Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-02

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quiet and was frightened absolutely
by al impulse. too strong for ridicule.
to take her In his arms and comfort
her with the assurance that, whatever
her trouble. he would stand by her
and protect her. 1t were futile to try
to laugh it off. He gave over the en-
deavor. Even at this critical moment
he found himself repeating over and
over to his heart the question: "Can
this be lover Can this be lover
Could 1t be love at an hours ac-
ouaintance? Absurd! But he could
not laugh nor render himself insensi.
BILE to the suggestion.
He 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 or more Of covered passage.
way whose entrance framed an oblong
glimmering with light. A draft OF
fresh air smote their faces. Behind
them door banged.
"where does this openT
ION the news" she informed him.
''The mewsw He stared In conster-
nation at the pallid oval that stood for
her face. "The news! But you. in
your evening gown. and r.
There's no other way. We must
chance It. Are you afraidT'
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 well 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 the entrance wherein
Kirkwood and the girl lurked. con
founded by the problem Of escaping
undetected through this vivacious
scene. a stable door stood wide, expos
ing a dimly illumined Interior. Before
It waited four wheeler. horse already
hitched In between the shafts. while
its driver. 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 splritedly
down his thigh aared ruddlly. The
succeeding paler glow Of the lamp
threw into relief heavy beefy mask
with shining bosses for cheeks and
nose 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 of. In this crit
Ical situation the American, forced to
recognize that boldness must mark his
course, took the girls fate and his
own in his hands and. with quick
word to his companion, stepped out of
hiding.
The cabby had a foot upon the step
when Kirkwood tapped his shoulder.
my man.
"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. "S'help me"
thickly. "where'd you drop from. guv-
ner?"
"That's my affair" said Kirkwood
briskly. "Are you engaged?"
"If you mykes yerself my fare" re-
turned the cabby shrewdly, 81 ham,"
''Ten shillings, then. If you get US
out Of here In one minute and to-say-
Hyde Park Corner in fifteen"
"Us" demanded the fellow aggres'
sively.
Kirkwood motioned toward the pas
sageway. There's a lady with me
there. Quick now"
Still the man did not move. "Ten
beb," he bargained, "an' you runnin'
ou,yo with th' stuffv NJ GENTS fair