Show ow aai awi 1 nir clau R ce D idiocies 1914 LV e CHAPTER XV continued twenty alve miles and over a very rajeh mountain road did I 1 not coull dently expect to find oliver there I 1 should not let you undertake this ride but the inquiries I 1 have just made lead me to hope tor for the beat best results 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 what that the cry of a loon how flow awful do they often cry like that I 1 not often in the nighttime reuther shuddered mr air black regarded her anxiously had he done wrong to let her join him in this strange ride shall we go back and wait for broad daylight he asked no no ito I 1 could not bear the suspense of wondering whether all was going well and the opportunity being given you of seeing and speaking to him we have taken such I 1 re cautions chosen bosen so late or should I 1 say so early a start that I 1 im m cure sure we have outwitted the man who Is so go watchful of us dut but it we go back we cannot slip away from him again and oliver will have to submit to a humiliation it Is our duty to spare him and the good judge too I 1 don t care if it the loons do cry the night is beautiful and it was had bad their bearta hearts been in tune to enjoy it A gibbous moon had risen and inefficient as an it waa was to light up the recesses of the forest it 11 luminer the treetops tree topa and brought out the difference between earth and sky the road known to the horses it if not to themselves extended like a black ribbon 11 in ler jer their eyes but the patches of light which fell across it at intervals Inte nala rials took from it the uninterrupted gloom it must have otherwise had mr sloan who was as at once their guide and host promised that dawn wo lid tid be upon them before they reached the huge gully which was the one dangerous feature of the road their guide had prophesied truly heralded by that long cry of the loon the dawn began to reveal itself and the everyday world of the mighty for eat was upon them with its night mystery gone but not the romance of their errand or the anxiety which both felt as to its fulfill fulfillment mert pull rull sight eight brought full realization Tio however wever they might seek to cloak the fact they could no longer disguise from themselves that the object of their journey might not be ac septable cep table to the man in hiding at tern tom pest peat lodge reuthers faith in hla was strong but even her courage faltered as she thought of the disgrace await ing him whatever the circumstances pr cr however he might look upon bis his fathers imperative command to return W rn but she did not draw rein and the three continued to ride up and on suddenly ho however mever mr air sloan was seen to turn bis his bead head sharply and in another moment bis his two companion companions heard him BAY we are followed ride on and leave ne me to take a look instinctively they glanced back before obeying they were just round ing the top of an ab apt hill and expected to have an uninterrupted view of the road behind but the masses of foliar foliate were as yet too thick for them to see much but the autumnal red and yellow spread out below them 1 I 1 hear them I 1 do not see them remarked their guide two horses are ar approaching how far are we now from the lodge lodger A halt hours ride we are just at the opening of the tho fully you will join us soon As quickly as I 1 make out who are on the horses behind us reuther and the lawyer rode on her iler cumeka had gained a slight flush but otherwise she looked unmoved he lie waa was less at ease n m she for or he had less to sustain him tee the gully when they came to it proved to be a formidable one it was wa not only deep but tout and for the two miles they rode alborg its edge they saw no let up in the tho steepness on ane side or of be lie almost equally abrupt rise rime of tower towering tug rock on the other it was reuther reuthers a first expert ence of so precipitous a climb and un der other circumstances oh he e might have been timid but in her present heroic mood it was all a part of her krat great adventure and as euch such accepted the lawyer eyed her with growing admiration he lie bad had not miscalculated her pluck As an they ere making a turn to gain the summit they beard heard mr air sloans voice behind them drawing in their horses they greeted him eagerly wn vb i be he appeared were you right are we followed r as may way be I 1 heat or see anything more I 1 waited but noth ing happened so to I 1 came on his words were surly and his big looks sour bour they t therefore he forbore to question him further especially i i their keenest interest lay jay ahead rather than thin behind them they were nearing tempe t lodge As ali it broke upon their view perched like an eagles eyrie on the crest of m r rising v reak they drew rein and after a short cou cod sul tation air sloan ended wended ia I a way up alone he ile wae as a well knon man throughout the whole regia n and would be likely to gala gain admittance it if anyone could but all label ishel the hour had been leea less early however somebody we wis up la in the picturesque place A emal trail of 0 smoke could be seen hovering above its tingle single chimney and promptly upon mr air sloan a approach a rear door swung back and an old man bowed showed himself hima elf but