Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25


- posture Her courage had been absent.
She less alarmed than before and decidedly curl
as to what this strange encounter might signify
She dared address the horseman But-but sure
ly-vou seen-vou must have some excellent reason
for-for acting peculiarly.
He could not repress the brightness in his eyes
he met her half-appeallng gaze Reason, advice,
and information would apparently be alike unwel-
to your chauffeur he answered, dofhng his hat
with courtly grace He IS eager to hasten on his
way; therefore by all means let us bid HIM begone.
Bostwick grew rapidly wilder at each intlmat1on
of his social standings friend of the maid, and
Beth's chauffeur! His impatience to proceed with
all possible haste to Goldite consuming He had
not intended that anything under the sun should de-
lay him another single hour not even Beth, should
occasion arise to detain her. Even now he was tar
concerned about himself and the business OF his
mission than he for the women in his charge.
He was much afraid, however, of the horseman S
big holstered gun. He was not at all person of
before him presented such an unknown quantity
that he found himself more or less helpless At
most he could merely attempt bluff
You II pay for this, you blackguardly scOundrel!
he cried somewhat shrv his face black mask of
anger IN give you just half a minute to release
these ladies and permit them to go with me in peace
The horseman interrupted Il said before you
had not been ordered your way; but now I've
changed my mind. | advise you still to go back the
way you came. Get into your car and hike'
THE CLEAN in his eye achieved two results: it
cowed the last vestige OF bravado IN Bostw1ck $
composition and ignited all the hatred of his nature
He hesitated for moment, his lips parting sldewlse
as if for speech of defiance that his moral courage
refused indorse Then, not daring to disobey the
horseman's command he climbed aboard the car,
the motor of which had never ceased its purr1ng
You II pay for this!' he repeated. Youth
The girl, pale again and tremendously dis
turbed, regarding Bostwick with a new cold
light in her eyes, light that verged on contempt.
She had either this temper or this lack of
courageous spirit in the man before She interrupted
him abruptly.
But, SeaTle! Your not go1ng-you re not
really going like this!'
1t was the horseman who replied. :" You see, his
time precious Also in his present state of mind he
is certainly unfit company for-wel for Dave here,
a man who loves the pure white dove of peace" The
station owner grinned Van turned once more to the
owner, adding placidly, There, there, driver
Bostwick broke in vehemently. Il refuse to
abandon these ladies! Your conduct is not only
that of a swashbuckng coward, 1t IS
Van looked him over in mock establishment: He
had lost all patience at the scornng OF his offers OF
advice his acts of neighborly concern. Say,
Searle he said, don't you savvy you We lost your
in this convention! told you to do these ladies
the kindness to sweeten the atmosphere with Your
absence Now you hit the trail-and hit it quick!'
Bostwick looked helplessly at the girl = am
entirely unarmed, he said before, though she
knew there was pistol in the car This ruffian-
The horseman cut him short, still in courteous
manner. :" SO long, Searle. trust you'll meet con-
genial company on the road >
Bostwick glared at him vindctively, but impo-
tently His gunmetal Jaw was set and hard A
cold fire gittered in his eyes How selfshly eager he
was to be started his way, not the girl could
have known. Moreover, some sort of plan for the
horseman's speedy punishment had taken possession
of his mind.
Have courage, Beth" he said to the girl Have
courage"
He speeded up his motor, dropped in his clutch
and the car slowly started on its way.
CHAPTER II.
Into the Mountains
RETH stood perfectly still beside the road, watch
- ing the auto round the hill, where it presently
disappeared from view. The station owner picked