Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-11-30
XVII.
IN A STRAIT BETWIXT TWO.


young engineer from returning to the
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
returned riderless the following day.
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 a systematic search on
the mountain; and since his occupation
had made him familiar with every spur
and ravine within ten miles of Alacoo-
chez, it would have been singular if he
had failed to discover Thorndyke's
asylum. 1t 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 Winchester
held at the ready.
"You needn't be alarmed" he called
out; 81 don't want to fight, and can't
run
Protheroe was mystfed, but the
bandaged ankle was held up in evil
dence. ''Then you're not prisoner
after all?' he said.
ooh, yes, / anl--very much 50: but
not by the i'll will OF my good friends
here. All I need is an ambulance, or the
loan of a gentle horse"
1--WE 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,
"But don't understand yet. wrote
Duncan two days ago and sent the let
ter in your care. Didn't he get it?"
sudden light broke in upon Pro-
theroe. 1.-TWO days ago? that was
Wednesday. How did you send ito"
"By messenger to you at Allacoo-
Chez"
Duncan didn't get it, and I never
heard of it. 1t probably fell into the
hands of the enemy. Sharpless went to
Duncan Wednesday afternoon with q
story about your having gone to New
York; and ever since, he's been turning
heaven and earth over to find Kilgrow."
"Unsuccessfully, I hope@'
"Up to date, yes; and I 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
horrible time cooped up here when
there's so much at stake and every DAY
is precious"
Protheroe smiled. ct 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 civlization?'
Indeed I am, if you'll tell me how
to do it,
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
pitality, he was helped into the saddle.
you want to go to Allacoochee, I
suppose" Protheroe said.
L ), /
get there"
Protheroe's heart misgave him, but
he answered unhesitatingly: cit car
be done" and they were soon out OF
sight of the cabin in the windings of
trail leading diagonally across the
plateau.
For some miles they pushed on in
uch silence as the narrowness of the
path made compulsory, but when the
trail Droadened into wood road, Pro-
theroe dropped back beside the horse
and they began to speak of the missing
letter. The talk reminded the engineer
that he still had Thorndykes mail in
his pocket,and he passed it up and con
siderately went on ahead again while
Philip read the letters. There was one
from Helen, and, yielding to something
like a suggestion of moral cowardice,
Philip left it until the last When he
opened it, he saw that it had been writ
ten on the same day as that about the
marriage portion, and the first words
proved that t was an after-thought.
81 have just mailed one letter to YOU"
she wrote, land it was hardly ont OF my
hands before | began to be sorry that
had sent it. AS l remember it now. it
was all about the money and l ought to
have known that you would do what
was just and right without any urging
from me. What I want to say now is
what / should have said then; that /
cannot endure this separation much
longer-that the love which have tried
SO hard to keep out Of my letters for
fear I should make you come back to
your hurt refuses to be hidden under
meaningless and commonplace phrases.
COB. Philip, if you love me, please
don't let this misfortune raise any bar