The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-01-13
CHAPTER XII.

the sex this is predica
n mcnt" muttered the pa
troon's jackal as the cOacl
in which he found himself sped rap
idly along the highway. Here am
as much an abductor as my lord who
whipped his lady from England to the
coloniesw gloomily regarding motion
less figure on the seat opposite and
a face like ivory against the dark
cushions. Course the story. Telling
IT led to this. How white she is-like
driven snOw-almost as If
And Scroggs whose countenance lost
a shade of its natural flush, going from
flame color TO salmon hue, bent with
sudden apprehension over a small hand
which hung from the seat.
"No: it's only a swoon," he contin-
ued, relieved. feeling her wrist with his
knobby fingers. How she struggled
If it hadn't been for smothering her
with the cloak-but the jobs done, and
that's the end of it."
Settling back in his seat, he watched
her discontentedly, alternately protest
ing against the adventure and consol-
ing himself weakly with the remem-
brance of the retainer, weighing the
risks and the PATRONS ability to gloss
over the matter, now finding the for
mer unduly obtrusive, again comfort
ed with the assurance of the power
pre-empted by the land barons. More
over, the task was half accomplished,
md 4 u a. 10 10 do.
why couldn't the PATRON have re
manned content with his bother" he
grumbled. But his mind must needs
run to this frivolous and irrational pro-
ceeding! There's something reasonable
in pilfering purse, but carrying off a
woman Yet she's a handsome bag
gage"
Over the half recumbent figure swept
his glance, pausing as he surveyed her
face, across which flowed a tress Of
hair loosened in the struggle. Save for
the unusual pallor of her cheek she
might have been sleeping. but as he
watched her the lashes slowly lifted,
and he sullenly nerved himself for
the encounter. At the aspect of those
beadlike eyes, resolute although i'll at
ease, like a snake striving to charm
an adversary, tremOr of half recollec-
ton shone in her gaze and the color
flooded her face. Mechanically sweep
ing back the struggling lock of hair,
she raised herself without removing
her eyes. He who had expected a
tempest of tears shifted uneasily, even
irritably, from that steady stare until,
finding the silence intolerable, he burst
out:
"Well. ma'am, am | a bugbear?"
In her daZed condition she probably
did not hear his words, or if she did
set no meaning TO them. Her glance.
however, strayed to the narrow win
dow and then wandered back to the
well worn interior of the coach. Sud
denly, as the startling realization Of
her position came TO her. she uttered Il
loud cry, sprang toward the door and
with nervous fingers, strOve to open it.
The man placed OBTAINING hand on
her shoulder and roughly thrust her
toward the seat
make the best Of It," he exclaimed
peremptorily. I'm not to be trided
with"
"Who are you?" she demanded
breathleSSly.
"That'S an discriminating question,
ma'am." he replied.
perhaps you will tell me the mean
ing Of this outrage your smothering
me-forcing me into this coach-and
driving away-where"
You asked where we were driving?
Across the country. What is the mean
ing of this-outrage. | believe YOU call
cd it, All actions spring from two
so1rccs-Cupid and cupidity. The rest
OF the riddle you'n have to guess"
"Eut you have told me nothing" she
replied.
"DO you call that nothing? You
have the approximate cause - causa
cauWns. Was it cupid? No for, like
Bacon. your scX's fantasticar charms
move mo not
This sally put him i'm better temper
with himself. She was helpless, and
lc experienced churlish satisfaction
in Ecr condition.
As Inc watched her out of the corner
OF his eye, weighing doubt and uncer-
tGinty, new ideas assailed him. After
all she had spirit. courage! Moreover.
she was an actress. and the PATRON
was madly in love with her.
"Itll come out all right, madam; all
right for both of us" Which indeed
was his thought She believed him I'M
settled, bereft Of reason. and. although
re was manfestly growing less hos
Tie, his surveillance became almost
anbearable. At every moment she felt
him regarding her like lynx and en-
deavorcd therefore TO keep perfectly
still. What would her strange warder
90 next? 1t was not an alarming act,
however He consulted a massive
watch. remarliing:
IT'S lunch time and over With
your permission, III take a bite and a
drop. VIII you Join me?"
She turned her head away. and, not
disconnected by her curt refusal, he
drew a wicker box from bereath n