The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-04
CHAPTER XXyI.
THE cRrcIRIE.


~ My Miss Brewster herself
could have answered the
question of her whereabouts
at the exact moment Of Van
Lewis asking. She was left behind,
standing aghast in the midst of tu-
mults, on the platform of the Crows
Nest. Terrified, like the others. at
the sudden outburst of violence. she
had ventured from the car to look for
Lidgerwood's messenger, and in the
moment of frightened bewilderment
the Nadia had been whisked away.
Naturally her first impulse was to
fly. and the only refuge that offered
was the superintendent Office on the
second floor The stairway door was
only a little distance down the plat
form. and she was presently cropping
her way up. the light through the up
per corridor windows enabling her to
go directly to the open door Of the su-
perintendents office. But when she
reached the door and looked within
the trembling terror returned and held
her spelIbound, speechless. unable to
move or even to cry out
What she saw fitted itself to moth
ing real 1t was more like a scene
clipped from play. Two masked
men We're covering with reyolvers
third. who was tied helpless in
chair The captive's face was CHASTITY
and blood stained, and at first she
thought he was dead. Then she saw
his lips move in curious twitchings
I H. T. k|<
be trying to speak. but the ruffian at
his right would not give him leave.
This is where you pass out. Mr..
Lideerwood," the man was saying
threateningly. You give Us your
word that you will resign and leave
the Red Butte Western for keeps or
you'll sit in that chair till somebody
comes to take you out and bury you"
The twitching lips were controlled
with what appeared to be an almost
superhuman effort, but the words
came jerkily.
what would my word, extorted un-
der such conditions, be worth to your
Eleanor could hear in spite of the
terror that would not let her cry out
or run for help. He was yielding to
them, bargaining for his life!
"We'll take it." said the spokesman
coolly. eff you break faith with us
| there are more than two of US who
| will see to it that you don't live long
| enough to brag about it. You've had
your day, and you've got to co.
| "And if | refuse?' Eleanor made
sure that the voice was steadier now.
sIt's this, here and now" grated the
| taller man, who had hitherto kept ST.
lence, and he cooked his revolver and
| iammed the muzzle Of it against the
bleeding temple of the man in the
chair.
The captive Strengthened himself as
we'll as his bonds would let him.
| ''You-you've let the psychological
moment go by, gentlemen. 1--we got
my second wind. You may burn and
| destroy and shoot as you please, but
while I'm alive I'll stay with you.
Blaze away, il that's what you want
I to do"
The horror stricken watcher at the
1oor covered her face with her hands
| 20 shut o, the sight of the murder. It
was not until Lidgerwood's voice. calm
and even toned and haunting. broke
the silence that she yentured to look
again.
/ "Well, gentlemen, I'm waiting. Why
don't you shoot? You are greater cow
ards than l have ever been. with all
my shiverings and teeth gatherings.
| Isn't the stake big enough to warrant
your last desperate play? FIJI make it
| bigger. You are the two men who
broke the rail joint at Silver Switch
All, that hits you. doesn't it,"
Shut upp' growIed the tall man,
with a frightful imprecation. But the
| smaller Of the two was silent
! Lidgerwood's grin was CHASTITY. but
it was nevertheless a teeth barring Of
defiance.
| You cursv' he scoffed. "You haven't
even the courage Of your own necessi-
ties! Why don't you pluck up the