with no ino hospitable latent intent on the contrary he motioned the in bruder back and ab shouting outing out boma very decided resolutely hinged banged the door hut shut mr air sloan turned slowly about dad bad luck ha he commented upon joining hie his companion companions that wae was deaf dan hes lies got a warm neat nest here and be he a determined to keep it it no visitors anted waa was what he be shouted eh and he didn dian t even hold out his hand when I 1 offered him f t e letter ghe glie me the letter bald said reuther he ile wont berve a lady standing anding et out in the cold mr sloan handed over the judges message and helped her down and she in turn began to approach the place As ehe she did so she eyed it with the curiosity of a hungry heart it was a compact structure of closely cemented stone built to resist gales and harbor a would be re clust even in an adirondack winter mr air sloan bad had been repulsed from the west door she would try the east oliver it oliver it were was probably asleep but she would knock and end knock and knock and if it deaf dan did not open bis his master soon would dut but when she found herself in face of this simple barrier and was vas lifting h ho r hand to the door it suddenly flew dpn and a man appeared before her CHAPTER XVI found and lost it was man oliver oliver pt Vt and with signs upon bin of a nights night a work ork of study or writing but olivell her lover once but baw just a stranger into whose hand rhe must put this let ter she tried to stamm out h err crr nd but the budde pallor the starting eyes the bolo shocked al moat most terrified appearance of the man she was facing her she for got the surprise the incredulity of mind with which be he bould naturally hall he presence at his door in a place eo so remote and d of such inaccessibility lity she only aw daw that his band hands had gone up and out at sight eight of her and to her sensitive soul this looked like a rebuff while expected choked back her words and turned her faintly flushing cheek scarlet I 1 it Is not I 1 burst from her lips in incoherent disclaimer of his possible thought I 1 I 1 m just a messenger your father it Is in youl you I 1 quickly bis his hant bana passed across his eyes how thee them bis his glance following hers fell fall on the letter which she now remembered to bold hold out I 1 its the chiy of a telegram she tre explained aa as he continued to gaze at it without beaching to take it it lou ilou could not J found in detroit and as it map I 1 pontaut that aou ou should thib this word from our father I 1 un undertook to deliver it I 1 remembered our fori dacas for this place and bow you once said that this Is where you would like to write your books and eo so I 1 came on a venture but not alone lone mr diack black la Is with me and mn d mr who what he lie was detill staring at hie his fathers let ter and till still bad made no offer to take it read this first eald said ehe she then he woke to the situation he ile took the letter and drawing her in bid shut the door while he read it IL she trembling very much did not dare to lift 1 her eyes eye to watch its ef of but abi bj wae was conscious cons cloua that bis bill brck and not his laca aa a her way and that the moment was a the 1118 stillest one of her whole life then there came a rattling noise as he embed the letter in bis his hadj tell re ire what this means bald aid he but be he did not turo turn bis his head as be he made thin request your father must do that was ras her gentle ie reply 1 I 1 was wa only to deliver se I 1 came e came thu thus the letter let er early because we a thought we feared we should get no opportunity later to there seem to alone find and you here hero road whom bom be people 0 on n the feel obliged to enter might debt abom YOU tain and as your father cannot walt lie had wheeled aboul his face confronted hers it wo a look she did not lan understand and which made him seem str ngeT to her involuntarily she took a step back 1 I 1 must be going tl BOW ow 11 sid eald she find mi fell ber her physical weakness t triumphing teg at last over her will power where abe is 1 oli olivera verl were Raut bera heeg first words thes these to herself she perc elied a hoir over dlack benjin brief almost india sv the anwer was ferent u black was curling himself for al allowing loing her to come to his this house alone he was here m moment ago when he aw saw you begin to give signs of life lie he blid out how flow do you feel my my dear 1 what hat will your mother say dut but oliver Oll verT she wae was on her feet now she he had been lying on some eort sort of couch he ile must oh ob I 1 remember now air black we mut must go I 1 have given him his fathers letter we are not going till you have something to eat not a word I 1 ill 11 why did hie his eye vanler to the near eat est window and his worde words trail trall away into silence reuther turned about to see ee oliver was in front conversing earnestly ear neatly with mr sloan ai As they looked he dashed back into the th rear ot of the house louse and they heard hearel hia his voice rise once or twice in boma ineffectual corn coin mandi mands to hie his deaf then thero there came a clatter and a rush from the direction of the stable and they saw him flash by on a gaunt but flery horse and take with long