Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-20


its engines. He saw it round slight |
curve in the road with two wheels in |
the air and 4 skid which seemed for !
q moment as though 1T must mean de- !
struction Mud and small stones flew |
up around it, The driver was crouch |
| Ing forward over the wheel, tense and |
motionless. Duncombe moved to the
side of the road to let it pass with a
| little exclamation of anger.
Then it came more clearly into sight
and he forgot his anger in his amaze
ment The seat next the driver was
occupied by a man leaning far back
| whose face was like the face of the
| dead. Behind was solitary passen
er. She was leaning over as though
| trying to speak to her companion. Her
| hair streamed wild in the wind, and
on her face was look of blank and
| fearful terror. Duncombe half moved
| forward She saw him and touched
the drivers arm. His hand seemed to
| fly to the side of the car. and his right
| foot was damned down. With grind
| ing of brakes and the screaming of
| locked wheels the car was brought to
a standstill within a few feet of him.
| He sprang eagerly forward She was
| already upon her feet in the road
'Sir George" she said, "your warn
| ing, as you see, was barely In time
| We are advcnturer and adventures
| detected. l suppose you are n magis-
! trate. Don't you think you ought to
detain us?'
what can I do to help your" he
asked simply.
She looked at him eagerly. There
were mud spots all up her gown. even
upon her face. Her hair was wildly
disordered. She carried her hat in her
hand.
| You mean it," she cried.
you know that | do,'
| She turned and looked up the road
along which they had come. There
was no soul in sight. She looked even
up ut the long line Of windows which
| frowned down upon them from the
back to the hall They too, We're
empty. She thrust long envelope
suddenly into his hand
! Guard this for me- she whispered.
Don't let any one know that you have
| it. Don't speak of it to any one. Keep
| it until can send for it,
| He thrust it into his inner pocket and
buttoned his coat.
1T is quite safe" he said simply.
| Her eyes flashed her gratitude upon
him. For the first time he saw some
thing in her face, heard it III her tone.
| which made his heart beat. After all
| She was human.
You are very good to me-" she muir
INJURED. Relieve me. 1 am not quite
so bad as seem. Goodby.'
He turned with her toward the car.
and she gave Il low cry. He too. start
ed The car was a mile away, tearing
up hill and almost out of sight. IN
the lane behind they could hear the
sound of gallopinE horses. He caught
her by the wrist, dragged her through
the gate and behind a great shrub on
the lawn.
stay there" he exclaimed hoarsely.
Don't move will come back"
Half dozen horsemen were coming
along the lane at steeplechase pace.
Lord Runton, on his wonderful black
horse, which no man before had ever
seen him gaIlop save across the softest
of country. pulled mp outside the gate.
"Secn a motor go by, Duncombe:" he
called out
Dunconbe nodded.
Rather he answered. "Fielding
and Miss Fielding in it. Going like
mad.'
Runton waved his companions on
and leaned down to Duncombe.
''BeastIy unpleasant thing happened.
Duncombe." he said. Fielding and
his daughter have bolted. Fielding
seems to have half killed a messenger
who czme down from London to see
De Rothe and stolen some papers.
Fact of the matter Is he'5 not Fielding
1T all. and as for the girl-Lord knows
who she is. Sorry for you. Duncombe.
Hope Won weren't very hard hit"
He gathered up lis reins
We've sent kilograms everywhere"
he said, but the beast has cut the tele-
phone. and De Rothe blasphemes if We
talk about the police. It's queer
business
lie rOue OH. DuncOmDe returned
where the girl was standing. She was
clutching at the branches of the shrub
as though PROSTATE with fear, but at
e his return she Strengthened herself
!. How much had she heard, he Won
dered
Don't move" he said.
q She nodded.
' Can any one see me?" she asked.
"NOt from the road
8 From the houseT
''They could" he admitted, "but it is
o the servants dinner hour. Don't you
! notice how quiet the house isl
"Yes"
She was very white. She seemed to
;, find some difficulty in speaking. There
was fear in her eyes.
1T would not be safe for you to
leave here ut present" he said. Il am
going to take you into a little room
leading out of my study No one ever
l.