Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-17

PEDRO took his pipe out of his mouth
and stared at Guy wonderingly..
sit isn't possible, Mr.. Herbert" said
he.
'sWhy not? Quick, I'm in tearing
hurry"
They're not here, that's why. They
went out half an hour since"
"Where did they go?"
"Can't tell you"
Guy ran out through the rear of the
building. He was about to wheel
sharply into the main street when he
saw an excited throng making in that
direction, the Colonel at their head.
Facing about, he hurried along under
the shelter of a barn and some sheds,
thereby avoiding the crowd. which
was just entering the hotel as he came
out on the street again.
What could he do? He was per-
picked and had an uncomfortable feel
ing of helplessness. Suddenly he saw
Barney drive team and carriage out
of the barn. The vehicle was COW
cred surrey and Barney had shot
gun lying beside him on the front seat.
His face was set and determined.
He's loyal to Vlandingham," was
Guys mental comn,ent. "I'm glad of
that, for l can count on him to do his
utmost. But where are the ladies'?
What has become of them?"
4 AS he asked himself this question
he saw Barney draw his mettlesome
horses down to slower pace, swerve
sharply to the right and come to an
abrupt halt in front of the new court
house. There were no workmen en-
gagged on the building, the force en-
ployed there having been sent into the
country to assist in repairing some
roads. Raising his whip. Barney mo-
toned with it and Guy was quickly at
his side.
/ They're in there" said Barney,
nodding his head toward the court
house.
Guy stepped into the building. Miss
Pinkney, white as death, was leaning
against one of the unfinished walls.
AT sight of Guy an expression of hor-
TOR crossed her face. Miss Betty was
standing little distance away jotting
down something in a notebook. A
tape line was Topped over the gloved
fingers of her left hand.
"Told of us, did you?" she observed
icily, without looking up.
Guy went hot and cold in breath.
"Told of you?" he echoed.
"Yes," said Miss Betty, still writing.
"some of your worthy townspeople
are in pursuit of US. They came out
of store down the street and bolted
/ past, shouting all sorts of direful
threats against old Vlandingham' s
daughter l am almost sorry helped
you out of your dilemma last night,
Mr.. Herbert. But for my meddling
/ you would not have been here to be-
4 tray our identity" She closed the
notebook with curt little snap, laid
4 the pencil on its cover and wrapped
the tape line around and around. 81
do not care for myself particularly, as
4 l know your fellow citizens would not
dare to do anything very desperate
But Miss Pinkney is not made of such
stern stuff as l am. Itwas very unkind
and ungrateful of you, Mr.. Herbert
Guys face had become almost as
white as Miss Pinkney's.
4 do you think for moment" he
gasped, that l would do such das-
tardly thing?"
4 "Who else could have done it?" She
looked at him hopefully, asking with
her eyes as plainly as eyes could ask
anything that he lift himself from the
depth to which he had fallen in her
estimation.
She seemed to have no regard for
the peril of her position, appearing to
desire only an explanation and halt
fearing he could not give it.
4 "It was done by some one else," said
Guy, in desperate earnest. "Take my
word for it. An explanation would
consume too much time and endanger
your chances of escape. 1 have had
that carriage made ready for you
Please get into it at once without a
moments delay. AS soon as these men
find you are not at the hotel they will
go elsewhere to look for you"
"Who is the driver of the carriage?'
asked Miss Betty, able to see only one
side of the vehicle through the narrow
door.
Barney" said Guy; "a man whom
you can trust implicitly"
Lois" said Miss Beatty, 'get into
the carriage. / think we are mistaken
about Mr.. Herbert. Anyway, shall
stay here long enough to make sure
Miss Pinkney left hurriedly and Miss
Betty again turned to Guy.
sit is too bad that the high opinion.
we sometimes form of people on frs
acquaintance should be overthrown,
said she, "and I was very much dis
appointed when forced to the conclu
sion that you had told of our presence
here. Now tell me truly, Mr.. Her
bert, is not this little plan of your.
to get us to leave Concord without &C
comprising the work that brought u!
here?"
Great heavens, mol" cried Guy.
sit would have been very clever
plan," she went on demurely. ''Have
carriage ready, you know, tell the pop