The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-05-10

"You say the only hope for George
is new scene and new surround
ings?"
YES" she whispered.
Come back here, sister," the profit
gate called. 81 need you. Don't you
hear me? 1 need you" And the
maudlin voice trailed off in a dis
cordant song.
Martin Henley put out his hand.
'Goodby, Martin
And he was gone.
If he could have looked back into
the hallway he would have seen the
girl leaning against the wall and Sob
bling as if her heart would break.
Quite unconscious of this, however,
he strobe along, a new and strange
idea dulling the pain of the departure.
The idea still held possession of his
mind when he entered the telegraph
office and penned his dispatch accept
ing the Egyptian offer.
When tea time came the next day
and George did not return, Margery
Selby felt little anxiety. He was an
idler and came and went as he chose.
When the small sums of money she
allowed him were spent he usually
wandered home Ordinarily he had
enough sense to seek his home before
he was too stupefied to find it.
When he did not return at IL
o'clock the girl began to worry lit
tle Going to the front windows she
peered out into the street. A boy was
coming through the gateway. The
lamplight shone on the brass badge on
his cap. Margery hurried to the door
and trembling read the telegram that
was handed her.
This was the message it brought:
Have kidnapped George. Am try
ing the only hope. Don't worry.
Martin Henley.
The telegraph fiuttered from her
hands. Then she stopped and picked
it up 1t came from New York.
At o'clock the next day Margery
received another message.
"Just boarding a Mediterranean
steamer. Everything hopeful
Margery drew a long breath of re-
lief. Somehow these messages inspir-
ed her with a dawning belief that
Georges regeneration might be brought
about. But was it possible? Could
anything short of miracle reclaim
this human wreck? She shuddered as
she recalled the awful struggle when
they had tried to keep the liquor
from him. And yet somehow she felt
thrill of confidence in the clear
headed splendid fellow who had taken
this burden on his broad shoulders.
He was doing it for her sake. And he
had done it after she had virtually re-
pulsed his love.
The days wore away and It was al
most a month later before Margery
received the first letter. 1t was dated
at Gibraltar.
1--WE have been buffeted about by
storms" Martin wrote. land both of
us have suffered somewhat in conse-
quence. 1t is too early yet to talk
about results, but have not lost hope
in the success of the experiment. No
doubt you are wondering how con-
trived to kidnap George, but it wasn't
very difficult. l lured him away at
time when he scarcely realized where
he was going. And when he awoke he
was in New York. 1t was harder
matter to get him aboard the steamer,
but l finally succeeded, l am sorry to
say that he does not appreciate the
efforts l have made in his behalf. In
fact, he regards me as his bitterest en-
envy. Perhaps this feeling will wear
away. You may rest assured that
it will make no difference in my feel
ing toward him. And whether he likes
my company. or not he will have to en-
dure it. l will write again when we
reach Alexandria. Have courage and
believe that am doing ali that can be
done"
Margery cried over this letter. 1t
seemed to her as if she detected an
undertone of hopelessness running
through 1t. She could only family
imagine the events of that long voy-
age But she knew that Martin would
persevere to the very utmost.
The letter from Alexandria was a
long time coming. She opened it with
a feeling of dread.
George has been ILL.," Martin wrote;
$50 i'll that did not have the heart
to write you until he was better. But
he is so much improved that in few
days l hope we can start up the Nile.
There was one very gratifying fea-
+ure of his illness-all his old animOS-
ity disappeared. He seemed to want
me near him all the time, and when
the horrors that beset him were at
their worst he would cry out for me
and beg me to protect him, and even
the touch Of my hand seemed to soothe