The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-04-21
Story of
Grousfork
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON

. moved from her mouth. She would
have shrieked out in her terror had
not her gaze rested upon the figure or
a man who sat opposite, his elbows
on the back Of the chair which he
| straddled, his chin on his arms. He
was staring at her steadily, his black
eyes catching her gaze and holding 1t
as q snake holds the bird 1t has
charmed.
She recognized the hard, hawklike
face. There could be no mistake. She
was looking into the face that made
the portrait Of the Iron Count so alb
horrent to her-the leathery head Of a
cadaver with eyes that lived. She
broke down and cried herself into the
sleep of exhaustion.
Ali the next day she sat limp and
| helpless in the chair they had brought
to her. She could neither eat nor
drink. Late in the afternoon Marlanx
came again. She knew not from
whence he came; he stood before her
suddenly as if produced by the magic
Of some tabled genie, smiling blandly,
his hands clasped behind his back, his
attitude n Of designing calculation.
"He laughed when l demanded that
he should restore me to my friends.
He chided me when I pleaded and beg
ged for mercy. My questions were
never answered. Where am l, Mr..
King? Oh, this dreadful place! Why
are we here-you and r.
Kings heart throbbed fercely once
more. A vast hunger possessed his
soul. In that moment he could have
laid down his life for her with a smile
of rejoicing.
Then he told her why she was there,
why he was there and Of the 26th-the
dreadful Goth!
God in heaven" she repeated over
and over again in a piteous whisper.
The light was going out.
Quick" he cried. 1.-THE candle!
Light a fresh one. My hands are
bound"
She crept to the candles and joined
the wicks. A new light grew as the
old one died. Then she stood erect,
looking down upon him.
You are bound. l forgot"
She started forward, dropping to her
knees beside him, an eager CLEAN in
her eyes. "If l can unite the rope
will that help? There must be one
little chance for you-for us. Let me
try"
by Jove," he whispered admiringly,
his spirits leaping to meet hers, you've
got pluck. You put new life in me.
i was almost "a gutter"
At last, after many despairing tugs,
the knot relaxed. THERE she cried,
sinking back exhausted. ooh, how it
must have hurt you. Your wrists are
raw
His arms were stiff and sore and
hung like lead at his sides. She watch
ed him with narrowed eyes while he
stood off and tried to work blood and
strength back into his muscles.
do you think you can-can do any
thing now, Mr.. King?" she asked after
a long interval. I'VE must escape"
she said as II it were all settled.
at cannot be tonight" he gently in
formed her. a sickness attacking his
heart. Don't you think you'd better
try to get some sleep?"
He prevailed upon her to lie down,
with his coat for a pillow. In two
minutes she was asleep.
For an hour OF more he sat there
looking sorrowfully at the tired, sweet
face, the utmost despair in his soul.
At last he stretched himself out on the
floor near the door, and as he went to
sleep he prayed that Providence might
open a way for him to prove that she
was not depending on him In vain.