The Florence daily tribune., 1898-05-26


van rolled out into tho half deserted
street
Now como with me, cried Wal
worth, 'and SEQ If the carriage is MT tho
other door"
We went inside. passed through the
house and ont TO the front. Yes. Tho
peculiar shaped hospital car, with the
door opening at the end to admit tho
stretoher, was already pacing up and
down.
Then suddenly 1 heard the roll Of
wheels They came closer and closer.
Then they stopped. the gates were thrown
open, and a second or two later the van
rolled into the yard Before | could
have counted ten the guard wos down
from his perch, the gates We're closed
again, the door of tho van was opened
and Allie ran down the steps. Then.
forgetting those about us, rushed out
and took her in my arms. But Wal
worth would have no delay.
Come inside quickly" he said.
There is not u second to losel They
may be after us alreadyW
We followed him into the house, aud
then for the first time saw that A lie
had dressed herself in the van for the
part she had to play, Throwing herself
down upon the stretcher, she pulled tho
ooverlet across her, donned wig with
corkscIew ourls, drew yeil over her
face and announced herself ready. Janet
picked up her retioule, smelling salts,
thawls, fans, etc. the maid brought an
trmful of rugs; / took one end of tho
stretcher, Wnlworth the other, and so
We went down the steps to the carriage.
Then the invalid was hoisted in, janet
and | stepped in and seated ourselves
beside her, Walworth sprang ON TO tho
box beside the coaohmnn and sway we
went for Waterloo as fast as our spirited
horse could trot.
Not word vas spoken all tho way,
and ia less than ten minutes we had
ratified up the cfpseway and were dis.
smbarlSing our preoious lcHd upon tho
platform. AS the purters came crowding
around us, | thought this fitting op.
portunity for assuming tho rolo had
elected to play. So, calling upon two OF
them to take up Mrs Wakeman and
be very careful not to shake her, i led
=
been specially reserved for as, Wal
worth, in his capacity of family servant,
had mounted guard at the door, aad,
when we were inside, went off TO his
own ourriage, u minute later tho guard
waved his nag, the whistle sounded aud
the train steamed slowly out OF the sta
tion So far we were safe. But, oh,
what an awful risk we bud runi
Fortunately the train by which we
were travelling was Az express and did
not stop anywhere rntil it reached East
loigh; so that as soon AS we were under
way Allie could yemove her wig and
bedclothes and sit upright.
allie, !" / whispered, taking her hand
and looking into her beautiful eyes.
'ican you believe that so far you are
safe?'
Hardly" she said. "But we must
not relax any Of our precautions. By
this time tho police will have learned
the truth, and shouldn't bo at all sur
prised if the train is searched at East
leigh. They re certain 10 telegraph in
every direction TO stop us. F"
But surely they won't suspect us?"
HSPS NV, b4t We iu"se .-oe ias'ho
too sure. Here she crossed the carriage
and took my sisters hand. "Janet,
what could George have been thinking
of TO allew yon to rnn this risk? Why
did you do it?n
In reply Janet patted her hand and
looked affectionately into her face.
II you really want to know the rea-
son. 1t was because we both love you"
You are too good to me- Allie an
swered, her dear eyes swimming with
tears. "far too good.
Hush You must not say that. Let us
be thankful that our venture has pros
pered as it has done. ~
TO be continued