The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-06-30


scent in the road and We're rushing
along at breakneck speed into Cypress
i've shadows that bore the first i'm
prints of night Realizing at last that
| her cries were falling upon puipoSely
deaf ears. Beverly Calhoun sank back
into the seat. weak and terror stricken.
1t was plain to her that the horses were
not running away. for the man had
been flashing them furiously. There
was but one concluSion-he WAS deliD-
erately taking her farther into the
mountain businesses, his purpose
/ known only TO himself. A hundred ter
rors presented themselves TO her as
she lay huddlcd against the side of the
coach. her eyes closed tightly. her ten
der body tossed furiously about with
/ the sway of the vehicle. There was the
| fundamental fear that she would be
dashed to death down the side of the
mountain. but apart from this her
quick brain was evolving all sorts OF
possible endings-none short OF abso-
lutte disaster.
Even as she prayed that something
might intervene TO check the mad rush
and to deliver her from the horrors of
the moment the raucOuS voice of the
driver was heard calling to his horses,
and the pace became slower. The aw-
full rocking and the jolting grew less
severe, the clatter resolved itself into
/ broken rumble. and then the coach
stopped with Il mighty lurch.
/ Dragging herself from the corner,
! poor Beverly Calhoun, no longer a dis
dainful heroine. gaZed piteously out
! into the shadows. expecting the muir
! derous blade of the driver to meet her
as she did So Pauloff had swung from
/ the box of the coach and was peering
! first into the woodland below and then
! upon the rocks to the left He wore the
expression of man trapped and seek
ing means of escape. Suddenly he dart
ed behind the coach. almost brushing
against Beverly's hat as he passed the
window. She opened her lips to call
him. but even as she did so he took
to his heels and raced back over the
road they had travelled so precipitously.
! Overcome by surprise and diSmay,
she only could watch the flight in ST
lence. Less than hundred feet from
/ where the coach was standing he turn
Ell to the right and was lost among the
rocks. Ahead, four horses. covered
with sweat. We're painting and heavin.
as If in great distress after their mad
run. Aunt Fanny was still moaning
and praying by turns in the bottom of
the carriage Darkness was settling
down upon the pass. and objects hun
dred yards away We're swallowed by
/ the gloom. There was no sound save
| the blowing OF the tired animals and
! the moaning of the old negreSS Bever-
ly realized with a sinking heart that
they were alone and helpless in the
mountains. with night upon them.
| She never knew where the strength
and courage came from but she forced
open the stubborn coach door and
scrambled to the ground looking fran
I tically in all directions for single
sign of hope. In the most deSpairng
terror she had ever experienced she
started toward the lead horses, hoping
men had remained faithful
\ man stepped quietly from the inner
side of the road and advanced with the
uncertain tread of one who is overcome
by amaZement. He was Il stranger
and wore an odd unc0utl garb. The
( failing light told her that he was not
one of her late protectors. She shrank
1, ca, :
to fly to the protecting arms of hopeless
Aunt Fanny if her uncertain legs could
carry her. At the same instant another
ragged stranger. then two, three, four
or five. appeared as if by magic some
near her. others approaching from the
shadows
"Who-vho in heavens name are
yOut' she faltered. The sound of her
own voice in measure restored the
courage that had been paralyZed. Tn
consciously this slim sprig of southern
valor threw back her shoulders and
lifted her chin. If they were brigands
they should not find her Il cringing
coward. After all she was Il Calhoun.
The man she had first observed stop
ped near the horses heads and peered
intently at her from beneath a broad
and rakish hat, He was tall and APP
peared to be more respectfully clad
than his fellows. although there was
not one who looked as though he pos
seSsed Il complete outfit of wearing APP
parel
Poor wayfarers, may it please your
highness," replied the tall vagabond.
bowling low. TO her surprise, he spoke