Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-16

of the flight--happily for him, for he
was all at sea.
"Here-your hand-let me guide
you. This darkness is dreadful 49,
He found her hand, somehow, and
tucked his into it, confidingly, and not
without an uncertain thrill of satisfac-
ton.
Gomez" she painted. Come! III
they break in
Stifled by apprehension, her voice
failed her.
They went forward, now less i'm
| pentuously, for 1t was very black; and
the ,knocker had fallen still.
mo fear of that" he remarked aft
er time "They wouldn't dare break
| in"
A fluttering whisper answered him:
81 don't know We dare risk moth
! ing"
They seemed to explore, to pene-
trate acres OF labyrinthine chambers
and passages, delving deep into the
bowels of the earth, like rabbits bur
rowing in warren, bounded by
beagles.
Above stairs the hush continued IN
pace nau cast a speil OF slience ON Lne
l1nockeI, or else, outraged had smit.
4 ten the noisy disturber with palsy.
The girl seemed TO know her way;
whether guided by familiarity or by
intuition she led on without heslta'
ton, Kir1wood laundering in her wake
between confusion of impression ana
dawning dismay conscious OF but one
: tangible thing, to which he chung as to
his hope of salvation: those firm,
friendly fingers that clasped his own
1t was as if they wandered on for
an hour; probably from start to finish
; their flight took up three minutes, nc
more. Eventually the girl stopped, re
leasing his hand. He could hear hel
syncopated breathing before him, and
gathered that something was wrong
He took step forward.
What is it?"
Her full voice broke out of the
obscurity startlingly close, in his very
ear.
1.-THE door-the bolts-I can't bulge
them"
He pressed forward, brushing he1
shoulder She did not draw away, bu
! willingly yielded place to his hands a
I the fastenings; and what had proved
impossible to her, to his strong fingers
!, was matter Of comparative ease. Ye
! not entirely consciously, he was no
:, quick AS he tugged at the bolts N
was poignantly sensitive to the subtle
;, warmth of her at his side; he coui'
hear her soft dry sobs of excitemen
) and suspense, punctuating the quiet
and was frightened, absolutely, by al
y impulse, too strong for riducle, t
take her in his arms and comfort he
= with the assurance that, whatever he
}. trouble, he would stand by her an
u protect her 1t was futile to tr
u to laugh It off; ne gave over the Ell
{ deavor. Even at this critical momen
he found himself repeating over an
e over to his heart the question: "Ca
d this be love? Can this be love?
e Could it be love at an hour
acquaintance? Absurd! But he coul
not laugh-nor render himself insel
sibe to the suggestion.
He found that he had drawn tn
y bolts The girl tugged and ratified {
the knob Reluctantly the door opel
9 ed inwards Beyond its threshol
stretched ten feet or more of covere
passageway, whose entrance frame
an oblong glimmering with light.
u draught of fresh air smote their face
u Behind them door banged.
II "Where does this open?"
"On the news" she informed him
"The mews!" He stared in conste
n nation at the pallid oval that stood IL
at her face. "The news! But you, in yol
rs evening gown, and l.
T. There's no other way. We mu
~ chance 1t. Are you afraid?"
al Afraid? He stepped asid
ty She slipped by him and on. F
lie closed the door, carefully removir
n the key and locking it on the OUTSIDE
he then joined the girl at the entrance
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