The Washington times., 1909-03-27

the Sc words. and Arthur harrington
laughed jeeringly.
''For reasons of your own. eh?' he
sneered. Il guess you don't dare tell
us what those reasons were?7s
ron. yes 1 dare cried Wilbur, de-
family. ignoring the warning nudge
his friend Clayton gave him. we
wanted to make sure that no harm
befell Miss Hamilton.
The girl looked at him wonderinglv.
Il don't quite understand that" she
gasred. How could you have fore
seen that 1 was in danger, Mr.. Leslie?
Did you expect that this was going TO
happen?"
Not exactly" replied Wilbur. I'VE
apprehended that you were in danger,
but from another quarter"
He would have said more if it had
not been for the fact that Steve Clayton
again nudged him secretly. and this
time Wilbur saw fit to obey his friends
warning.
c'Well. it's no use standing here"
broke in Mr. Hamilton, who had beer
listening TO this conversation in silent
wonder Lets all go inside the house,
where we can talk things over more
comfortably. I see you seem to know
| these gentlemen, Laura
Yes replied the girl. "this is Mr..
Darlington. father, one of my employ
ers, and this is Mr.. Leslie. a clerk in
our Office
Hamilton bowed respectfully.
Are you seriously hurt, sir?" he in
quired. ADDRESSING Arthur Barrirg gton.
shall I go get a physician for you?"
NO. thanks replied Arthur, who
was once more himself again. Il guess
( it isn't necessary. I am all right now
| ! have a bit Of headache, but I guess
| il isn't dangerous. I was just stunned,
/ that's all. The coward who struck me
down must have used a blackjack"
| Laura s father led the way into the
/ house and the little group entered a
neat though scantily furnished parlor.
| "Sit down and make yourselves COM
! Portable. said Hamilton. And If any
! one of you can explain what all this
means I'd be mighty thankful TO ;Iiifs::
! for doing it. All know is that 1 was
smoking my pipe in here, and glancing
! over the evening paper, when 1 heard
/ a wOman's scream outside
Thinks 1. something is surely doing.
| and 1 grabs my old shotgun from ie
wall yonder and rushed out, little
! thinking that / was going to find my
own little girl in the grasp of those
ruffians What were they trying to do
| with you. Laura
Il guess they were trying TO carry
/ me of in that red automobile" replied
! the girl, with a nervous laugh. "Oh.
I'm so glad that you and Mr. Leslie
and his friend came up in time to cave
me-"
"Tryin to l1idEap you, eh? 1 wonder
why exclaimed her father. 1T
couldn't have been for money. for I'm
a poor hard-working man. and it's
precious little could raise for ran
som."
II don't know why. I'm sure" re-
piled the girl. Il only know Shat that
horrid bearded man in the automobile
has been following me on the streets
for days"
He has, eh?'' exclaimed Hamilton,
: furiously; wish ! could lay hands
on the scoundrel. 1 wish I'd put a shot
into him before he had time to get
away.~ Why didn't you tell me about
him before, my grip
II didn't want to alarm you and
mother. 1 supposed he was merely one
of those horrid Washers that often an
noy girls. I thought he was dompara-
lively harmless. I didn't think that he
would dare atteEsFt TO carry me off
bodily"
"a bearded man. broke in Arthur
harrington, who had been listening to
this conversation with great interest.
What kind OF a looking fellow was
he. Miss Hamilton"
Arthur harrington had been struck
serseless before he had had a chance
20 see the man in the red automobile
and he asked this question with SO
much eagerness that Wilbur and Clay
ton again exchanged a significant look
which meant: He evidently knows
this fellow with the beard or at least
he has seen or heard Of him, before
now.
He is tall and very dark and his
beard is quite heavy" replied tI-S girl.
1 should judge that he IS about fifty
years old and he looks ike foreigner.
That is about the best description
can give you Of him"
And you say that he has been fol-
lowing you around for days?" inquired
Arthur. with n frown.
Yes. Whenever I have ventured out
have noticed that horrid man walk
ing a short way behind me. He al
ways kept a respectful distance away,
DuI ne was always near enough 70
keep me in sight"
"And when did this begin, Miss Ham
ihOn?" the junior partner asked. "Dio
YOU notice this fellow following you be.
fore you began TO work at our office?''
oh, yes Several days before that
1t was while I was at business college
that l first noticed him"
Arthur harrington frowned again, and
for few minutes sat apparently lost
. in thought. Judging by the ugly ex-
preston on his couRtenance. his
thoughts were by no means pleasant.
do you know him, sir?" inquired
Laura father. watching the young
mans face intently. "Can you tell me
anything about the scoundreI2 Do you
know why he struck you down and tried
TO carry away my daughter"
NO" replied Arthur harrington
quickly. 4 can't imagine. have never
seen the man; but probably he is some
crazy fellow in love with your daugh-
ter"
Maybe" he added, with a maliciou.
glance in the direction Of Wilbur
these young men here can tell IL,
something about him"
"No. we can't, declared Wilbur. "Al
know about the fellow is that your
daughter pointed him out to me tn,