Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-02-12
CHAPTER XVII.

Scarcely had the sound Of the closing
door and the stiffness that followed
convinced Mason that he was alone
with Gwyn when he felt her fingers
about his neck and face. In another
moment the cloth which had been
thrown round his head was drawn of,
and he was able to see.
He found himself still in the sick
room at a few PAGES from the armchair
in which he had been sleeping. But
the corresponding chair on the oppo-
site side Of the fireplace where the old
woman had been accustomed to sit
was now empty.
At first he could not see Gwyn, for
she had got behind his head. which she
had placed upon her knees, while her
fingers were busy untying the towel
with which he had been gagged.
Her fingers were so strong. she
worked with such hearty good will,
that in very few moments his head
was quite free. and he was able to
speak.
All the use he made Of this privilege,
however. was to utter THANK you
once or twice in weak. faint voice.
She bent down over him. gazing into
his face with anxiety and distress.
which touched his heart. Then. seeing
him able to speak to her. she uttered
two words, "rhank God" and without
an instant's delay set herself to unite
the cords with which he had been skill
fully bound. Her hands. which were
large and strong and deil. fulfilled
their task in an incredibly short time.
untying knots and liberating each limb
in turn with steady dexterity, which
left no time for hysterical outburst or
even for kindly word.
Once. however. she glanced from her
work to his face. and the half shy. half
bold look in her passionate eyes carried
secret of hers swiftly into his mind.
And again. when she bent her head to
unfasten one of the knots with her
strong, white teeth. while her long,
loosened black hair flowed over his
arms and breast. he felt her warm lips
trembling as they touched his hand,
and the knowledge the action gave
him thrilled him through and through.
AT last he was free. and with low
cry of satisfaction she sprang back and
stood up, offering him one hand to help
him to rise
But he found himself for the moment
l. 81, nf
the cords which had so lately bound
him that he had some difficulty In get
ting on his feet When he succeeded,
the girl gave him one glance Of pas
sionate thankfulness and pride ana
10y. Clasping her hands tightly. but
win look which was still shy and
modest, she whispered: I'm so glad, so
thankful. You are safe. quite safe.
now"
And then. having ascertained that
he was indeed. as she said. safe for
the time at least. the remembrance
that she was in her nightdress. that
her feet were bare. that her hair was
hanging In disorder about her shoul-
ders, came suddenly to her mind. Cast
ing down her eyes hastily and biting
her lip. she seized one Of the shawls
which her grandmother had left In her
chair. and, drawing II quickly round
her so that It wrapped her from neck
to foot, yet still with the modest af-
fectation of being only cold. not shy.
she seated herself in the empty chair
by the fire. and with an assumption d
acting mechanically and from no mere
self consciousness she put her hands
I'm to her head and hastily twisted her
long hair into a thick coil, which she
tucked into the shawl at the back OF
her neck.
In the meantime she tried to speak
in a matter Of fact tone.
"You must think. doctor. that you
are In a den of thieves. murderers"
said she. "But I am going to show
YOU that you are mistaken"
Mason made no reply. After the
experience he had just gone through
how could he give her even conven'
tional assurance that he had no such
thoughts as she suggested?
"You do think SO, don't your she
asked, her voice breaking a little on
this second question.
When at last he found his voice, II
was very subdued, very earnest
II know" said he gently. thai am