Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-10-06
CHAPTER XvI.-Contipuedl !

therefore, on which she had asked no
counsel. She had been assured by Mr..
Lang that she had nothing to fear in
taking away her mother from this house
that she was acting strictly within her
legal rights. But how about this 'uues-
ton Of debt? Could they really detain
herr Outwardly, however, she showed
no symptom of this sudden doubt. She
said to the woman with perfect calm
ness:
Your impertinence will be Of little
use to you. My mother is going with
me. am her guardian; if you inter
fere with me it will be at your own peril.
IT my mother owes you anything it will
be paid"
How am 1 to know that? Here she
Is, and here she shall remain until ev-
erything is paid. We are not going to be
robbed in that way. III go and fetch
my husband-that will" And the next
second she had left the room and the
house, too-running out into the night
Oarehsaded.
Now, mother" said Yolande, quickly,
now Is our chancel Where are your
things? Oh, you must not think of pack
Ing anything; we will send for what you
want tomorrow. But do you really owe
these people anything?"
II don't know" said her mother, who
seemed to have been terrified by this
threat on the part Of the woman
"Well, then, where is your haiti
where Is your shawl? Where Is your
roomT
Almost mechanically she opened the
folding doors that formed one side Of the
apartment, disclosing beyond a bedroom.
Yolande preceded her; picked up the
things she wanted, and helped her to put
them on.
Come, now, mother; we will get away
before they come back. Oh, you need
not be afraid. Everything Is arranged
for you. There is a cab waiting for US
outside"
who is in it?' said the mother, draw
Ing back with gesture of fear.
why, no one at ALI" said Yolande,
cheerfully. "But my maid Is Just out
side, in the passage. Come along, moth
err'
wait moment, then"
She went back into the bedrooms, and
almost instantly reappeared-glancing at
Yolande with a quick, furtive look that
the girl did not understand. She under
stood after.
She took her mother by the hand and
led her as if she were a child. In the
lobby they encountered Jane; and Jane
was angry.
Another minute, miss, and 1 would
have turned her out by the shoulders"
she said, savagely.
''Oh, 1t Is all right" said Yolande,
briskly. Everything is quite right! Open
the door, Jane, there's a good girl"
They had got out from the house, and
were indeed crossing the pavement, when
the landlady again made her appear
ance, coming hurriedly up in the company
of a man who looked like butler out
of employment and who was obviously
drunk. He began to hector and bully.
He interposed himself between them and
the cab.
"You amt going away like this! You
amt going to rob poor people like this!
You come back into the house until we
settle this affair"
ANOW Ouly aim Wuo w So
clear of the man and to get her mother
put into the cab; but he stood in front
of her, whichever way she made the at
tempt; and at last he put his hand on
her arm to force her back to the house.
1t was an unfortunate thing for him that
he did so. There was a sudden crash;
the man reeled back, staggered, and then
fell like a log on to the pavement; and
Yolande, bewildered by the instantane-
Gus nature of the whole occurrence, only
knew that something like black shadow
had gone swiftly by. All this appeared
to have happened in a moment; and in
that same moment here was policeman
In plain clothes, whom she knew by
sight.
what a shame to strike the poor
man" said he, to the landlady, who was
on her knees, shrieking by the side OF
her husband. "But he amt much hurt,
mum. I'll help him indoors, mum. I'm
a constable, I am; wish l knew who
done that; I'd have the law agin him.
AS he uttered these words Of consola-
tion he regarded the PROSTATE man with
perfect equanimity; and glance over his
shoulder informed him that, IN the con-
fusion, Yolande and her mother and the
maid had got into the cab and driven
off. Then he proceeded to raise the
stupefed ex-butler, who certainly had
received "facer"; but who presently
came to himself as near as the fumes of
rum would allow. Nay, he helped, or
rather steadied, the man into the house;
and assured the excited landlady that the
law would find out who had committed
this outrage; but he refused the offer Of
a glass of something, on the plea that
he was on duty. Then he took down the
number of the house In his notebook and
left. As he walked along the street he
was suddenly accosted by the tall, broad
shouldered young man who had disap.
peared into the narrow entry.
"Why weren't you up in timer said
the latter, angrily.
"You was 80 quick!