Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-15


motorcar paused at the summit of the
hill and drew a sharp breath Of APP
probation. A line OF distant blue In
dicated the sea. In the foreground
were green clad slopes running down
to snowy beaches. The roofs Of the
village pointed up among the trees,
and a church spire cleaned like fire.
There were white sails beyond and
the black drift Of smoke from a pass
ing steamer.
This Is lots better than going to
Aunt Edith's poky musicale" sighed
Annabelle mutinously. Just fancy
spending this glorious afternoon in
lighted drawing room listening to the
great Alvan Eldred, master Of the
VIOLIN AMI being disillusioned by long
hair. greasy coat collar and a pervad-
ing presence OF garlicY' Annabelle's
dainty nose shifted scornfully at her
imaginary portrait Of the great violin
list of whom her aunt had raved for
weeks.
I'm going down, down to the very
edge of the sea-
AS the machine sped downward An
nabelle was suddenly conscious that
something was wrong. The brakes did
not respond to her frantic pressure,
the levers grated harshly without eff
feet. and there was an unfamiliar
grInting sound from beneath her feet.
She had been down this same hill
many times before. slowly. cautiously
She knew that from the foot Of the
hill the street ran down to the waters
edge, ending at the broad dock where
the boats landed
Nothing could stop her speed unless
the color left her cheeks as she real
tzed the almost certain death that con-
fronted her. Her lips set In a straight
line, and her eyes shone steadily. II
lovely August day when-why, one
might as well meet it bravely.
Faster she went, her eyes, dark with
dread, fixed on a wide opening on the
right. Thanked by stone pillars, IL
seemed to mark the entrance to some
estate. The few pedestrians turned
and watched her flight with disap-
proval; constable held up a warning
hand; a wagon scuttled into the side
walk to avoid her coming.
Annabelle turned the steering wheel
and sigh OF relief huttered from her
lips as the machine responded, but
there was no lessening of the mad
speed. Wildly ii tore through the
open gateway. ground into the hard
packed earth of the drive, skidded
along a muddy spot under the trees,
left the drive and pounded along soft
green turf, miraculously avoiding tree
trunks. making straight for the large
brown house set in the midst OF the
grounds.
Another twist of the wheel and the
house seemed to glide past Before
her was a distant blur OF gorgeous
colors-a flower garden In the midst
OF which was a summer house. To the
left was a turfy bank. Her head
dropped on her hands that clutched
the wheel, and she closed her eyes and
prayed.
There was a low shout beside her;
the machine jolted under additional
weight; pair of strong hands gripped
the wheel from hers; there was tho
pressure OF brakes; the motor slowed
suddenly, bumped into some obstrue-
ton and then bounded back to stand.
still.
Its ali over now" said a kindly
voice.
Annabelle opened her eyes and
looked fearfully forth on the summer
house still creaking from the force OF
encounter. on the crushed flowers she
had moved down and lastly into the
countenance of q man who sat beside
her In the car.
1t was then that Annabelle realized
that she was holding the stranger In
frantic embrace, her hands tightly
clasped about his neck, her fair mead
perilously near his broad shoulder.
II beg your PARDON Annabelle's
face turned to deepest rose as she
hastily withdrew from him, but her
hair had caught In a button OF his
coat. holding 1t firmly By one long
golden strand.
"Just a moment. THERE don't want
to hurt you. It's or now" He spoke
in matter OF fact tone es IL he was
In the habit of ensnariDg lovely maid
ems with coat buttons every day Of
his life. I'm afraid you are pretty
we'll shaken up with your ride. You
had narrow escape" He had alight-
ed and helped AnnabeIle TO the ground.
She leaned weakly against the sum-
mer house. "You must have saved my
life. Did you-did you really leap on
the step as passedY She was be-
ginning to realize what had happened.
He nodded carelessly. ct was easy
enough. You see. one gets practice I'm