The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-06-10


hack the canal looks
II am afraid We are going 70 have
rain he retagnea. ia 4 xexea voice. II
Do nor mind the mooa being ahSeas; tbs
darkness IS IN our favor. BUT what am
to DO with 500. Allie. il We have a
wes aisAts Y0a viii catch yoar death Of
cold
Neasense. replied Alison stoatiy. But
nevertheless she felt an Inward twinge 81
diScomsort. Neither 81 them had thought
q the weather. How weird and eerie ey-
erything looked in the obscure light. the
dark towing path and the sluggish canal
the tall factories. and beyond them the
dim woodpiles and sheds stretching away
INTO me distance. The, very barge that
came floating toward them out Of the
darkness seemed to hold dark. grisly
shapes upon il.
~ few minutes Roger was helping
her 70 scramble on shore. They were now
az the extreme end Of the timber yard
and had some way to walk.
Long before they had reached their
destination the heavy patter Of rain drops
warned them 20 make haste: but in the
uncertain light. and with 50 rough Path.
their speed was greatly retarded.
Here we are at last" whispered
Roger; follow me closely. Allie" And
she obeyed. holding his coat to give her
courage. A pitehy blackness was round
them Rogers cropping only led them still
further into the darkness Alison ex-
perienced sense Of suifocation until
ray Of murky light showed her where she
was-at the further entrance Of one Of
the wood piles. with the Office windows
within few yards Of them.
Alison breathed more freely when she
recognized her position. The interlaced
planks formed an arched chamber. where
they could move with comfort and be shell
tered from the rain. Roger spread the
plaid near the entrance. and babe his sis
ter make herself as comfortable as cir
cumstances permitted. while he went
little way to reconnoiter.
Il hope have not brought YOU on a
wild goose chase be said when he re-
turned. Timothy is eating his supper.
We shall have to be careful when he goes
with his rounds. Hush What is that?n
as a slight sound was plainly audible.
Don't move, implore you, Allie - And
Roger cautiously raised himself on his
hands aud knees and crept a few PAGES
nearer to the entrance. but ia a moment
he returned and babe Alison to move
further into the darkness.
It is Ferguson beard his voice"
be whispered. Come a little further;
Timothy has his lantern, and he might
turn it on US; and now not word if
you can help it. Are you frightened,
iears"
NO" returned Alison, a little nm
steadily, but at that moment she was Ger
Iainly wishing herself and Roger safely 4
It home Rogers caution was not in
Fain; a sudden fare Of light penetrated /
ne entrance Of the wood pile; they could
zee two men but at the moment the Ian
ern was lowered and Timothy's face was
urned to his companion.
A wet night. master" he said. in
,rumbling voice. ''I'Il just 20 on my beat.
md then back to the shed again
All right, Timothy returned the man
lger. briskly. Il must just hunt for the
'aper I told you about. Possibly NAV
'e quarter Of an hour in theNofHce
'ut / will call out 70 you when I am
eady for you to let me out Of the yard. f"
Az, az, | viii let you out. sure enough.
faster FERGUSON. II so be as YOU strike
pom the little window in the she'd" And
be old man moved on slowly.
Don't move. Allie: III be back in a
loment.T whispered Roger in her ear.
And Alison remained where she was.
ceiling the dampness all around her. an
npleasant moisture beginning to frickle
own her neck The rain was pouring
J torrents outside: its very violence
-omised short duration. Presently Roger
-ept back to her.
1T IS just as I said he began. hur-
edly. He IS unlocking the safe: he
IS duplicate key-I was sure Of 1t.
here is not a moment to lose I dare
IT trust Timothy. I must 20 for my
ther. Allie, may leave you here? You
e perfectly safe-no one would harm
"a. But one OF Us must watch Fergus
n; which shall il be-"
You mist 90, Roger" she exclaimed.
You win 90 more quickly, and will know
W to avoid Timothy.
Very well, keep up your courage. Al
!, and do not lose sight Of the vflIafn,g
returned II will bring father back
no time. Wait where you are until ?
mothy has passed again. 8
Alison's reply was inaudible, but her
rte assent testified obedience. That -
,ment she was literally beyond speech n
> horrid darkness seemed to swallow her I,
again a nervous oppression made her
art beat with distressing quickness. It
Is quite relief when Timothy passed
ain; the familiar figure in the heavy :
Itchrnan's coat gave her comforting =
lse O. human support.
She stole cautiously across the open e
tn, and in another moment she vas
nding outside the Office window. There II
re two windows, for this one was nj
,essarily darkened by the woodpile. but
r the other the blind had been lowered
shut out prying glances Alison sup
Ied, as Roger had, that he had locked IN
nself in to carry on his unhallowed
TX. The dark background Of piled-up
INKS quite overshadowed the white girl
face peerfng in at the uncurtained
ldow. &c
5he was frightened at her own daring, u
she remembered that she was Rogers
ness; It was necessary for her own