The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-10-12

CHAPrER 1x.-fcosr1xuxn.,


even to the dullest, the forces Of imag-
tnation. And now as he dwelt on what
vas probably awaiting him at the end
Of his distressful drive-John, who saw
things little, remembered them less,
and could not have described them at
ell, beheld in his minds eye the gar
Zen of the Lodge. detailed as in map;
he went to and fro In it, feeding his
terrors; he saw the hollies, the snowy
borders, the paths where he had sought
Alan. the high, conventual walls, the
shut door-what! was the door shut?
Az, truly, he had shut it-shut in his
money, his escape, his future life-shut
It with these hands, and none could
now open 1t! He heard the snap of the
spring-lock like something bursting in
his brain, and sat as stunned.
And then he woke again, terror jar
ting through his vitals. This was no
time to be idle; The must be up and doing,
he must think Once at the end of this
ridiculous cruise; once at the Lodge
door, there should be nothing for it
but to turn the cab and trundle back
again. Why, then, go so far? why
odd another feature of suspicion to a
ease already so suggestive? Why not
turn at once? 1t was easy to say, turn,
but whittier? He had nowhere now to
60 to; he could neyer-he saw it in
letters of blood-he could never pay
tAat cab; he was saddled with that cab
forever. oh, that cab! his soul
yearned and burned, and his bowels
sounded to be rid of it. He forgot all
other cares. He must first quit himself
OF this ill-smelling vehicle and of the
human beast that guided it-frst do
that; do that, at least; do that at once.
And just then the cab suddenly
stopped, and there was his prosecutor
rapping on the front glass. John let
1t down, and beheld the port-wine
continuance inflamed with intellectual
triumph.
Il ken wha We are" cried the husky
voice. II mind We now. Ye're a Much
olson. I drove we to Hermiston to a
Christmas party, and We came back on
the box, and let We drive"
1t is fact John knew the man;
they had been even friends. His en-
envy he now remembered, was fellow
Of great good nature-endless good ma
ture-with boy; why not with a man?
Why not appeal to his better side? He
Erasped at the new hope.
Great Scott! and so you did," he
cried, as If in a transport of delight,
his voice sounding false in his own
ears. We'll, If that's so I've some
thing to say to you. I'll just get out
guess. Where are we, anyway"
The driver had ffuttered his ticket in
che eyes of the branch-toll keeper, and
they were now brought to on the high
est and most solitary part of the by
road. On the left, row of, fieldside
trees beshaded it; on the right it was
bordered by naked fallows, undulating
down hill to the Queensferry road; in
front, Corstorphine Hill raised it's
snow-bedabled, darkling woods against
the sky. John looked all about him,
drinking the clear air like wine; then
his eyes returned to the claimants face
Is he sat, not ungleefully, awaiting
Johns communication, with the air of
one looking to be tipped.
/ The features of that face were hard
to read, drink had so swollen them,
drink had so painted them, in tints
that varied from brick red to mulberry.
The small gray eyes blinked, the lips
moved, with greed; greed was the rul-
Ing passion; and though there was
some good nature, some genuine kind
illness, true human touch, in the old
topper, his greed was now so set afire by
hope. that all other traits of character
lay dormant. He sat there a monu-
ment of gluttonous desire.
Johns heart slowly fell. He had
opened his lips. but he stood there and
uttered nought. He sounded the we'll
Of his courage, and it was dry. He
CROPPED i'll his treasury of words, and it
was vacant. A devil of dumbness had
him by the throat; the devil of terror
babbled in his ears; and suddenly,
without word uttered, with no con-
kcious purpose formed in his will, John
Whipped about, tumbled over the road
tide wall, and began running for his
life across the fallows.
He had not gone far, he was not past
The midst Of the first field, when his
whole brain Numbered within him,
Fool! You have your watchw The
shock stopped him, and he faced once
more toward the cab. The driver was
leaning over the wall, brandishing his
whip. his face empurpled, roaring like
Q bull. And John saw Tor thought
Chat he had lost the chance. No watch
would pacify the mans resentment
Cow; he would cry for vengeance also
oohn would be had under the eye of
ehe police; his tale would be unfolded
DIS secret plumbed, his destiny would
close on him at last. and forever.
CHAPTER x.
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