Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-04


her.
The cIamor drowned his voice and she
disappeared in the darkness. He hurried
after her as far as the break in the fence
that opened into the fields beyond, but no
sight sound of her rewarded him. Miss
Elwell," he called hoarseIy, Miss Elwe'I!'
No reply and finally he retraced his steps
| slowly and continued on toward the town.
Soon the train carried him back to his
home on his return from the last visit he
ever made to DIR. Elwelrs house,
Out the fiat prairie the girl ran with
all speed. The office light was her guiding
beacon. There an intended victim of a
| drunken mob sat alone and unconscious of
danger, and she must save him.
The noise of the mems progress came
more family to her ears as she dverged
from their route Farther up the canal the
night shift was at work, and there there
was light in plenty, but everywhere else
was the gloom Of a wet night. Somewhere
near the boarding camp quartet of negro
voices and the tinkle of string instruments
pointed out the location of a happy, care
less crowd. Except for that and the sound
of working machinery coming softly from
the scene of the night shifts opera tons
and the mob's indistinct growl all was still
as death. Not seeing danger to herself
she did not realize its presence. But for
tunately, this being pay night, these places
of abode were untenanted just then and
she was not confronted with the danger
that their presence would cause.
The unwonted exertOn exhausted her and
she had to stop for breath. The memory of
cruel words spoken in a thOughtleSS mo-
ment REQUIRED to her again and again. and
caused a shifting of her conscience out of
all proportion to the enOrmity of the Of
Tense. And each time it urged her on to
renewed frantic endeavOr, that she might
not be too late to ask his forgiveness. Only
that she might have strength to take her
TO him In time so she could have an oppOr-
tunity to let him know she was sorry and
repentant and hear him say In reply that
he forgave-that was all she craved. If
she were too late? a suggestion of his pos
sible fate fioated over from the road a t a
louder spasm of snarling from the men,
and she cried aloud in an agony of despair.
The music sounded nearer. The buildings
| of the boarding camp doomed UP on one
hand. She would have to pass in close
proximity to them, and momentary spasm
| of fear for herself attacked her. With
beating heart she sped by, hearing the
| humble of voices close at hand The light
| from the bunk house windows revealed her
for an instant to couple of lounging work
ers, and one of them gave vent to a loud,
meaningless whoop. Her heart was in her
throat All became black, and she was
overcome with numbing weakness, and
stumbled and sank to the ground in limp
heap alongside of pile Of machinery. Her
ear caught the sound of maudlin laughter.
| The thought that they might follow and
| find her there gave her strength, and she
rose and ran blindly on, not knowing
| whether in the right direction or not
Imrie was alone In the office, standing be-
y,
| when there burst through the doorway a
| moist and rather bedraggled apparition In
| a macintosh. with limp tufts of brown
tresses all awry beneath the dripping hat
and a face flushed with exertion half hid
| den in the turned-up collar. He dropped
his work all the surprise 1t is possible to
| feel being expressed on his countenance
Miss ElwellI' he exclaimed, and went to
| her.
run, they're comingr' she gasped and
got no farther for lack of breath She
| caught at his arm, and he assisted her to a
| chair but she remained standing
mo, no. Run for your hfe" she said
| hurriedly; they are coming down here to
| wreck everything. and they mean harm to
| YOU
"Who?"
THE men. A whole mob of them and
| they are all-oh, all tipsy."
''Our men? Coming down here to wreck
| everything? Impossible"
"They are Listen" A low murmer bare
| ly audible, could be heard through the omen
windows mingled with the sounds from the
| working face of the canal cutting. That's
| them" she continued; they are all crazy
| mad about some grievance against YOU and
the company, Oh, Mr.. Imrie. hurry. They
| will soon be here.
"Our men?' repeated Imrie, not at all
comprehending. and added, How do you
| know this?"
| THAT little Cusack told me- and I ran
down here to tell you"
"Alone?' he asked in Amusement
Yes. hurry"
alone across the toughest half mile OF
country in the state of Illinois? You-you
did this for me-? he cried, ending in al
most a shout of exultation. and looking