Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-10-24

stared at her without movement or
sign while the drama beneath went
on, then he drew back into his retreat
with the dazed look of one doubling
his senses, yet fearful Of putting them
to the test For her part, she saw
nothing except her brother vanishing
slowly into the shadows, as though
stricken at her glance, the curtains
closing before his livid face. and then
pandemonium broke loose at her feet
Glenister. holding his enemies at
bay, had retreated to the double doors
leading to the theater. His coup had
been executed so quickly and With
such lack of turmoil that the throng
outside knew nothing Of 1t till they
saw a man walk backward through
the door. AS he did so he reached
forth and slammed the wide wings
shut before his face, then turned and
dashed into the press Inside the
dance hall loud sounds arose as the
officers clattered down the stairs and
made after their quarry They tore
the barrier apart IN time to see, far
down the saloon, an eddying swirl as
though some great fish were lashing
through the lily pads of pond, and
then the swinging doors closed behind
Glenister
Helen made her way from the thea
ter as she had come. unobserved and
unobserving. but she walked IN
dream Emotions had chased each
other too closely tonight to be dfstin-
guishable, so she went mechanically
through the narrow alley to Front
street and thence to her home.
Glenister meanwhile had been swal-
lowed up by the darkness, the night
enfoldlng him without sign or trace.
As he ran he considered what course
to follow whether to carry the call to
his comrades In town or to make for
the creek and Dextry. The vigIlantes
might still distrust him. and yet he
owed them warning. McNamara's
men were moving so swiftly that ac-
ton must be speedy to forestall them.
Another hour and the net would be
closed, while 1t seemed that whichever
course be chose they would snare one
or the other either the friends who
remained in town or Dex and Slapjack
out in the hills. With daylight those
two would return and walk unheeding
Into the trap, while IL he bore the
word to them first then the yigiIantes
would be Jailed before dawn. AS he
drew near Cherry Malottes house he
saw light through the drawn cur
tains. A heavy raindrop FLASHED upon
his face, another followed, and then be
heard the patter of falling water In
creasing swiftly. Before he could gain
the door the storm had broken. It
swept up the street with tropical vio-
lence, while breath sighed out of the
and pelting him with flying particles.
Over the roofs the wind rushed with
the rising moan of hurricane, while
the night grew suddenly noisy ahead
of the tempest
He entered the door without knock
Ing to find the girl removing her coat.
Her face gIaddened at sight Of him,
but he checked her with quick and
cautious words, his speech almost
drowned by the roar outside
'.Are you alone?" She nodded, and
he slipped the bolt behind him. saying:
.sThe marshals are after ME. We
just had a run In at the Northern,
and I'm on the go. No-nothing seri-
GUS yet, but they want the vIgllantes.
and must get them word. VIII you
help mef" He rapidly recounted the
row of the last ten minutes, while she
nodded her quick understanding.
You're safe here for little while,"'
she told him, 'sfor the storm will check
them. II they should come, there's
a back door leading out from tho
kitchen and a side entrance yonder.-
In my room you'll find French win
dow. They can't corner you very
we'll"
"Slapjack and Dex are out at the
shafthouse you know : that quartz
claim on the mountain above the Mi
das." He hesitated. "WiH you lend
me your saddle horse? It's black
night, and | may kill him.
What about these men in town."
"I'll warn them first, then hit for the
hills"
she shook her head You can't do
1t. You can't get out there before day
light If you walt to rouse these peo-
pie. and Mcnamara has probably tele-
phoned the mines to send party up
to the quartz claim after Dex He
Knows where the old man Is as well as
you do. and they'll raid him before
dawn
I'm afraid so, but It's all i can of
fer. VIII you give me the horseT"
"No! He's only pony, and you'd
founder him in the tundra. The mud
Ia knee deep. I'll go myself
Good heavens. girl. In such night
Why. It's worth your lifel Listen to
I'll The creeks will be up and you'll
have to swim. No, can't let you
IT'LL zsft