and l;i:ish'.l. '(lot enough nf ft. old ladv. eh?" lie said. "Now he nice for a bit. Just for a change." lie dropped the reins across her neck, nnd drawing a cigarette from his rase, held s nintih to it. But i lie hay mare was hr no means fri'ciahle ns lie supiKired. When 8 she felt the reins barging liaise on her neek her h"ad was lifted, she bounded sidewise, then, putting her down, she shook her heels gleefully In tlia air. Coxington landed in the soft lunei of the iqridle path, and the bnv ni;ie. rideiless. went flying around 'he bend. He picked liinself up. I;g!.-(another rignrette and lmHird dirt from his clothes. Ttw soil! ! j rot affected his good humm least. u ., : "Foxy little liens ." hr jifi-nr he strode up th t As he rounded ; i,i. 1.11111,! saw n girl in riding 1. , : t nn, on a Mg Murk hi"-.-- , aid I.m was lioiiBn the ,v 1, lit idle. "'X el!, 'hi., h; s'" cried I'oxiuc Ion. lifting hi. ,.i'i he hnmen-- d "I i'"'it 'o': (, ) ',1!;. .f. ,i i , , I.iii! " Sh' c , i". -- it : gi d. " tin r ,.r sn.iMiiig 1 s- -- , . ! . w, Covington, to whom none of the dirt saddle of the bridle path still clung. "Well, she did." said he. "and she did It very ihoroiigMy, Aien t jiuj ashamed of yours.df. Kitten V he said sternly, addi't-'-li- ig tne mare. "0. dont seuld hci." Mid the girl quickly. "Isn't sh n hrnntjr?" the asked as she si re i. cl the hay mare's is ml then mounted the blackl bridle path. Kitten apparently the tered easily, or at s word from the girl she dropped into a walk. And when they stopped for a moment by the lakn the bay mare stood quite still instead of stepping about ns was her want. un-ei-s- Tdl:il.f;i,.fopetaoinetaoisnhrdluetaoln "Shes a dear," said the girl en- thusiastically. "She's quite silky nose. "In thing hut mper." l:uu' hc'i fox inginn "I don't believe l.rr temper - really had." sh" said. "It emiliin'' Ii wi'h surli exes as she has. Won't you let me irj her?" I.i.wlon." he 'Really. Mi-- s "she's not to be t run! id " ' O. do lo me try her.'' she !igged. ' l.now i.e'll idi nvc wi'h me. Won r 1 1 xc.ii. outdoing herself, Covington commented. "1 never saw her so well behaved. Evidently all she needs is the proper rider. I wish I owned her," said Mini Tiwton. leaning forward to touch the soft eaia. "I wish you did," said Covington fervently. "Don't you like her? she asked qulcklv. "1 prize her aliove all my possessions." said he. She h oiieil at him searching. Then why do you want to part with her?" she inquired. exi-- i ) Ki'ien"" r " Tile mare put out her nose c.i'is.;- md l uvington laughed. t'Ki; ' Smile -- Iti ' ie UllilerslIHldil'.g nf the v. I stipi-irc- ." sic hr mid I'ghtil.-- . I will behave wih you " lie lift "d Uie girl from her iboun'. ml in e moment hr had the side vd die on Kit.rn. His own saddle he d to llie big Mark. "Now, old lady." said he. shaking ..t lleve "1 :inn-ferr"- .1 linger at the mare. wen: "1 jour prettiest. None Mi'iiicss wi'h jiuir .lo of that lie'-!;- lie lifted 10 f i:,ny i;.r-s'and?- 'he girl Iii'n the THE MART liAU.OiF.D MADLY ON. " ide don't." bsid he. The girl s brows puckered in a frown. They were pretty brows, snd ths frown wss in nowise unbecoming to them. I'm afraid your paradoxes sre beyond me." she sail, caressing the . hd-- e. Mllope l down Him soul of demure propriety. She can owned her because I wish H owned us both." The girl flushed scarlet. She turned the mare about and started down thi bridle path. Covington touched tbs black and was soon galloping alonf beside her. much? he skd "Is the price-toeagerly. The girl looked thoughtfully the brown loam beneath them. paw her lips curve in a quiet smile& "She's shes such a dear, said r.oftly, her eyes on Ihe bsy I think perhaps she's worth It.' When Covington reached the stabts the hay mare was her Impish ain again. She let fly her heelstoat tsw groom as he came forward her and snapped at him viciously while he loosened the girths. There were still patches of dirt tn Covingtons riding clothes, and . groom noted them. Did she spill you, sir? he ashes mere's gby peck. tely. It's a paradox very easily exI he. sal "I plained." dont want to When the heart Is lifted part with her and yet I wish you head Is often bowed down. SP tM ' |