The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-17


Duncan was hurt and had sent for her.
81 will keep you scarcely minute.
she said.
1t hardly needed longer for her to put
on a hat and gloves, and without leav.
ing any message with servant she
flew down stairs and hurried to the cab.
will you allow me to accompany
you?" said the stranger ~ may be of
some use.
Mabel thankfully accepted the offer,
and together they drove off.
1t was long drive, and the cab
seemed to have more than its share Of
the troubles Of four wheelers. Buses
blocked the way, pedestrians hampered
its pace, drays threatened to overturn
It, and policemen checked it in its mad
career, yet its driver, steadfast, if not
as silent as the sphinx, held on grimly
for the final goal.
At Hyde park corner they turned
down Constitution hill, and then on
the Mall to Charing Cross, and SO to
the embankment. So far Mabel knew
the route we'll enough, but when upper
Thames street, with it's discordant jum-
BILE of traffic, was reached, she sank
back in utter WEAKNESS. She seemed to
be in dream-a waking nightmare of
unreality. George a prisoner, sup
posed murderer, Duncan hurt, perhaps
dying, or even dead, and she helpless
woman, torn by conflicting emotions of
hope and despair From the outside
were borne in upon her the shouts of
touts and cadgers, the believing of
draymen. the ceaseless grind Of Wheels
the endless rumble of traffic. She closed
her eyes. Her sight she could. at any
rate, control. if nothing more.
At last they stopped. Her companion
got out hurriedly, paid the driver, and
then asked her to descend. 1t was
horrible, dirty street in dirty and hor-
rible locality, and Mabel shrank invol-
UNFAIRLY as she looked round.
Her companion OWNED her thoughts
'sVery sorry, Miss Fenton, to bring
you here. We took him to the likeliest
house. Drayman volunteered to take
him to his home-case urgent-dare
not carry te hospital"
The girl .sproached herself for the
feelings of revulsion that had arisen
unbidden within her.
eyes, understand. Is this the
house?' For her conductor had stopped
before one dirtier and even more neg.
lected than it's neighbors.
Yes, this is the one, think-No.
l5." He threw open the door and stood
there for her to enter.
An instructive suspicion seized hold
of her Had she done wisely in coming,
unaccompanied, to the place? At any
rate she should have left word at home.
Who was the man? Suppose it were not
true; Yet why should she doubt? Dun
can was hurt. He had sent for her, and
she had come.
The door swayed to behind her. and
it's clash reverberated through her
frame.
"This way, madam said her guide,
and in the very tone of the man she de.
tected treaohery
"Can l see the woman Of the house?"
che asked unsteadily
"Why, certainly, said her compan-
ion, and bis voice made her tremble
Why, certainly-certa
A slatternly woman made her appear
ance at the end of the passage.
Sally, there's visitor come to see
you. Madam, this is Sally; Sally. this
is madam from the west end
Mabel crouched back in an agony of
terror. Where was she? Who were these
dreadful people? But, still. might not
Duncan be there?
"Where is Captain Brett?" said she
to the woman. us he yet conscious?"
The woman sniggered.
.'Capt'n, miss! There's a Salvation
capt'n as lives next door, but 1 'ardly
thinks you'd take kindly to i'm. He
amt washin man, amt Billy-least-
ways, not in summer time.
The coarseness of the woman came as
knell on Mabel's ears, yet she dare
not give up hope She turned to her
conductor.
"You came with message, sir, from
Captain Brett Will you take me to
him?'
afraid he's not here, madam. Sud
den recovery up his bed and
walked, said the man, with hideous
chuckle in enjoyment of the girls dis
tress.
''Then am to understand, sir you
have deliberately brought me here un-
der false pretense?"
''That's about the size of it, miss. I"
The terror that now filled her gave
her strength to make one bid for free
dom. She turned rapidly, rushed past
the man and dashed to the door. He,
fingers were already on the latch before
his rough hand was laid on her shout.
der. Her despair gave her unnatural
strength, and she struggled to achieve
her purpose with the power of fren-
zied woman. The man was unable tc
hold her and loudly called for the as.
sistance Of his female accomplice, who
aided him with fiendish glee.
| "Stop that yellin!' said she, plac.
ing her filthy paw over Mabel's mouth.
"Now, then. Rich, tie her hands, if you
amt man enough to hold 'em. All,
/ cnrca u m, ~