The Irish standard., 1897-02-20
XVII.
IN A STRAIT BETWIxT TWO.


For two whole days, shame kept tho
young engineer from returning to tho
farmhouse on the Little Chiwassee, but
the urging of the same wholesome
emotion made him tireless in his efforts
to find Thorndyke. He accepted his
own theory of kidnapping, and, after
learning from the hotel-keeper at
Glenco that Philip had set out to ride
to Allacoochee, and that the horse had
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 systematic search on
the noun tain; and since his occupation
had made him familiar with every spur
and rayine within ten miles of AllacOO-
chez, it would have been singular il he
had failed to discover Thorndyke's
asylum. It was late in the afternoon of
the second day, however, when Philip
heard the welcome sound of approach
ing hoof-beats, and his satisfaction was
not lessened 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.
s'You needn't be alarmed" he called
out; II don't want to fight, and cant
rum
Protheroe was mystifed, but the
bandaged ankle was held up in evil
dence. "Then you're not a prisoner,
after all?" he said. .-..
ooh, yes, am-very much So; but
not by the ill will of my good friends
here. All need is an ambulance, Or the
loan of a gentle horse" g '''~ ''5>5' -
eve were afraid you'd been kid
naped," said Protheroe, and, seeing
Philips look of inquiry, he added: TIN
in the secret; Duncan has told me all
about it, ....:. .ss.-,+:..., :. .
"But don't understood yet. wrote
Duncan two days ago and sent the let
ter in your care, Didn't he get ?"
sudden light broke in upon Pro-
theroe. 1.-TWO days ago? that was
Wednesday. How did you send 1t
by messenger to- you at. Allacoo-
Chez"
Duncan didn't get it, and I never
heard of it. 1t proba bly, fell into the
hands of the enemy. Sharpless went to
Duncan Wednesday afternoon with
story about your having gone to New
York; and ever since, he's been turning.
heaven and earth over to find Ki]grow."
"Unsuccessfully, I hope?"
Cup 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 Jove! old man, I've been having
a horrible time cooped up here when
there's so much at stake and every day
is precious" re' -
Protheroe smiled. II can. imagine;
but you needn't worry. Allacoochee
hasn't run away yet, and, SO far as
know, the company is still solvent. Are
you ready to go back to civilization"
Indeed I am, if you'll tell me how
to do it" -: 80 5'.' @'e,'-f,
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
to make him take payment for his hos
p:tality, he was helped into the saddle.
-"You want to 60 to Allacoochee, I
suppose" Protheroe said.
'I'd rather go to Duncan's, if we can
get there" = s~e~%:.
Protheroe's heart misgave him, but
he answered unhesitatingly: 1T can
be done," and they we're 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
UGH silence as the narrowness OF the
path made compulsory. but when the
trail broadened into wood road. Pro.