St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-06-29
CHAPTER XII.
AN ANSWER.

repeated. Mechanically she
moved toward the threshold.
"Yes?" All the color had left her
face .'What-what is it?"
Don't mean to alarm you, my dear,
but Mr.. Gillett thinks the convict
might be- concealing himself some
where in the house; indeed that it is
quite likely. So we are making little
tour Of inspection"
81" she seemed to catch her breath
lit is really quite unnecessary. l have
been through them myself"
might have known that!' with an
attempt at jocoseness. But thought
we would make sure. Good night,
thenr' They went.
The man In the room stood notion
less now, his face like that Of a statue
save for the light and life of his eyes.
',The other way would have been
preferable" he said.
what were you'-she hesitated.
emphasized oversharply the word
transported for?"
What does it matter?
True. What did it matter to herr
He had been in prisons before, by his
own words.
Your name of course. is not John
Steele? What was it."
He looked at her-beyond, to
storm tossed ship. golden haired
child, her curls in disorder, moving
with difficulty, yet clinging so stead
tasty to a small cage. His name?
1t may be he heard again the loud
pounding and knocking; held her once
more to his breast. felt the confding.
soft arms.
"What does it matter?" he repeated.
She spoke mechanically. when
you found yourself recognized, why
did you come hereto Strathorn
House-incur the danger?"
''Why?' He still continued to look
straight before him. Because you
were herer'
'I?' she trembled.
"Oh. you need lot feary' quickly.
'Youv' bitter smile crossed his face.
"And now!' his voice sounded harsh,
tense. and he stepped toward the bal
cony.
His words. the abrupt action, what
It portended. aroused her.
mo, nop' The exclamation broke
from her involuntarily. ''There-there
may be a safer way! WaitY' Bright
spots of color now tinted her cheeks.
She went quickly toward the door she
had left. She listened, turned the key,
then, opening the door. stepped hastily
out into the hall.
Whatever her purpose. only the de
sire to act quickly, to have done with
an intolerable situation, moved him.
Once more he looked toward the win
dow through which he had entered.
First, however, before going, he be-
thought himself of something-an an
swer to one of her questions. She
should find the answer after he was
gone. His fingers thrust themselves
into a breast pocket. He took out
small object wrapped in velvet. An
instant his eyes rested upon it; then,
STOPPING. he picked up the bit Of lace
handkerchief from the floor and, lay
ing the dark velvet against 1t. placed
the two on the table.
Would she understandable debt he
had felt he owed her long before to-
night. that sense of obligation to the
child who had reached out her hand
in a different life, different world?
No. She had Of course forgotten. Still.
he would leave it, that talisman so
precious. which he had cherished al
most superstitiousIy.
When few minutes later the girl
hastily re-entered the room she carried
on her arm mans coat and hat. Her
appearance was feverish. her eyes
wide and shining.
your clothes are torn-would at
tract attention! These were on the
rack. don't know whose. but stols
them-stole themr'
She spoke quickly, with little,
hard note of self mockery Her voice
broke suddenly. She looked about her.
The coat and hat slipped from her
arm. She looked at fhe window The