bound bounds the road up which they bad luet just labored he lie bail had stopped to quip equip himself in ome some measure for his ride but not the horse which was wa without saddle or any eort sort of bridle but a halter hatter strung about bit his neck this was as flight or no d it appeared to mr sloan as he watched the young man disappear over the brow of the hill what mr air black thought was as cot not so opp rent areat he lie had no wish to die dis courage reuther whose hose feeling waa was one nt of relief as her first ord showed oliver Is gone we ne shall not have to hurry now and perhaps if it I 1 had bad a it few minutes in which to rest she waa was on the verge of fainting gain again and then alanson allinson black showed of what stuff he was made matle in ten minutes he had bustled about the half balf de exerted building and with the aid of the dazed and uncomprehending deaf mute managed to prepare a cup of bol hot tea and a plate of steaming eggs for the weary girl after such much an effort reuther felt obliged to eat and bhe she did seeing which the lawyer left her for a mo me ment and went out to question their guide where wheres the young lady this from mr sloan eating something come in and have a bite and let the horses horse a eat too the oung fellow went off pretty quick eh eb I 1 ya vans as the drawl was one of doubt out but quickness quick neis don t count jell e A small trail trall of smoke hovering above its single chimney fast or slow hes bes on his way to capture it that a what you want to know what ahat we are followed thai are men on the road two as I 1 told you before he ile can t get by hem them if it that what he be wanta wants to do dut but I 1 thought ther they fell back we didn dian I 1 hear them after aou ou joined ua no they didn dian t come on they have to this Is the only road jonn the mountain and its one youve rot to follow or go tumbling over the precipice all got to do li Is to wait for him and hits what I 1 tried to tell him but be he juit just shook his arm at me and rode on tie lie might better have for company mr air black cast a glance behind him saw that the door of the noue was almost closed and ventured to put an other question what did he ask you when be came out hero why we had chosen uch such an early hour to bring him his fathers me sage page sloan replied and what tit daw yon you bayt nay we waal a I 1 said that there was another fellow do n z my way awful eager to see him too aud that you were mortal anxious to get to him birst that was abort it wan t it air sarf yes and how did he take he ile turned white and asked me juit just what I 1 meant then I 1 said that some one wanted him lim pretty bad for early as tt it was this stranger wua was up aa an soon aa as you and bad followed as us into linto the mountains aad mild might show up tip any time on be the road at which be he gave me a stare then plunged back into the house to get bis his bat hat and trot out his hi hors horse I 1 never saw quicker work dot but lt it a no UK be he cant escape those men they know IL it or ther the have stopped where they did tw waiting for hamp him mr black recalled the aspect ft ef the gully ml and decide that mr aloan 1 wae was right there could hiie e but one end to t this adventure oliver would be caught la in a manifest effort to escape and the judge judges cup of orrow sorrow and humiliation milia tion would bt b ull full tic lie felt the hame shame of it himself alio also the folly of his own method methods and of the part he had bad allowed reuther to play beckoning to bin hl boit host to follow him he turned toward the bouie house dont mention your fear fears to the young lady aid said he be at leat least not till we are well pact past the gully 1 I 1 shant ban t mention anything dont you be feared of that and with a simultaneous effort diff cult for both they assumed a more cheerful air and brickly briskly entered the tb house it aidi a not until they were we well III upon the road bak ba k that reuther ventured to peak speak of oliver she was riding as a far from the edge of the precipice as a possible in descent it looked very formidable to her unaccustomed eye althis Is to a dangerous danger roud for or a man to ride bareback she he remarked 1 I in terrified when I 1 think of it mr black why did be he go off quite so oil ud denly la to there a train he be la is an acx loua tous to reach T mr air sloan li Is there a train ye yes miss there ie to a train which be can get by riding fast faff ave live known it donel then rhen he la is excusable yet her bar anxious glance atole stole ever and again to the dizzy verge toward which ithe he now unconsciously urged her own horse till fill mr black drew her ulde A half halt hour houra a further descent dei cent then a quick turn and ur sloan who bad had ridden on before them came eloping hastily back mr black hastened to meet their guide boat now cowf he asked have they come together to etheri have five the detective detectives tec tive tives got him 1 no not him oaly only hie his her bore a the animal haa has juit just trotted up good god godl I 1 the child instinct wa was true lie bai has been thrown no mr sloans mouth WM wan close to the lawyer ear eberee another explanation if it the fellow Is I 1 game and anxious enough to reach the train to risk hie his |