The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-04-05
CHAPTER XIV.
A Double Danger.

III We hoW ~ NlchScyS mousse Ill
company with our Commercial man.
ard poor Emncline's doubling and
half-crazcd lover.
On foot and ut his sharpest walk,
sometimes breaking into u run, pro-
cecdel harrington, with Doctor For
roster. who kept pace with him step
for step, constantly by his side.
Edwin. more than ever mystlfietl,
had several times commenced to que.s.
ton his conductor as to whittier he
was being led, but the only reply he
could obtain from Noel was:
Have patience, mailman. and watt"
witch was very impatiently and AZ
most savagely uttered.
And good reason indeed had Barring
ton to he angry, considering the rough
treatment he had received from the
almost demented doctor.
But that was not now the cause Of
NOal's ire; he was thinking painfully
of the alarm aud the distress Enme-
line would be enduring at what she
would perhaps believe his sudden de-
sertion of her at the moment she had
most needed his assistance.
And he shuddered as he asked him
self:
Had Jarvis remained with the poor
girl to be her protector against the
drunken Nicksey, or had she been left
defenceless and at that rutttan's
mcrcy:"
And the delay forced upon him
might have destroyed all hope Of OBJ
taining possession Of those absolutely
nac .ssary letters; and rs this idea
flashed Oh his mind he glanced toward
Forester with q sternly threatening
look.
1t added not little to Noel's vexa-
ton that, so impatient as he was to
arrive near Emmeline, not single
vehicle did he encounter on his way.
But at last. ana when scarcely more
than dozen doors from N!cksey's
house. they came suddenly upon a
hackney coach standing at the corner
Of the street.
Burlington at once knew the car:
riase, and Forrester's attention having
been called to it, he recognized 1t, too.
No driver was on the box. A door
of the coach was open. and. looking in,
they saw Jonas Jarvis huldled in q
corner and fast asleep.
Quickly he was aroused and piled
by Noel with eager questions concern.
Ing Emmeline, respecting whom, as we
know, Jonas had very little to tell.
Darlington learned. however. that
very long time had passed since the
young girl had promised soon to re-
join Jarvis and that he had neither
seen her nor heard anything of her.
IN great uneasiness of mind our com.
mercial traveller hurried forward to
Nicksey's house, still accompanied by
Forester, whose doubts Of Emmeline's
purity and truth had for the time
merged into vague terror ON her &C.
count, which had been inspired by
Noel's words and manner.
Darlington knocked sharply ut the
door, and we already know how those
blows had affected the man, who but
that very moment had driven his steel
deep into Nicksey's breast.
No one answered to his first sum.
mons, and Darlington knocked again
and more loudly, and shouted forth his
name as an assurance to th0se whom
lie believed to be within, that 1t was
no enemy who was striving to gain nd.
mittancc.
1t Was now past midnight and the
neighborhOod was deserted; not sin.
gle person appeared ut any one of tho
windows Of the adjoining houses
rioting and hainmering Mt doors was
not unusual In that locality.
As no one answered to Barrington's
second appeal he then threw himself
against the door, which few open with
Il very slight crash. the old and worn
lock Offering but little resistance.
Having made their way to the door
CT the front room I'M stairs, the two
men found that also fastened against
them. and. as before. no answer to
their knockings.
Ana that door. too. was In an in
slant forced open. and they dashed for.
ward into total darkness.
Not even spark was in the crate,
FOR the fire had died entirely out.
The stood and listened. Not sound;
all dark and silent us the grave around
them. :.
'Iimmeline was dis.
tinct,y called BY both the men.