The Iola register., 1902-06-13
THE SPUR
OF FATE
BY Ashley TOwne
Copyright, 1901, by
Charles b. Etherington.

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Ills utterance was checked by his
interest In his companions conduct.
She seemed to be indulging in some
sort OF strange and violent exercise un-
n der her cloak.
n IF 1 could only be rid of this!" she
cried ut last between her clinched
teeth, and suddenly she thrust out her
right hand.
\ Darrell was amazed to perceive that
kthere was handcuff upon her wrist,
Krom which the other iron swung by q
lkhain.
You will think me criminal, sup
lpose," said she. "but''-
'iOn the contrary" said be, II per-
ceive you to be the victim OF a crime.
There was, then, some one In the car
riage with your
Yes"
"And you were being taken away
against your will?"
4 81 was"
'The matter grows clear" said Oar
rell. MAY ask what became of the
Rbductor, the man who was in the cab
with youY'
''He sprang out when you stopped
the horses" she replied. HE sup
posed-and so did THAT 1t was an
attempt at rescue by my friends"
"A Darrell was engaged in testing the
size of the handcuff with reference to
the very pretty hand which it restrain
ed. 1t was white hand, a warm
hand, altogether a most delightful
hand to hold in ones own in the light
of two bright brown eyes. Darrell
was obliged to squeeze it as he had
never squeezed woman's hand be-
fore. for surely 1t had never fallen to
his lot to find one in such an embar-
RAISING predicament.
"Your friends?" said he, pressing the
Il hand into the smallest possible com
pass and glanclng at the eyes to see
how much pain he was causing. 81
will take you to them"
NO" she replied; "I must not go
Hnear them. l cannot bring them into
peril. oh, really that hurts, my friend:
put don't stop, If there's a chance Of
freeing me. can bear t."
''Pullr' said Darrell, his face con-
forted as II it were he that bore the
pain. Gently, with caution. 1t is
mot to be SCARED, this hand so white.
Free, by jingor The last words IN
English, for ones native tongue is
best in moments of congratulation.
"Free, and no great harm done, thank
the Lordv'
"t>% speak no English or only a very
little" she said. But l understood
what you said. Yes, am free, thanks
20 you, as free as / am ever likely to
be. And my hand is not torn, though
my wrists are, but not by you"
She exhibited the evidences Of cruel
usage, and Darrelrs face blazed with
wrath.
'If / had known this he began
/ "But that is like boasting. We will
wait until l have found the men who
did it, Why was it done? l cannot
understand how any one could have
thought it necessary"
-Ihe man whom you encountered die
it." she replied 81 was captured in O
marrow and dark street as l was leav
ing the house of some friends of mine
The man who seized me thrust a gas
into my month, but one can always
make n little noise, so he put thesC
upon my wrists and twisted them tC
l torture me into silence as he led me tC
the carriage. The other, whom / founC
snside the vehicle, was much more mer
ciful. He did not torture me. Indeet
he removed the gag and silenced mi
only by putting his hand over ny
mouth Upon my word, think the fel
low was gentleman, more or less"
"Much less, l should say" replied
Darrell "And now what shall we do
We can't wait here, you know. Shall
get the cabT"
"One word" she said, laying he
hand upon his arm. What do yol
think of mer'
81 will tell you frankly" he replied
ain the first place let me say that an
quite sure | know the man whom
threw down from the box Of that car
riage. l did not Immediately recogniz
him, for l had no clear view of hi
face, yet unless am greatly mistaken
he was a Russian officer, one who hell
the title of captain, but had not the nj
of n military man; probably a secre
ngent of the government. Then thi
capture was in the nature of an arrest
one of those quiet affairs that are out
side the law of the land 1t follows
then. my friend, that you are a nihi
ist-"
'I swear to you that l am notr' sh
said, with impressive earnestness.
am a friend of liberty, but no friend O