The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-08
THE FATAL
|[A|[UI[a [7 |.
By CHARLES GARviCE.
Copyright, 1909, by George II. Ooran
Company
CHAPTER XVI.
The FuQitiveS.

II was MIA, llle maui WHO was
as devoted to Cara as Smithers
was to Ronald, who had planned
aud carried out the escape; and
Cara had only taken passive
share in it. for, Notwithstanding the
courage, the dignity. the outraged
pride with which she confronted
Raven and Dexter Reece, she had
almost collapsed when she had got
beck to her room. Her long i'm
p:isonment, her never-ceasing de-
sire for Ronald, and her anxiety
as TO his safety, had told upon her,
and she was worn n body and in
spirit.
Lying prone on the bed, weeping
| bitter burnin gtears, she had told
| the maid enough of her fathers in
| tention TO marry her to Dexter
| Reece, to fill the faithful Nita with
| Indignation In her Italian fashion
she swore that her beloved mis-
tress should not be thus sacrificed
and, with the imaginative facility
of her nation and her class, she
/ had conceived the idea of escaping
an impromptu rope. stealing on the
| lodge-keeper and chloroforming him,
and so obtaining the key of the
gates
Very much as if she We're IN a
dream, Cara left the villa behind
ner, and with Nita, hastened in the
direction of the dock
Once We get aboard, signorina,
| we are safe-qute safe. No one, not
even he Count, would dare to try
and take us off an English vessel
they wouldn't give us up. | know
what the English are; I've heard
about them If we could only have
waited until this Mr.. Smithers had
met me as he promised, we should
have had him to help us; but W"
| couldn't wait, could we, signorina?
We shall find him on board the
yacht Could you walk a little faster
signorina?" she added anxiously.
Caras face was very white, her
brows We're drawn, her lips com
pressed as if she were IN pain. but
she only said:
II will try"
They made their way through the
quiet roads, choosing the narrower
and less frequented, and reached
the docks; and Nita begged Cara
to rest behind some bales which
screened her from observation, and
Nita went down to the quay. A boat
with one OF the Hawks men was
lying there, and Nita inquired of
him if he would take them on board
the yacht.
The man stared at her, smiled
and scratched his head. and shook
it reluctantly.
Sorry, miss he said; never was
iHolt Solly y III my lllt, DuI udI'h
do it. l wish / could, for We don't
have too many ladies aboard; but
it amt possible and, if l was to
try it on. l should be knocked Off
the ships books before you could
say Jack Robinson"
Il do not want Jack Robinson
said Nita, in her broken English
1T is Mr.. Smithers. Oh, | am in
great trouble, signor."
The sailor expressed his sympa-
thy facially and by expressive pan
| tomime. but he shook his head
again.
"Luck's ag'in us, miss" he said.
'Mr. Smithers amt aboard; he and
the governor landed here early this
morning-middle of the night. as
you might call it,"
In great distress and uncertainty
Nita returned to Cara, who received
the news almost alphabetically.
we Nhl sup lltlVs SiSHOAihu'
said Nita. 1t is one OF the first
places the Count will come to when
he misses us. We must go away
from the docks and hide some
where"
Cara rose. with a pain and a diff
ficulty which she stroye TO conceal
They left the docks. and. striking
!. the road to Monte CARO-. walked
J along it for some little distance he
fore Nita noticed that Cara was
limping. She stopped at once, cry
ing:
''Oh. signorina, you are hurt You
are lame! What is it?"
II think | have hurt my foot
Nita." said Cara. as casually and
cheerfully as she could. 81 must