The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-06-08
BY wILKIE L

fresh horses were on the point of start
ing, for I was afraid to let Alicia see
my face. after making that fatal dis
covery. She noticed how pale. l was
when l got in. 1 made the best excuse
l could; and gently insisted on her try
ing to sleep a little after being awake
all night. She lay back in her corner;
and Mrs. Baggs, comforted with a
morning dram in her tea, fell asleep
again. I had thus an hours leisure be-
fore me to think what / should do next.
Why not boldly say that I was going
with the two ladies to Edinburgh?
Such was the plan of action which I
now adopted.
On reaching the town at which the
coach stopped, we found ourselves
obliged to hire another chaise for a
short distance, in order to get to the
starting point of a second coach. Again
we took inside places, and again, at
the first stage, when I got down to look
at the outside passengers, there was
the countryman with the green shade
over his eye. Whatever conveyance
We Travelled by on our northward road,
We never escaped him. He never at
tempted to speak to me, never seemed
to notice me, and never lost sight of me.
On and on we went, over roads that
seemed interminable, and still the
dreadful sword of Justice hung always,
by its single hair, over my head
AT last we got out of England, and
1 was still a free man. The chaise Eve
were posting AGAIN. brought US into a.
dirty town. and drew up at the door
Of a shabby Inn. A shock-1eaded girl
received U.s., ,,n
Are we in Scotland?" I asked.
mon, wharf else should We be-" The
accent relieved me of all doubt.
"a private room-something to eat,
ready in an hours ~time--chaise after
ward, to the nearest place from which
a coach runs to Edinburgh" Giving
these orders rapidly, 1 followed the girl
with my travelling companions into a
stuffy little room. AS soon as our att
tendant had left us. I locked h door,
put h key in my pocket, and took
Alicia by the hand.
Then we went through the Scotch
marriage ceremony.
An hour passed; and I had not vet
summoned the cruel courage to com :
municate my real situation to Alicia.
II am going out for a moment, love,
to see about the chaise," 1 said to Ali
cha. She suddenly looked up at me
with an anxious searching expression
Was my face b~etraying anything of my
real purpose? I hurried to the door be
fore she could ask me a single CUES
/ lion.
, The front of the inn stood nearly Ii
the middle of the principal street o
? the town. No chance of giving any on
the slip In hat direction; and no sign
either, of the Bow Street runner.
/ returned disconsolately to the inn
Walking along the passage toward this
staircase, 1 suddenly heard footsteps
behinda me-turnedaround, and saw the
Pow Street runner Clothed again IN
his ordinary costume, and accompanied
by two strange menu standing between
me n the door.
Sorry to stop you from going to
Edinburgh, Nh. Softly" ne said. But
you're wanted back at Birmingham.
I've just found out what you have been
travelling all the way to Scotland for;
and l take you prisoner, as one of the
coming gang. Take it easy, sir. I've
bgota help, you see; and you can't
throttle three men, whatever you may
have done at Birmingham with one"
He handcuffed me as he spoke. Re-
sistance was hopeless. l could only
make an appeal to his mercy, on ALI
cia's account. S2H7f1a1 rae
Give me ten minutes" 1 said, ito
break what has happened to my wife,
We were only married an hour ago.
If she knows this suddenly, it may De
the death of her"
1 assembled the first fight of stairs.
and my heart gave a sudden bound as
if it would burst. I stopped, speech
less and helpless, at the sight Of
Alicia, standing alone on the land
ing. My first look at her face told
me she had heard all that had passed
in the passage. She passionately struck
the hat with which l had been trying
to hide the handouts out of my fingers,
and clasped me in her arms with such
sudden and desperate energy that she
absolutely hurt me.
II was afraid of something, Frank"
she whispered. 81 followed you a little
way. I stopped here; I have heard
everything. Don't let us be parted! l
am stronger than you think me. l
won't be frightened. 1 Won't cry. I
won't trouble anybody. if that man
will only take me with you'll"
ITO He Continued Tomorrow.)