Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-21
CHAPTER XVII-Continued.

mean / hope I shall not but If do
1T is evident that you are trying to
tell an untruth. Something has happened
to her. and if any of this household are
responsible for it. the law in its most
retributive form shall be used on them y
Il sympathize with you said Dick,
who wished her at the bottom of the Red
sea. but | cannot help you. You must
leave at once, or / shall lock you up in
this building. 1 am sorry, but these are
my orders
Miss Burton stepped back and looked
at him. His face was firm in the moon
light but still it was not a naturally
hard face and she concluded to make an
appeal. You have a good face" she
said, frankly, land l am sure that some
misfortune has forced YOU to accept such
a mean position. ] am going to throw
myself on your mercy, and if you have
any kindly feelings left for your own
mother or sister. | am sure that you will
not betray my confidence. This young
girl is under my care, she is hayward
and headstrong, but until lately she has
been perfectly docile." The girl inside
stamped her foot at the word docile. She
did not care for adjectives usually ap-
piled to the domestic animals. But late
ly. she has been acting strangely. and
tonight she went for a walk against my
will. Her mother is not living, and If
her father who is a stern and exacting
man. were to
Yes, but perhaps she is home already.
Why don't YOU return and search your
own grounds asked Dick, who expected
Ivan and the keeper at any moment and
had 70 plan for dealing with the new
complication.
Il have just come from there. She
went up the road. | know that much; but
you see, if she has come TO no harm.
should hate to expose what may only be
a slight indiscretion on her part; while
at the same time / am haunted by all
these Black Hand stories in the neWspa-
pers and feel that perhaps, | shoald tele-
graph her father. You SEE
THAT would be utter folly" said Dick.
sweepingly. She is all right, she has
PROBABLY
You know absolutely nothing about it
and therefore,
Yes, ] do know something about it.
said Dick. sharply He was becoming
desperate and had decided to change his
tactics. She and that shepherd dog did
come on these grounds while ago
set my bulldog on them and they ran
through the hedge on to the Stanton
place"
You told me your dog would not bite
a human being. | prayed for fifteen min
utes before gained the strength to come
mere III the dark. ana III WAS Hfldt YOU
said that finally convinced me that If
did my duty ! should come TO no narm
Building that horrible fence has aroused
her resentment, and fear that the spirit
of mischief or adventure Or
The dog wouldn't attack a human be-
ing unless | set him on, said Dick: but
an expression of relief came into MISS
Burtons face he FASTENED to say. but he
was bitten by a shepherd dog few days
ago ard ] fear he is going MAD.
Far lice
with staring eyes and then she took
step toward him. Good heavens. there
is no knowing what may have happened
to that poor child.' she exclaimed. You
must help me find her. You must save
her. 1t is your fault Yon--
Dick folded his arms and put on an ut
terly reckless expression 1t is not my
fault" he said. coldly. Il am under
orders. Whatever happens
Miss Burton put her hand pleadingly
on his arm. "Oh, YOU can't be so cruel,
she said. Think
Listen cried Dick, casting her rough
~ off and putting his hand to his ear
"One of the keepers just fired. 1t may
have been at the dog II he should come
this way. / can't be bothered with you
1t may have been only another trespasser
he threw in for good meaSure-Out
think it was the dog. Now mad dog
will not go near water, you know. You
run down this path toward the house.
There is fountain in front OF the house
Run around the house and out the front
! gate. Hurry
! He started with her. gave her gentle
| shove after she had fairly. entered the
path. and as he watched her running
/ nervously in the direction OF the house he
gave a long sigh of relief
Pulling himself together he returned to
| the den and called Did you hear what
we said fairy princess?
! Don't call me fairy princess any
more" answered a fearful voice. Il feel
perfectly hopeless. We can never
! straighten out this terrible tangle now
! and it is all your fault.
| IF YOU think there is any danger of
/ your forgetting that part of 1t. | snail
! write il on a leaf of my notebook and
| throw it in to YOU" said Dick. dryly.
! You may imagine that l planned just
! such an evening as this, but ! assure you
1 that your enjoyment is only very snsht
| shade less than my own.
/ why don't you get me out?" she asked.
| you have to set up the pins before
! YOU can knock them down. answered
| Dick.
| II don't know what you mean; but !
! want to get home before word IS sent to
! my father. / know my hair is turning
| gray" :.
"Hush." cautioned Dick. again Il
! think it is all right this time. Now, not
a word"
| He dropped into the shadow behind the
| clump OF trees and fastened his gaze upon
| the path He saw two figures approach
ing one of them wearing dress, and a
| few feet in advance of the other, but
| walking very slowly. Just before enter
ing the small glade they paused in the