Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-27

out in slumber No pretense whatever had
teen made to supplying the upper part Of
a dummy, for from the doorway no one
could have seen beyond the waist of a per-
son lying on the bed.
Ameli:'S resolution to leave her uncles
house was not in the least shaken by either
his violence in fcrbdding her to go or by
his villainous stimulation of tenderness in
perSuading her to wait until he could go
with her Her bewilderment. due in part to
His ferocity and the shock of his assault,
had measurably dimirshe when she reach
ed the head of the stairs. She had then gone
to her room, taken the most necessary
ticles from her travelling bag and wrapped
them in small parcel. Having arranged
the dummy as the professor found 1t, she
went up to the top floor and out by the door
that opened on the ledge
She did not dare to proceed thence to the
road, for that would have brought her in
view Of the house. and she knew that her
uncle would see and pursue her. So she
plunged directly into the woods that termin-
ated at the Fairview property, intending to
make a detour and come out upon the road
or some road, by which she could reach the
Belmont railway station unobserved.
Once within the forest and for the time
at least, safe from pursuit, the inevitable
reaction set in. Her mind became seriously
dazed. and what with her exhaustion from
the nervuos shock she had undergone and
her entire unfamiliarity with making her
way through forest, she lost her bearings
ard after three hours of wandering, she sank
q
place she had started from. Amelia had
described almost complete circle, as is
generally the case with persons who are
lost in snow storm, or as she was In a
place where she could not identify points
of compass or landmark Inconsistencies
speedily followed her collapse. and when the
professor discovered her absence she was
lying but a short distance away at his mercy
could he but know where to go.
For a moment the professor was dunn
founded. He did not need to be told how she
had made her escape, and he cursed himself
roundly for not thinking of it earlier. 1t
troubled him that second case of disap-
pearance from his house should have to be
reported There was no escape from It,
however, and every moment spent in re-
hectons or regrets was dangerous to his
already unenviaDle standing in the commun-
ity. So he hurried down stairs and said
with well feigned emotion:
Amelia, poor GIRL has wandered away"
DR.. Williams felt a heavy weight at his
heart. Was 1t because he suspected the
professor of another black crime? The
ladies exclaimed Historically. the professor
looked confused and helpless, and the doc
tor promptly took the initiative.
Her nerves have been badly shaken" he
said. When, where and how did she CO.
professor"
'out by the ledge door," he replied. Il
don't know how long. What are you going
to do?''
Find her, Conner
He seized the professor by the arm and
the ledge door.
She may not have gone far" he cried in
fever of anxiety. for her vitality was ex-
hausted We may find her at once"
I'm afraid not" replied the professor
holding back, but the doctor dragged him
on. He would not for his life have let Prof
Drummond out of his sight or clutches
1t was more than dusk, but without STOP
pin to get lanterns the doctor led the pro-
fessor irto the forest 1t needed not in
stinct to take him straight to where Amelia
lay, for she was in the course that would
naturally be taken by anybody who left the
hol Sc to walk in the wood.
II told you," cried the doctor, dropping
on his knees beside the unconscious girl;
"she lives! There is hope for her, but she
must be taken to shelter quickly. Help me,
professor
The doctor had started to lift Amelia
Not to my house." said Prof Drum
rnond harshly, "she left it willingly. Let
her die here"
DR.. Williams stood up. There was light
enough to see the brutal determination on
the professors face. The doctor felt as IL
the spirit of murder was in his own heart
ct that moment. Stepping across Amelia
he grasped the professor by the collar with
one hand, thrust the other into a pocket
and drew forth the brass switch. Hold
ing and shaking 1t close to the professor 8
eyes, he said:
Don't tell me, Prof. Drummond, that
| this girl shall not find comfort and protec.
| ton in your house?
(To be continued tomorrow.)