The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-08-11
n NOBLE eTRATAGElf.

a NOBLE sTRATAdEM.
Nina Medwyn started to her feet and
listened. SURELY, that was knocking 1t
tho aouter door. But who could It b It
this time Of night She was quite alone
in the house, and the house itself was
lonely enough, small cottage standing
back from country road; not near any
other dwelling. Then, further, the carate
had been called to sick man three miles
off; he might not be home all night; and
the servant, old Molly, was gone to see
her sister in the village, a mile away; but
Molly had the key Of the back door, and
20 had no need to knock ct the front
door. What made Nina cautious was the
fact that there was trouble at Mr.. Hin
toms mills at Copeland-some four miles
distant, and there might be idle people
about, otherwise she was not fearful; girls
accustomed to country solitude are not SO
timid az their town sisters. Yet girl of
twenty, and very pretty girl, too, may
we'll hesitate to open the house door be-
tween ten and eleven o'clock ut night to a
possible ruffian. It was wild night, too,
with gale of wind blowing across the
moors-the sort of night burglars affect
As the girl paused, the knocking came
again. There was no mistake about il
this time. Then thought flashed across
her mind. SHOW silly Of me! Of course
it's poor Molly; she has forgotten bel
keys" and she Quilted the little parlor
and went out into the hall, lighted with
an oil lamp. She drew back the bolts
there was no chain-and opened the doo'
but recoiled q step, startled, even fright
ened-for tall slight man, wearing
low felt hat, stepped hastily across tht
threshold closing the door behind him
But even as he did this, he pulled of hi
hat, and Nina saw dark handsome face
and head covered with crisp black curls
.Forgive me-" he said, speaking quick
and low; the lntonation was refined; the
man, Nina could see now, was certainly
q gentleman-"I am flying for my life.'
"Flying for your life!" the girl repeat
ed, amazed. She felt no actual fear now,
her unexpected visitor was neither burg
lar nor mad man, and by his speech he
was Londoner. s,.sa
Eyes; the men at the Hinton mills are
on strike-they have fred the mills; they
broke into the house where I lodged
was one against a hundred-I had to fly
Some of them followed me, but, stay
are you alone9"
"Yes, no matter for that" The girls
brave spirit rose to the occasion. The
fugitive's looks, mien and manner carried
conviction; he was speaking truth; she
would shelter him. II will help you"
she went on rapidly. TELL me who you
area Why do the men hate you9"
lam Derck Werner, the new engineer.
have opposed the mems demands.
They want me to dismiss the foreman I'M
der me, and I refused. But ! cannot re-
main if you are alone. Impossible! II
"You must remain - the girl exclaimed,
springing past him to the door. "They
won't look for you here" She shot the
bolts. 'This way" she said, then point
ing to the open parlor door. He followed
her into the room. If close the shut
ters," she said, "they will see no light
they will think the house is shut up.
Are they coming this way9 How many
are there?"
"a dozen, at least. They are pretty
close on my track. Let mel" He stepped
before her and barred the shutters drew
the curtains across the windows, then
turned to Nina. She saw his face full
and clearly now in the bright lampli2ht
"a face full Of intelligence, with brilliant
dark eyes and the look that wins instinct
i've faith from women.
"Young lady," he said, quietly, "thank
you for trusting me. l won't fail you.
Tel me who you are-whose house is
this7"
II am Nina Medwyn. My father is the
curate of the church here. He is out Wis
iting sick man. l haven't any wine to
offer you, but have some spirit" She
began to open side board. Werner
touched her arm.
"No," he said, "nothing but glass Of
water"
"Ncnsense!-I beg your pardon-the
spirit will do you good" She poured
some into glass, added water to it and
gave it to the young engineer.
"You are too good, he said, and drank
obediently- As he set down the glas.
Nina started. SHARK !" she said, "do yor
hearG it was a shout! You must hide
they might come here after ALL"
Miss Medwyn-it is useless to hide
he took her hand in his, speaking firm
II. "If the men once entered the hous,
they would discover me, and could new
er suffer things to 60 that length.
would sooner be shot like dog. I viii
stay here; but if the men come and insis
On an entrance will give myself up"