The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-08-08
The Gentleman From Indiana
BY BOOTH T4RKINGroN
Copyright by Doubleday s Mcclure Co., 1899.
ChaDter IX.-COntinued d.

Chapter IX.-Continued.,
The same flash staggered brilliantly be-
fore Helens eyes as she crouched against
the back steps of the brick house, 1t SCARED
a picture like marine of big waves the
tossing tops Of the orchard trees; for in the
same second the fullfury of the storm was
loosed, wind and rain and hail. 1t drove her
against the kitchen door with cruel force;
the latch lifted, the door blew open violently
and she struggled to close it In vain. The
house seemed to rock. A lamp fickered
toward her from the inner doorway and was
blown out, m
'tHelen! Helen'' came Minnie's voice. anx-
iously. is that you? We were coming to
look for you. Did you get wet?"
Mr. Willetts threw his weight against the
door and managed to close it: Then Minnie
found her friends hand and led her through
the dark hall to the parlor where the judge
sat. placdly reading by student lamp.
Lge chuckled as they left the kitchen Il
guess you didn't try too hard to shut that
door, Harkless," he said, and then, when
they came into the lighted room, why,
where is Harkless?" he asked. Didn't ne
come with us from the kitchen?'
'No." answered Helen, family; hes
gone" She sank upon the sofa and drew
her hand across her eyes as If to shade them
from too sudden light.
''Gone!" The judge dropped his book and
stared across the table at the girl. Gone!
When?" 80
Ten minutes-ive-haf an hour-l don't
know. Before the storm commenced"
"Oh'' The old gentleman appeared to be
reassured.- Probably he had work to do and
wanted to get in before, the rain"
But Lige Willetts turning pale He
swallowed several times with difficulty.
(which way did he go? He didn't come
around the house; we were out there till
the storm broke
''He went by the orchard gate. When he
got to the road he turned that way" She
pointed to the west
HE must have been crazy'' exclaimed the
Judge. What possessed the fellow" .,
81 couldn't stop him. / didn't know how
She looked at her three companions, slowly
and with growing terror, from one face to an
other. Minnie's eyes were wide and she had
unconsciously grasped Lige's arm; the young
man was looking straight before him; the
Judge got up and walked nervously back and
forth Helen rose to her feet swiftly and
went toward the old man, her hands pressed
to her bosom.
"Ah." she cried out, sharply, II had for
gotten that! You don't think they-you
don't think he"
II know what I think" Lige broke in; Il
think I'd ought to be hanged for letting him
out of my sight. Maybe it's all right; maybe
he turned and Started right back for town
and got there. But l had no business to
leave him, and if l can I'll catch up with
him YETI He went to the front door. and,
opening it, let in "a tornado Of wind and
flood of water that beat him back; sheets
porch beyond.
Briscoe followed him. Don't be a fool
Lfge," he said You hardly expect to 60
out In that" Lige shook his head; it needed
them both to get the door closed
The young leaned against it and
passed his sleeve across his wet brow. 81
hadn't ought to have left him."
Don't scare the girls" whispered the
other then in a louder tone: "All I'm afrait
OF is that he'll get blown to pieces or catch
his death Of. cold. That's all there is tt
worry about. Those scalawags wouldn't try
1t again soon after last night I'm no
bothering about that; not at all. Tha
needn't worry anybody
but this morning"
"Pshaw! He's likely home and dry by this
time-all foolishness: don't be an old WON
an" .rhe two men re-entered the room anG
found delen clinging to Minne's hand on the
sofa She looked up at them quickly.
do you think-do you-what do you-'
Her voice shook that she could not g
The Judge pinched her cheek and patted it
"I think he's home and dry, but I think h
got wet first: that's what think. Never yo'
fear, hes good hand at taking care Of him
while.' Nor could he. 1t was long before h
could venture out; the storm ragged and roare
without abatement; it was Carlow's wors
since Fifty one, the old gentleman said. The
heard the great limbs crack and break out
side, while the thunder doomed and tn
wind ripped at the caves till it seemed tn
rooof must CO. Meanwhile the judge, afte
some apology. lit his pipe and told lon
stories of the storms of early days and of cd
freaks of the wind. He talked calmly
the picture Of repose, and blew rings abov
his head. but Helen saw that one of his bi
slippers beat an unceasing little tattoo on tn
carpet. She sat with fixed eyes, in silence
holding Mnnie's hand tightly; and her fac
was colorless, and grew whittier as the slo
hours dragged by.
Every moment Mr.. Willetts became MOI
restless, though assuring the ladies he ha
no anxiety regarding Mr.. Harkless; 1t WE
only his own dereliction of duty that he re
GREETED; the boys would have the laugh Q
him, he said But he visibly chafed mol
and more under the judges stories; and cor
stantly rose to peer out of the window In
the wrack and turmoil, uneasily shiftt
in his chair Once or twice he struck h
hands together with muttered ejaculation
At last there lull in the fury withou
and, as soon it perceptible, he d.
clared his intention Of making his way in
town; he had ought to have went before,