The San Francisco call., 1905-03-26

Her revolver lay on the bookshelf
bne grasped it and tremblingly made
the rounds of the doors, locked them
and pulled down the shades.
From tina paddock came prolonged
nickef; the isol Sc wanted hay.
Ruth Armstrong, standing In the
kitchen. saw the pile of empty dishes
and the two words, thank you, and
her heart grew faint.
Again the horse called. In the attic,
the wood warped by the heat was cool
ing off. It creaked successfully, like
steps.
Ruth lighted a candle; the vague
thought came to her that dumb COM
panionship was better than none. She
would feed the horse and sleep in the
paddock.
In the sky, the youthful moon stin
hung. The mountain was black A
lonesome owl hooted in the timber and
the lights OF town looked distant as
stars. The girls throat was dry; ncr
heart beat in her ears. The barn door
swung out and she stepped inside Set
ting the candle or the feed box she
turned to the hay.
A man was stretched face downward
before her. Beside him was a gun and
a lunch boxi
Outwardly calm, with the calm born
of crisis, Ruth stared at him. The
words of the constable rang in her
ears. In that box must be "the best
stuff in Barnaby's jewelry store!" She
tried to move, but terror fettered her.
In his sleep, the man half-turI.sd.
murmuring a name. His face was to
the hay.
A rush of hysterical, incongruous
thoughts flooded the girl. He would
waken-there would be another free
exhibition" with the gun. This was
l. Lii l.
mother was away! She didn't want to
die-not yeti She was youngi
The breathing of the man became
regular; he snored little, his exhala-
tions coming in puffs. Tossing one
muscular arm behind him, it fell un-
consciously on the gun. and the fet-
ters binding Ruth broke.
She extinguished the glimmer from
the candle and fitted from the barn
The doors creaked as she r.cshed them
together; the paddock snapped into
place. A fit of trembling seized her;
she sank to the ground, grasping her
revolver in both hands.
Fog was threading its way up the
canyon; the black tops of the laurels
rose like islands from the mist. On
spur OF the mountain rang the
staccato challenge of coyote. 1t was
answered. Beyond the pack yelped
and snarled.
On the ground, weak of knee, but
iint-faced. Ruth sized up the situation
She had this man in custody. She
couldn't let him out; he would kill her.
She couldn't keep him in; he would
starvei
The horse. nickering in his paddock,
gave her an inspiration. She started
up, then sank slowly back, remember
Ing the bride and saddle were In the
barn. The fog swooped around the
sugar-loaf and the girl shivered. She
dared not go in the house: she dared
not stay outside, and a luminous streak
In the mist stood for town! There was
but one thing to do.
Along the road fog dripped from the
over-hanging brush. Trees stood out
in sudden evidence and faded, ghost
like into the gray. Ruth sped past
The pungent night breath of worm
wood and everlasting flower came up
to her. Tom had liked everlasting
flower. She slipped and caught her
self, half-crying, and a dislodged stone
spilled of the grade, bounding into
the rayine. This was to have been
their wedding-eve. If there was some
one 20 understandable knowl
Another bend In the road The lu-
minous streak of the town grew white
Between 1t and her stood man. Ruth
swerved, but hand arrested her.
Whats the matter?" he asked. The
tones were deep. kindly, sympathetic
A gun and lunchbox were thrust be-
hind him. but the girl did not see
And the man was big-like Toni
The hand closed over hers. 1t was
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