Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-11-14

the men eager, yet fearful, the bar
tender with a half polished glass
poised high Then a quick movement
across the hall suddenly diverted her
absorbed attention. She saw man
rip aside the drapery of the box OPP
posite and lean so far out that he
seemed in peril of falling. He under
took to sight Il weapon at Glenister,
who was Just passing from his view.
At her first glance Helen gaspcd. her
heart gave one fierce lunge, and she
cried out.
The distance across the pit was so
short that she saw his every line and
lineamcnt clearly; IL was the brother
she had sought these years and years.
Before she knew or could check 1t the
blood call lcaped forth
"Druryw she cried aloud, at which
he whipped his heud about, while
nmazement and some other emotion
she could not gauge spread slowly over
HIS features. For n long moment he
stared at her without movement or
sign while the drama beneath went
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 ut her glance, the curtains
closing before his hvid face. and then
pandcmonium broke loose at her feet
~. Il L
bay. had rctroAted to the double doors
LEADING to the thcatcr. His coup had
been executed 50 quickly and with
such lack Of turmoil that the throng
outside knew nothing OF it till they
saw man walk backward through
forth ana slammed the wide wings
shut before hts face then turned and
dashed INTO the press. Inside the
dance 5al loud sounds arose as the
officers clattered down the stairs ana
made after their quarry. They tore
the barrier apart in time to see, far
down the saloon. an eldyinC swirl rs
though some great fish were laShing
through the lily pads of pond. and
then the swinging doors closed behind
GleniSter.
Helen made her - from the thea
ter rs she had come unobserved and
uno0scrving, but she walked in
dream. Emotions had chased each
other too closely tonight to he distiu-
guishable, so she went mechanically
through the narrow alley to Front
street and thence to her home.
Glenister meanwhile had been sval-
lowed mp by the darkness, the night
EMBEDDING him without sign or trace.
AS he ran he considered what course
to follow whether TO carry the call 10
his comrades in town or to make for
the creek and Dextry. The vigilantcs
might still distrust him, and yet he
owed them warning. McNamAra's
men were moving 50 swiftly that ac-
ton must he speedy to forestall them.
Another hour and the net would he
closed. while Il seemed that whichever
course he chose they would snare one
or the other-either the friends who
remained in town or Dex aud Slapiack
out in the hills. With daylight those
two would return and walk unhecdinC
into the trap. while if he bore the
word to them first then the vgilantes
would be Jailed before dawn AS he
drew near Cherry Malottes house he
saw light through the drawn cur
tainS. A heavy ralndrop FLASHED upon
his face, another followed, and then he
heard the patter of falling water in
creasing swiftly. Before be could gain
the door the storm had broken. 1t
swept up the street with tropical vio-
lence, while a breath sighed out OF the
night, lifting the litter from underfoot
and pelting him with flying particles.
Over the roofs the wind rushed with
the rising moan Of a 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 gladdened at sight OF him,
but he checked her with quick and
cautious words, his speech almost
drowned by the roar outside
Are you alonc?" She nodded. and
he slipped the bolt behind him. saying:
THE m8rshuls are after ne. We
just had run in at the Northern,
and I'm on the go No-nothng >erf-
Gus vet. but they want the vigilantcs.
and | must get them word. VIII you
help me-" He rapidly recountcl the
row Of the last ten minutes. while she
nodded her quick understanding
you're safe here for little Whio."
she told him, go" the storm will clorl
them. IF thcy should come, there's
a back door leading ont from the
kitchen and side entrance yonder
In my room you'll find French win.
dow. They can't corner you very
we'll"
"Slapjack and Dcx are ont at the
shafthouse - you know -- that quartz
Claim on the mountain above the Nj
das." He hpSitatcd "Will YOU lcrd
me your saddle horse? It's bl4cl,
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
It. You can't get ont there before day
light if you wait to rouse these poo
pie, and Mcnamara has probably tcle-
phpmcd the mines to send a party M
to the quartz claim after Dex. He
knows where the Old man is as we'll az
you do, and they'll raid him before
dawn"