The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-04
IcoKTINUED.l

He took down his Winchester, oiled
and cleaned it, then buckled on a belt
Of cartridges Still he wrestled with
himself He felt that he was being
ground between his loyalty to the vigi
lantes and his own conscience. The
girl was one OF the gang, he reasoned
she had schemed with them TO betray
him through his love. and she was
pledged to the one man in the world
whom he hated with fanatical fury.
Why should he think of her In this
hour? Six months back he would have
looked with Jealous eyes upon the right
to lead the yigilantes, but this change
that had mastered him-what was it?
Not cowardice, nor caution No. Yet.
being intangible, it was none the less
marked as his friends had shown him
an hour since.
He slipped out into the night. The
mob might do as it pleased elsewhere
but no man should enter her house He
found a light shining from her parlor
window, and, noting the shade up a
few inches, stole close. Peering
through, he discovered Struve and
Helen talking He skunk back into
the shadows and remained hidden for
considerable time after the lawyer
left, for the dancers were returning
from the hotel and passed close by.
When the last group had chartered
away down the street, he turned to the
front Of the house. and mounting the
steps, knocked sharply. As Helen ap-
peared at the door, he stepped inside
and closed it after him.
The girls hair lay upon her neck and
shoulders in tumbled brown masses,
while her breast heaved unanimously
at the sudden, grim sight of him.
She stepped back against the wall. her
wondrous, deep gray eyes wide and
troubled, the blush of modesty strug-
Cling with the pallor of dismay
The picture panied him like knife
thrust This girl was his bitterest
enemy-no hope of her was for him.
He forgot for a moment that she was
false and plotting. then, recalling it,
spoke as roughly as he might and stat
ed his errand. Then the old man had
appeared on the stairs above, speech
less with fright at what he overheard.
1t was evident that his nerves, SO sore
ly strained by the events of the past
week, were now snapped utterly. a
human soul naked and panic stricken
is no pleasant sight, so Glenister drop
ped his eyes and addressed the girl
again:
Don't take anything with you. Just
dress and come with me-"
The creature on the stairs above
stammered and suffered inquiringly:
What outrage is this, Mr.. Clients
ter?"
''The people of Nome are up in arms,
and I've come to save you. Don't stop
to argue" He spoke impatiently.
rs this some r-ruse to get me into
your power"
Uncle Arthur exclaimed the girl
sharply. Her eyes met Glenister's
and begged him to take no ofTense.
II don't understand this atrocity.
They must be madr' walled the judge.
You run over to the Jail, Mr.. Glen
lister, and tell Voorhees, to hurry
guards here to protect me. Helen,
phone to the military post and give
the alarm. Tell them the soldiers must
come at once"
Hold on said Glenister. There's
no use of doing that-the wires are
cut: and won't notify Voorhees-he
can take care of himself. I came to
help you, and If you want to escape
you'll stop talking and hurry up"
81 don't know what 10 do - said Still
man, torn by terror and indecision
You wouldn't hurt an old man, would
you? Wait III be down in a min
ute"
He scrambled up the stairs, tripping
on his robe, seemingly forgetting his
niece till she called up to him sharply:
stop, Uncle Arthur You mustn't
run away" She stood erect and deter
mined You wouldn't do that. would
you? This is our house You repre-
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