The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-15
Or the p rmenter Millions
By ARTHUR.W. MARCFIMONT.
Author Of" By Right Sword, When Was Gar, Etc.

the gate was securely padlocked and
try as she would she could not climb
1t. "A moan Of anguish broke from her
lips. and then, CHANGING to glance back
along the lane. she saw that which
ing.
Merridew was again coming in search
Of her, and this time he was carrying
one of tho powerful lamps of the car
to aid the search
Fascinated by this new terror she
watched the rays OF the lamp as he
swept the light from side to side In
his systematic search. She realized
that now indeed she could not hope to
escape unless she could scale Athe gate
and rush away into the darkness be-
You'd the sweep of the ruthless light.
Spurrcd by this fear, she made last
desperate effort. and this time sue
ceeded in getting to the top. But
there her strength failed her, and she
fell headlong into the field.
Hope revived then. however, and call
ing up every ounce OF her remaining
strength, she managed to crawl to her
feet and stumble on.
Fortune was all against her. 1t was
n plowed field. and the ridges hampered
her every step. She heard Merridew
in the lane. and now and again caught
the flash Of the light he carried Just
before he reached the gate she threw
herself head1ong on the ground be-
still. covering and trembling.
He came to the gate, threw the light
over the field. and paused. He had not
seen her. Would he go on or enter
the field? The suspense narrowed her.
He turned and sent the light ahead of
him along the lane. as II in doubt.
And she clenched her hands until the
strain hurt her.
Then he passed on: and she watched
the light as he Went farther down the
lane. She waited until 1T had van
ished. and then rising, painfully and
slowly. shs rrept cautiously OH ACROSS
the field.
She was scarcely on her feet, how
ever, before the light flashed out again.
and she know that ahe was aeen.
He had outwitted her. Reckoning
that she would hide IL she was in the
field. he had gone on, and then. cover.
ing the light, had returned and lis
tened. In an instant he was over the
gate running toward her.
She cried out at the sight of Kim,
and began to run as fast as her weak
legs would allow. In last feeble
effort to ny. But she tripped over the
uneven ground and fell heavily, strik-
ing her head against the big cIoda.
The next moment he was bending
over her.
She was dazed by the fall; and he
picked her up and half led. half car
ried her back to the gate. the discov-
cry Of which had proved such cheat
Ing snare to her but few minutes
earlier.
This blocked their progress for a
moment. until. laying Olive down close
to 1t. Merridew hunted round by the
help of his lamp for a big stone, and
with this he smashed the paddock and
opened the gate.
Come" he said. somewhat sharply
1--WE have lost more than enough time
already over this foolishness," and.
putting his arm round her waist, he
drew her up and started back to the
car with as much haste as possible.
Her effort had so exhausted her that
she had no strength to resist. and when
they reached the car che was almost
glad to lean back restfully on the seat
among the warm rugs. He put her
on the front seat this time, so that
he could SEQ her from the place where
he was busy with the machinery.
Every now and then he would straight
en- his back and flash the lamp in her
direction, to make sure that she was
not repeating her attempt to escape.
She had no heart left for that at
present. She was beaten and bafiled,
utterly miserable and forlorn, and per-
fectly conscious that In her present
feeble condition she would have no
chance Of getting away.
Tho trouble with the car was not
serious one. and Merrldew had soon
repaired the mischief. Before they
started he came up to her side.
will you give mo your word not
to attempt any of this sort Of foolish
ness again." he asked.
She would not answer. He repeated
the question adding. 1T is perfectly
useless to think of It," She still kept
silent, and then he found a cord and
fastened her wrist to his own. In this
fashion they continued their journey.
He drove very fast. very reclSlessly.
indeed, and had there CHANGED to be
any other vehicle on the road itseemed
to Olive that there must have been a
terrible accident. She almost wished
1t, in fact. But his luck stood him in
stead, and hour after hour they rushed
on, not meeting any one, nor seeing
any one. nor, SO far as she could tell.
being seen by any one.
The GOODNESS of the air revived her.,
and as her senses regained their nor
NAL strength she began to yield to the
fascination OF the wild rush through
the night.
At first she could make out nothing
for the binding glare of the brilliant
headlights which threw forward their
beams like the, giant feelers of some
mammoth rushing beast. seeking It's
prey, to dash upon and destroy It.
Then, shielding her 'eyes from the
glare. Olive began to make out differ
ences in the blackness of the shadows
as they fled past. First, the long line
of the hedge rows; then trees and a
lonely cottage standing back, and IN
this way her eyes gradually grew ac-
Cushioned to the dark, and she could
distinguish various objects.
And all the time Merridew kept his
gaze fixed rig idly OIL the road ahead,
watching for avery turn and bend, and
driving with q skill that to Olive zap
peared almost uncanny and devilish.
Past fields and farms and woods they
sped, always at tho same rate of speed,
dashing occasionally through village
or some little town, always, as IT
seemed to her. in danger, and always
Just escaping 1t, until at length tho
darkness began to lift, the glare OF
the head lamps grew less dazzling, and
faint rosy tint showed on tho sky
line behind them,
They were running UP long hill,