Middletown transcript., 1911-01-21
and gripped her brutally BY the

ana grlpped ner Drutaily Dy bne
arm.
You got tc hide me! the man
painted, animal like, his breath
hoarse and unnatural. You goi
to hide me, understand And be
quick about it, too! They're
right behind me!
Gloria saw revolver in his trembling
hand lifted level with her breast FoE
one horrible second every Bit Of life
seemed 10 drain from her veins. Then
che remembered Spiders last request.
This creature, with the gun, was his
friend.
Don't talk 60 loud. she cautioned
family, but thankful that her yoice did
not quaver. IN hide You away. Only
only, please put she gun down.
As she hurriedly led the way through
the open door and into the kitchen,
Gloria could not help comparing these
two ragged fugitives. What . differ
enceI To all appearances both were
fleeing from the law, yet Spider had
spoken 40 quietly and made no use Of
force. This man, painting like spent
dog, bis fingers gripped about the heavy
gun, sickened her. A sharp report Of a
rife rang startlinRIy clear from out Of
doors. The man beside her broke into
an oath and struck her upon the arm.
Why don't you hurry7 he demanded
savagely. Don't you hear them coming?
Gloria kept her lips tightly closed.
Somehow the knob stuck and would not
give to her frantic fingers.
Another shot came, nearer now, and in
a sudden, blind terror she was about TO ask
the eother's help, when, with crash, the
panel slipped back, and, with rigid, ex-
tended revolver, the man who had been
hidden behind 1t leaped out.
Put up your hands, spiderI he COM
manded.
The other man, whiTling about as il on
a pivot, his eyes distended with fright
aud CLASSY, sucked in his breath with q
groan and weakly lifted his arms ceiling
ward. His gun, slipping from bis limp
fingers, clsttered noisily to the 1oor.
What immediately followed Gloria
never knew, for her brain began to Whirl
dizzily. Men were rushing in through
the open door. The air filed with bOis-
ferrous shoutsa and commands. Her father,
partly dressed; broke though the crowd
just ia time to put out his arms and pre-,
vent her falling. When she came to the
world again; her father was franticalIy
bathing her forehead with cold water.
The men were leaving the room. Almost
in daze she saw between them q slouch-
ed; mud.spGttered. weary fgure-hand-
cuffed. Some one addressed him as
Spider. He was the last mantle man
who had struck her-the man who had
used bis gun. And the man who had
kissed her was still commanding the
crowd She slipped back into oblivion,
but this time with sob Of happiness.
The next time her eyes Anttered open
there was another man standing beside
her fatber-a tall man, with wide gray
eyes and torn sombrero. She sighed deep
ly and felt her brain clear. and after
desperate attempt managed to sit erect.
HiIlpan looked down and put his
hand 10 her shoulder.
Hampton was Just telling me that you
helped him catch Spider, he began. L
didn't know I had such q brave little
girl.
Gloria's heart was Ieapine beyond all
control. The other man Hamptonl Il
was the sheriff and not Tie fugitive whom
she hidI Iustantl- the ruse dawued upon
her.
: I'm sorry-sorrY Ihad tolie, Hampton
was speaking now. But the boys spoke OF
your tender heart, and so l TOOK the
chance Of getting hers before Spider.
Still her words refused to come.
Half the reward is yours, little woman,
he resumed, after the interval. Hlliman
had gone toward the door with thecroWd,
and they were alone.
Mayn't bring it up to you some Iday
next week? he added, softly.
Some day next week? she repeated duly
aud then, understanding, wish yoh
would, Mr.. Hampton, she burst out ian.
pulsively. get lonesome sometimes.
And this time, when her cheeks famed
with sudden color, she was not ashamed.