Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-10-17


49, sions. The air, weighted by
low hung roof of clouds, was sur
charged with the electric suspense
Of an impending storm, and seemed TO
sigh and tremble at the hint OF power
in leash. 1t was that pause before the
conflict wherein the night laid finger
upon its lips.
As the girl neared Glenfster's cabin
she was disappointed at seeing no light
there. She stumbled toward the door
only to utter half strangled cry as
two men stepped out Of the gloom aud
seized her roughly. Something cold
and hard was thrust violently against
her cheek, forcing her head back and
bruising her. She struggled aud cried
out
Hold on, it's woman.'' calculated
the man who had pinioned her arms,
loosing his hold till only a hand re-
manned on her shoulder The other
lowered the weapon he had jammed
to her face and peered closely.
"Why, Miss Chester he said.
what are you doing here? You came
near getting hurt
Il am bound for the Wilson's but
must have lost my way in the dark
ness. | think you have cut my face
She controlled her fright firmly
That's too bad one said. eve
mistook you for And the other
broke in sharply. You'd better run
along We're waiting for some one.
Helen fastened back By the route she
had come knowing that there was still
time, and that as yet her uncle's ennis
saries had not laid hands upon Glen
lister. She had overheard the judge
and Mcnamara plotting to drag the
town with force Of deputies. seizing
not only her two friends, but every
man suspected Of being yigiIante.
The victims were to be Jailed without
bond without reason, without justice,
while the mechanism of the court was
to be juggled in order to hold them
until fall If necessary. They had said
that the officers were already busy, so
haste was crying thing. She sped
down the dark streets toward the house
Of Cherry Malotte, but found no light
nor answer to her knock She was dis
seek next among the thousand spots
which might hide the man she wanted.
What chance had she against the posse
sweeping The town from end to end?
There was only one; he might be at
the Northern theater Even so, she
could not reach him. for she dared not
go there herself. She thought of Fred
ner Jap boy, but there was no time.
Wasted moments meant failure.
Roy had once told her that he never
gave up what he undertook. Very
well, she would show that even girl
no time for modesty or shrinking inde-
cision, so she pulled the veil more
closely about her face and took her
good name into her hands. She made
rapidly toward the lighted streets
which cast a skyward glare and from
arose the sound of carousal. Swiftly
she threaded the narrow alleys in
search of the theaters rear entrance,
for she dared not approach from the
front. In this way she came into a
part Of the camp which had lain hid
den from her until now and Of the ex-
istence of which she had never
dreamed
The vices of a city, however horrible.
are at least draped scantily by the
mantle of convention, but in a great
mining camp they stand naked and
without concealment. Here there were
rows upon rows of criblike houses clus-
tered over tortuous. i'll lighted lanes.
like blow flies swarming to an unclean
feast From within came the noise Of
ribaldry and debauch. Shriil laughter
mingled with coarse, maudlin songs,
till the clinging night reeked with
abominable reveIry. The girl saw
painted creatures of every nationality
leaning from windows or beckoning
from doorways, while drunken men
collided with her, barred her course,
challenged her, and again and again
she was forced to slip from their en-
braces. At last the high bulk OF the
ll1tctcI suuiA0l1E iOOAASSd 9 cAOAS 1A7 8
tance ahead. Painting and frightened,
she tried the door with weak hands, to
find it locked. From behind it rose the
blare of brass and the sound of sing
ing. She accosted man who approach
ed her through the narrow alley, but he
had eruised from the charted course in
search Of adventure and was not mind
ed to go in quest of doormen; rather,
he chose to sing chantey, to the bibu-
leus measures of which he invited her
to dance with him, so she slipped away
till he had teetered past. He was some
Iongshoreman IN that particular epoch
of his inebriety where life had no bur-
den save the dissipation Of wages.
Returning, she pounded on the door,
possessed Of the sense that the man
she sought was here, till at last it was
flung omen, framing the silhouette of