West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-01-02

-ANN FNh'AN hAo A1Nts tutn IuFIItU anu
dashed into the press. Inside the
dance hall loud sounds arose as the
officers clattered down the stairs and
made after their quarry. They tore
the barrier apart in. time TO see, far
down the saloon. an eddylng swirl as
though some great fish were iashing
through the lily pads OF a pond. and
then the swinging doors closed behind
Glcnlster.
Helen made her way from the thea
ter as she had come. unobserved aud
unobserving. but she walked In a
dream. Emotions had chased each
other too closely tonight to be dlstIn.
gulshable, so she went mechanically
through the narrow alley TO Front
street and thence to her home.
Glenister meanwhile had been swal-
lowed up by the darkness, the night
enfolding him without sign or trace.
AS he ran he considered what course
TO follow-whether TO carry the call to
his comrades In town or TO make for
the creek and Dextry. The vlgilantes
might still dlstrust him, and yet he
owed them warning. McNamara's
men were moving 30 swiftly that ac-
tlon must be speedy to forestall them.
Another hour and the net would be
closed, while IL seemed that whichever
course he chose they would snare one
or the other-either the friends who
remained In town or Dex and Slapjack
out in the hills. With daylight those
two would return and walk unheedlng
into the trap, while IL he bore the
10,
would be jailed before dawn. AS he
drew near Cherry Malottes house he
saw light through the drawn cur
tains. A heavy ralndrop FLASHED upon
his face, another followed, and then he
heard the patter of falling water In
creasing swiftly. Before he, could gain
the door the storm had broken. 1t
swept up the street with tropical vio-
lence, while breath sighed out OF the
night, lifting the litter from underfoot
and pelting him with flying particles.
Over the roofs the wind rushed with
the rising moan of hurricane, while
the night grew suddenly noisy ahead
of the tempest.
He entered the door without knock
Ing TO find the girl removing her coat.
Her face gladdened at sight of him,
but he checked her with quick and
cautious words, his speech almost
drowned by the roar outside
"Are you aloner She nodded, and
he slipped the bolt behind him, saying:
"The marshals are after me. We
just had a run In at the Northern,
and I'm on the go. No-nothing seri--
GUS yet but they want the vigilantes,
and 1 must get them word. VIII you
help me" He rapidly recounted the
row of the last ten minutes, while she
nodded her quick understanding.
You're safe here for little while,
she told him, ''for the storm will check
them. II they should come. there's
back door leading out from the
Kitchen and a side entrance yonder.
In my room you'll find French syin-
dow. They can't corner you very
we'll"
"Slapjack and Dex are out Mt the
shafthouse - you know - that quartz
claim on the mountain above the Mi
das." He hesitated. "Wlr you lend
me your saddle horse? It's n black
night, and / may kill him."
What about these men in town."
I'll warn them first, then hit for the
hills"
She shook her head "You can't do
IL. You can't get out there before day..
light IL you wait to rouse these peo-
pie, and Mcnamara has probably tele-
phoned the mines to send party up
to the quartz claim after Dex. He
knows where the old man is as well as
you do, and they'll raid him before
dawn"
I'm afraid so, but it's all can Of
fer. VIII you give me the horse?"
NO! He's only pony, and you'd
founder him in the tundra. The mud
Is knee deep. I'll go myself"
Good heavens, girl. in such n night!
Why, it's worth your llfel Listen to
1t! The creeks will be up and you'll
have to swim. No, / can't let you"
Hes a good little horse, and he'll
take me through" Then coming close
she continued: ooh, boyl Can't you
see that al want to help? Can't
you see that I'D die for you IL It
would do any goodY" He gazed grave
ly into her wide blue eyes and said
awkwardly: Yes. 1 know. I'm sorry
things areas they are-but you
wouldn't have me lie to- you, little wo-
mann"
NO. You're the only true man
ever knew. / guess that's why / love
you. And / do love you, OH, so much!
l want to be good and worthy to love
you too"
She laid her face against his arm and
pnrQggnff him, oil
while the wind yelled loudly about the
caves and the windows drummed be-
meath the rain. His heavy brows knit
themselves together as she whispered:
Il love you! love You! love
you." with such an agony Of longing
in her voice that her soft accents were
sharply distinguishable above the tur.
MOL. The growing wlIdness seemed
part Of the woman's passion. which
whipped and harried her like q willow
I'm blast.
Things are fearfully jumbled." lie
said finally. And this is n bad time
10 talk about them wish they might
be different. No other girl would do
what you have offered tonight"
Then why do you think OF that
womanT' she broke In Gerccly shes
bad. and false. She betrayed YOU once;
she's in tie play no.: you've told me
so yourself Why don't you bo a man
and forget hcrT
Il can't" he said simply You're
wrong. though. when YOU think she's
bad I found tonight that she's good
md brave and honest The part size
played was played innoccntly. I'm sure
OF that, in spite OF tie fact tiat she'll
marry McNamara. 10 was she who
heard them plotting and rlskcd her
reputation 90 warn me-"
Cherry's face whitcned. while the
.InlnWH nnnnrnnaL lLnL LII $500