Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-07-01

he found himself repeating over and
over to his heart the question: "Can
this be love? Can this be love?"
Could it be love at an hours ac-
quaintance? Absurd! But he could
not laugh nor render himself insensi-
BILE to the suggestion.
BE found that he had drawn the
bolts. The girl tugged and ratified at
the knob. Reluctantly the door opened
inward. Beyond its threshold stretched
ten feet OF more Of covered passage
way whose entrance framed IN oblong
glimmering with light. a draft of
fresh air smote their faces. Behind
them a door banged.
"Where does this open?"
"On the news" she informed him.
"The news" He stared in conster-
nation at the pallid oval that stood for
her face. "The news. But you, in
your evening gown. and p
There's nc other way. We must
chance it. Are you afraid"
"Afraid?" He stepped aside. She
slipped by him and on. He closed the
door. carefully removing the key and
locking it on the outside, then joined
the girl at the entrance to the news,
where they paused perforce, she as
much diconcerted as he, his primary
objection momentarily waxing in force
as they surveyed the conditions cir
cumscribing their escape.
Quadrant news was busily engaged
in enjoying itself. Night had fallen
sultry and humid, and the walls and
doorsteps were we'll fringed and clus-
tered with representatives of that class
of London's population which infests
news through habit, taste or force of
circumstance.
Over against tho entrance wherein
kirkwood and the girl lurked. o II
founded by the problem of escaping
undetected through this vivacious
scene, q stable door stood wide, expos
ing q dimly illumined interior. Before
it waited q four wheeler, horse already
hitched in between the shafts. while
its driver, Il man of %leisurely turn Of
mind, made lingering inspection of
straps and buckles, and, while Kirk
kood watched him, turned attention to
the carriage lamps.
The match which he raked spiritedly
down his thigh lared ruddily. The
succeeding paler glow Of the lamp
threw into relief a heavy beefy mask
lose and chin. Through narrow Sits
two cunning eyes glittered like dull
gems. Kirkwood appraised him with
attention as one in whose gross car
cass was embodied their only hope Of
unannoyed return to the streets and
normal surroundings Of their world.
The difficulty lay in attracting the
mans attention and engaging him
without ~arousing his suspicious or
bringing the population about their
ears. Though he hesitated long. no fa-
vorable opportunity presented itself,
and in time the jehu approached the
box with the ostensible purpose of
mounting and driving off. In this crit
fcal situation the American, forced to
recognize that boldness must mark his
course, took the girls fate and his
own in his hands and, with a quick
word to his companion, stepped out of
aiding.
The cabby had a foot upon the step
when Kirkwood tapped his shoulder.
"My mani
"Lor', lumme..' cried the fellow in
amaze. pivoting on his heel. Cupidity
and quick understanding enlivened the
eyes which in two glances looked Kirk
wood up and down, "Shelp me"
thickly. "where'd you drop from, guy
ner?'
That's my affair."" said Kirkwood
brisllly. Are YOU engaged"
"Ifsyou mykes yerself my fare re-
turned the cabby shrewdly, Il ham,"
Ten shillings, then, If you get us
u of here in one minute and to-say-
Hyde Park Corner in fifteen
"Js?" demanded the fellow agrees
sively.
Kirkwood motioned toward the pas
sageway. 'There's a lady with e
there. Quick now"
Still the man did not o "Ten
bob" he %bargained, "an' you runnin'
awe with tn stuffy OF gents fair
darter? Come now, gunner, is it gen.
'rous? Myke it a quid an'"-
"a pound then. Will you hurry?"
By way of answer the fellow scram-
bled hastily up to the box and snatch
ed at the reins. "Ck! Geee hup" he
cried generously.
The gloom Of the tunnel inclosed
them briefly ere the lights of the Hog
in-the-Pound flashed by and the wheels
began to roll more easily. Kirkwood
drew back with a sigh of relief.
"Thank Cod" he said softly.
The girl had no words.
Worried by her silence, solicitous
lest, the strain ended, she might be on
the point of fainting. he let up the
shade and lowered the window at her
side.
She seemed to have collapsed in her
corner. Against the dark upholstery
her hair shone like pale gold in the
hnlf light. Her eyes were closed, and
she held a handkerchief to her lips.
r,,.. oAI>o. bo,l low linn