Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-09-08
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CHE Dap Star or the !
0rknep's.
A ROmance..-By Hannah B. Mckenzie.
OHAPTER IX.--lContinued. J

hlho pluuIl Hub DtoH CWllllb lol
you, Mr.. Montelth, and has Just gone,
Now what pity you were not back
ten minutes ago, and you would not
have missed herl" said the worthy Mr.,
Nicholson. But she left q note for
YOU, sr Here 1t TO-"
Montelth took the dainty envelope,
from which q subtle perfume of sweet
viol6ts arose, and glanced at the ad-
dress, He was too astonlshed to speak.
Ho took It into his room-a regular
bachelors room, with pipes strewn
about the mantleplece, and his bicycle,
which had been mended since his &C.
cldent, standing against tho wall.
There he tore open the note, Dear
Evan" ran the bold, dashing writing
of Lilith Stuart, ~ am so sorry to md
you are out, l must see you again, II
only for q minute, Do not be unmerci-
full; grant mo this that ask Of you.
Meet me at the Rowan Crag at two
o'clock exactly, / shall be there.
Yours, Lilith. P, ST. shall depend
on YOU"
What could II mean?
Had Lillth repented? He could hard
ly think 30, knowing of her what he
did II not, what more could she have
to say to him on the subject? It was
impossible to conjecture. The note
puzzled Evan.
But must 60. shall give her that
last chance" he thought. II shall
meet her at two, as she asks. There
Will DO time after that for me to run
round to Abbot's Head"
It was half-past one when he started
from the Cow Hotel. The path from
the town towards the seashore road
was steep and stony Evan walked his
machine down It, as he usually did,
Once on the seashore road, he mounted
and rode as quickly as the hilllness Of
the path would permit.
His machine was q high-grade one,
with Dunlop tires and high geared, so
that he had to put a good deal of pres
sure on the pedals In ascending the
hill, He was near the top, and the
path was very stony, when suddenly
his fore wheel came in contact with q
large stone he had not noticed.
The wheel went over, but the next
instant there was sound as of some
thing cracking beneath him; then the
whole frame seemed thrown violently
over, and before Evan could help him
self he was shot over the handlebars,
and landed on his back q little dis
lance away from the machine. Luck
lily he was not much hurt, and in few
seconds was able to pick himself up
and look at his machine. To his
amazement, the front fork had snapped
at the point where 1t was drilled for
the axle, the framework had lurched,
the axle springing from the socket,
and the wheel had "buckled."
II am an unfortunate beggar," NUT
tered Monteith to himself. "This Is the
second time I've come to grief In these
islands Of nightless summer Well,
there's nothing for 1t but to leave the
machine here and hurry on to keep
my appointment. l can trust the ma
tlves not to touch It," He had
scratched his hand severely and twis-
ted his arm; but these were trifllng In
jurles to what he might have eXpe-
rlenced. And as Evan hurried on, he
thanked God for what seemed almost a
escape.
III 1t had happened near Rowan
Crag, God only knows where l might
be now!" he thought to himself, shud-
derlng little as he hurried UPWARDS.
II he had understood better the ter
rible nature Of the danger he had es-
capped his thanks would have been
deeper than they were.
II am going along by the cliffs this
afternoon, Miss Troll. You will tell
Lady Westray So"
ION your machine, Miss Stuart?"
Elspeth Troll asked, looking up quick
y.
Eyes; on my machine. Why not?"
~ do not know that It Is quite SAFE"
Olspeth said, turning away again to
Iook out of the window. Nicholson
ias not mended that broken fence yet"
Lillth laughed little.
"You think / am afraid? 1t takes
more than a broken fence to Brighten
ne, Miss Troll"
She passed out Of the room, and Els
oeth looked after her uneaslly.
II do not know why should feel
10 about this sudden resolve OF hers"
Ihe said to herself at last, rising and
Walking uneaslly about the room. II
EEL as if-as II some terrible catas-
rophe were hanging over us all, and
I she had o hand in 1t. Surely am
my imagination to run away
With me? And yet"
She paused by the work-basket
which stood in corner Of the room.
\ book had been hastily thrown into
t. Half mechanically Elspeth picked
up 1t was entitled Cycling; Com
non Accidents, and How to Avert |
Them"
The book fell open at a leaf which
I'D been folded down. The section
vas headed, Fork and Axle; How |
they Break, and How to Repair" Els