New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
embarrassment

Yes"
How many knots in it,"
.One?" she repeated eagerly Put Your hand
in there and hand me the string. No tricks, now!'
Hatch complied with certain deprecatory man
winch he intended should convey to her the nm
precision that there would Toe tricks. As She took
the string her fingers brushed against his. They
were smooth and delicate. He knew that even IN
the dark.
And what did he say" she went on.
Having gone this far without falling into any
thing, the reporter was willing TO plunge-ielt that
he had to, as a matter of fact.
Il He said yes" he murmureI without shifting
his ewes from the revolver.
Yes" the woman repeated again eagerly.
Are YOU sure"
Yes" said the reporter again. The thought
flashed through his mind tnat ne was tanghng
up somebody's affairs sadly-he didn't know whose
ANYHOW, 1t was matter OF no consequence to mn
as long as that revolver stared at him that way.
Where is it, asked the woman.
Then the earth slipped out from under HIM. Il
don't know" he replied weakly.
Didn't he give it TO YOU:
"Oh, no He-he wouldn't trust me with it
oh. hen fix it all right" Hatch assured her
soothingly. Il think he said something about TO-
morrow night
Where"
Here
Thank Godr' the woman gasped suddenly. Her
tone betrayed deep emotion; but 1t WASH 50 deep
that She lowered the revolver.
There a long pause Hatch was hgurlng pos
sibilitieS. How to get possession OF the revolver
seemed the imminent problem. His hands were
still in the air and there was nothing 70 indicate
that they not To remain there indefinitely. The
finally broke the silence.
Are YOU armed:
Oh no.
"Truthfully?"
"Truthfully-
You may lower Your hands she said if
satisfied, then 90 ahead OF me straight across
the field TO the road. Turn TO Your lett there
Don't look back under any circumstance | shall
be behind YOU with this revolver pointing at Your
head. If YOU attempt 10 escape or make any outcry
/ shall shoot. Do YOU believe me-
The reporter considered 1t for moment. I'm
firmly convinced of it he SAID at last,
They stumbled the road, and there Hatch
turned as directed. Walking along in the shadows
with the tread of small feet behind him he first
templated a dash for liberty; but that would mean
giving up the adventure, whatever II lie had no
fear for his personal safety long as he obeyed
orders and he intended to do that implicitly And
besides The Thinking Machine had his slender
finger in the pie somewhere. Hatch knew that, and
knowing 1t was a source of deep qualification.
lust he taking things at face value,
hoping that with their arrival at whatever place
they bound for he would be further enlightened.
Once he thought he heard the woman SObbIng,
and started TO look back Then he remembered her
warning. and thought better of 1t. Had he looked
back he would have seen her stumbling along weep
ing. with the revolver dangling Imply at her side
At last a mile farther on. they began 10
arrive somewhere. y house sat back some distance
from the road
Go in there commanded his captor.
He turned in at the gate, and FIVE minutes later
stood in comfortably furnished room the ground
floor OF a small house y dim light burning.
The woman turned it up. Then almost dehantly
she threw aside her veil and hat and stood before
him. Hatch gaSped. She was pretty bewildernglv
pretty-and young and graceful and all that Young
woman should be Her cheeks flushed
You know me, | SUPPOSE" she exclaimed.
"Oh YES, certainly" Hatch assured her
And saying that, he knew he had never seen her
before.
Il suppose YOU thought it perfectly horrid of
me TO keep YOU with Your hands up like that all