The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-11-30

fathsr's room. 1t Is on the ground nooe,
the room on the left as you open the
back door. You could lock the door and
defy the other man.
"Now listen u lie. DEAR said Ora
den. You must walk ON very, very
slowly. Take all the time you can. At
the cliff top make several starts as II
you would jump, but feared. Mind that
you do not 60 too near the edge. And
SO in ten minutes come home. We will
meet you, and all will be well-at least
for your father" he added grimly.
II understand" she answered simply,
and walked on.
1t was wild rush that we made. We
found the spring. and turning to our
right. crashed into the thicket-for the
path" was a courtesy title. The hang
ing scrub br shed our faces, in the open
patches the dca1 gorse dug its spines into
our knees. We quickened cur pace in
the more open fr-wood, vaulted the four
foot wall of the little garden, and, pant
ing like exhausted hounds, ran furiously
upon the house. There was no time for
lodging and crawling. 1t was a forlorn
hope We led.
And DR.. Weston was alive.
He sat amongst his pillows, great
book upon his knees, gazing over his
spectacles with the most profound amaze
ment on his kindly old face at the two
disheveled strangers who burst in upon
him. Leaving me to guard and quiet
him-for, indeed, the shock might prove
most dangerous-Graden dashed out on
his errand of vengeance. Two minutes
later l heard him call, and, breaking
off the excuses that l was inventing, l
ran through the house to join him.
Miss Weston and he were standing be-
fore the porch-alone. She was leaning
on his arm, painting from great exertion.
Think of it, Robert" cried my cousin.
"Ie chased her-the villain followed and
chased herr"
How is my father?" she faltered.
"Is he-as this gentleman says-Quite
unharmed?"
''Quite safe, assure you" I answered.
Il must 60 to him."
Zone moment, Miss Weston" said my
cousin. I'VE have yet a. duty to the
public safety. Which way did this mar
run?'
She told her story quickly. After she
had left US and gained the cliff turf above
the glen, she glanced back. To her sur
prise. she caught a glimpse of him stand
ing amongst the trees on the opposite
slope. Her delay had aroused his sus-
piciOns, and he had followed her. She
walked slowly forward and, as We had
directed, moved uneasily about on the
verge Of the precipice. Presently she
again glanced over her shoulder. He had
now crossed the glen and was standing
in the open watching her. The dis
lance between them was about two hun
dred yards. She knew that we must
have nearly reached the cottage, and
that if he had not already attacked her
father, there was no further danger. So
she started to run along the coast. He
shouted and drew his revolver; but either
he thought the distance too great, or he
feared the noise o. the report, for he did
not fire. But her action evidently puz-
zled him, seeing that it left her father
completely at his mercy. He did not
pursue her far, but instead turned and
gazed intently at the cottage. On her
part, she also stopped running to watch
him. From where they stood the garden
was fully exposed. and at that moment
our forms appeared as we vaulted the
low wall. At which sight, Miss Weston
said, he gave a most horrible scream,
shaking his fist towards us and filling the
air with imprecations. Then, without
further noticing her, he set off towards
the town. For herself, she came back
as fast as she could run, meeting Graden
before the door. She added some useful
particulars as to his alias and his resi-
dence at the Inn.
Ito be continued.)