Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-09-22
A CASE In EQUITY.
BY FRANCIS LYNOE.
Copyright 1885. sy J. e. li7Pineou Col
XVII.
IN y STRAIT BETv1Xr TWO.
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.

to find Thorndyke. He accepted his
own theory of kidnapping. and, after
learning from the hotel-keeper ut
Gienco that Philip had set out to rids
TO Allacoochee. and that the horse had
returned riderless the following dav.
he was confirmed in the belief that the
young attorney had been waylaid and
carried off TO some isolated cabin on
the plateau. Acting upon this conclu-
sion. be began a systematic search on
the mountains; and since his occupation
had made him familiar with every spur
and ravine within ten miles OF Allacoo-
chez. il would have been singular if he
had failed TO discover Thorndvke's
asylum. 1t was late in the afternoon OF
ne second day, however. when Philip
heard the welcome sound of approach
ing hoof-beats, and his satisfaction was
not iesscned when he found that the
rider was Protheroe. He laughed when
he hobbled to the door and saw the
engineer coming up with a Winchester
held at the ready.
You needn't be alarmed" ne called
out: II don; want to fight. and can't
run"
Protheroc was myStifcd. but the
handaged ankle was held up in evil
dencc Then you're not prisoner.
Rfter ail?'' he said.
"Oh, yes. | am-verv much 50. but
not by the i'll will of my good friends
here. All need is an ambulance, or the
loan of gentle horse"
I'VE were afraid you'd been kid
naped,' said Protheroe. and. seeing
Philips look of inquiry, hc added: I'm
IN the secret; Duncan has told me all
about it,"
But don't understand yet wrote
Duncan two days ago and sent the let
I ter in your care. Didn't he get it?"
sudden light broke in upon Pro
theroe. Two days ago? that was
Wednesday. How did YOU send ito"
BY messenger to YOU at Allacoo-
chez"
Duncan didn't get il. and | never
heard of it. 1t probably fell into the
hands OF the enemy. Sharpless went to
Duncan Wednesday afternoon with a
story about your having gone to New
York; and ever since. he's been turning
heaven and earth over to find Kilgrow. =
"unsuccessfully, I hopc?"
Up to Date, yes; and think there's
no chance for him. Duncan warned
the old man at once"
Good! then everything's all right
yet. BY Jovci old man. I've. been having
horrible time cooped up here when
there's so much AT stake and every dav
is precious"
Protheroe smiled. Il can imagine:
but YOU needn't worry. Allacoochcc
hasn't run away yet. and. so far as |
know, the company is still solvent AZ,
you ready TO 90 back TO Civilizations"
Indeed am, If youIl tell me how
TO do it."
Nothing easier; you can ride my
2 horse. and IN walk"
When Philip had taken leave OF hi,
entertainers, and had narrowly missed
aquarrel with the Bedouin i'm the effort
- make him take payment for his hos
p.tality. he was helped into the saddle.
Non want to go to Nllacoochcc.
suppose" Prothcroc said.
I'D rather go to Duncan's. If we can
get there"
Protheroe's heart misgavc him. bu;
he answered unhesitatingly: 1T can
bo done" and they were soon out of
sight of the cabin in the windings Of "a
trail leading diagonally across the
plateau.
For some miles they pushed on in
uch silence as the narrowncss of the
path made compulsory. but when the
trail broadened into . wood road. Pro-
theroe dropped back beside the horse
and they began to speak of the missing
letter. The talk reminded the engineer
that he still had Thorndyke's mail i'm
ms Pocket,and he passed il up and con
siderately went on ahead again while
Philip read the letters There was one
from Helen, and. yielding to something
like a suggestion Of moral cowardicc.
Ihillp left II until the last When he
opened IT.. he saw that IL had been writ
ten on the same day as that about tb,
marriage portion. and the first words
proved that il was an aftcr-thought.
\ u have just mailed one letter TO YOU
she wrote, and it was hardly out of Inv
hands before began TO be sorry tina.
had sent 1t. As ] remember il now. ~
was all about the money and ! ought 10
have known that YOU would do what
was just and righ; without any urging
from me What ] want 20 say now is
what ! should have said then: that
cannot endure this separation much
lOnger-that the love which have tried
so hard TO keep out Of mv letters for
fear I should make YOU come back 10
Nour hurt refuses 20 be hidden under
meaningless and commonplace phrases.
"Oh, Philip. If YOU love me. please
don't let this misfortune raise any bar
rier between us! You know what Aunt
Ecllam left me-you know that IL Is
mine in ms own right. and I cntrcat
YOU not 10 turn my gratitude into
misery by refusing TO share this money
with me. But YOU will not. know you
will not; and il we had nothing else. wa
should still have each other. and what
more could we ask"
TN some respects. know YOU
better than you know yourself. and I
know that II YOU can have your health
YOU viii yet win place among those
who have fought their way into the
foremost rank. BE good to me. Philip.
dear. and let me share the battle nnd
the triumph with YOU. Come back 10
MS IT YOU are well enough. and IN YOU are
not. please let me come to YOU"
Protheroe heard something between
q grodu and an imprccatiou. and hc