The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-04-02
XVII.


| In A STRAIT 6ETWlXT TWO.
For two whole days, shame kept the
young engineer from returning to tic
farmhouse on the Little Chiwassee, bu
the urging Of the same WHOLESOME
emotion made him tireless in MS effort
to find Thorndyke. He accepted his
own theory of kidnapping, and, after
learning from the hotcl-keeper at
Glenco that Philip had set out to ride
to Allacoochee, and that the horse hal
returned ridcrless the following day,
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, he began systemai;c search O.
the mountain; ano since he cccr~atif..-
had made him familiar with cy4.v @y.-.g
and ravine within ten miles of Lilac.
chce, it would have been singular Il y
had failed to discover ThornGyA-s
asylum. 1t was late in the aftcrno,n If
the second day, however, when IL ,,p
heard the welcome sound of Approve
ing hoof-beats, and his satisfaction yya1
not lessened when he found that I
rider was Protheroe. He laughed W
he hobbled to the door and saw l..
engineer coming up with Wincheste.
held at the ready.
"You needn't be alarmed" he called
out; II don't want to fight, and can't
rum
Protheroe was mystifed, but the
1andaged ankle was held up in ev;-
-'encc. 'Then you're not a prisoner,
after allie" he said.
"Oh, yes, am-very much so; 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
raped," said Protheroe, and, seeing
Philips look Of inquiry, he added: 'I'nl
n the secret; Duncan has told me al
about it,
"But I don't understand yet. wrote
Duncan two days ago and sent the let
Ter in your care. Didn't he get it?"
4 sudden light broke in upon Pro-
, fheroe. 'Two days ago? that vaa
= adnesday. How did you send ie::'
BY messenger to you at Al,ccoo-
Chez"
Duncan didn't get it, and I never
| beard Of it. 1t probably fell into tie
lands of the enemy. Sharpless went to
Duncan Wednesday afternoon with
story about your having gone to New
OK; and ever since, he's been turriug
heaven and earth over to find Kilgrow."
"Unsuccessfully, I hope?"
Up to date, yes; and I think there's
10 chance for him. Duncan warned
lie old man at once''
Good! then everything's all right
yet. By Jove! old man, I've been havinc
o horrible time cooped up here when
there's so much at stake and every day
is precious"
Protheroe smiled. 81 can imagine;
but you needn't worry. Allacoochee
Iasn't run away yet, and, so far as 7
now. tnc company is still solvent. Are
ecu ready to so back to civilizat;on?"
Indeed l am, if you'll tell me how
. DO it,
Nothing easier; you can ride my
horse, and I'll walk"
When Philip had taken leave of his
entertainers. and had narrowly missed
quarrel with the Bedouin in the effort
20 make him take payment for his hos
p-ta.ity, he was helped into the saddle.
You want to go to Allacoochee, 1
suppose" Protheroe said.
I'D rather go to Duncan's, if we can
get there"
Protheroe's heart misgave him, but
ne answered unhesitatingly: sIt can
be done" and they were soon out Of
'ght OF the cabin in the windings Of
trail leading diagonally across the
plateau.
For some miles they pushed on in
rch silence as the narrowness of the
path made compulsory, but when the
trail broadened into wood road. Pro
no BE CONTINUED