Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-09-07

the lodge. In little while the woods
became more open. and they made
better progress Miss Grayman bur-
ried on. and Susan painted at her
heels. Suddenly Susan exclaimed. ION.
Miss Helen. ! can't can't 60 any
fartherr'
Then wen sit down and rest" was
the reply.
They sat down on fallen trunk.
overgrown with soft fresh moss
Presently Susan stretched herself fat
on her back. her face streaming with
perspiration
on she painted. 81 shall der
mo. you won't die said Miss Gray
man. whose strength was sustained by
a more terrible fear than Susan knew.
you'll feel all right in few minutes"
Are you not going to return to the
lodgey'
Heaven forbidr' cried her mistress.
Susan. do you know who It is that we
are running away from? 1t Is the Sky
Pirate. Alfonso Paytonr'
Susan was probably better read In
the literature Of piracy. especially as
represented by the sensational jour
nails. than her mistress. and at the
name Of Alfonso Payton she turned
ashy pale
"Oh, good Lordyr' she cried. when
she recovered her breath. You don't
mean that. Miss Helen? Why. he is
the wickedest man in the world. I've
read all about him in the Sunday
Peace If he gets US we're gone sure!
He never gives you up unless You pay
him 100000 The paper said so And
If you don't pay you're killed. Oh,
dear me. what shall do? But won't
Commodore Brown help usY
"You gooser' said Miss Grayman.
her amusement at Susan's stupidity
serving to animate her. '.Of course
Commodore Brown won't help us. He's
the very man."
Commodore Brown is Alfonso Pay
ton!'
Susan could say no more. She had
no words and remained staring at her
mistress with gaping mouth.
But where will you go. Miss Helen?
Wen get lost in the woods, and where
shall we sleep tonight?" she finally
gasped.
1--WE are lost already replied Miss
Grayman gravely. 81 could not find
my way back if / wished to. As to
where we shall sleep. don't know
on the ground, under tree, sup
pose"
But the bearsr
1--WE must trust in God"
"And what shall we eatT'
To be killed? TO starve? What were
these in comparison with meeting that
man again? Yet. by one of those GU
rious mental freaks to which we are
all subject, while Miss Grayman had
| thought neither of wild beasts nor of
food. the idea that they would need
covering at night had flashed upon
her. and it was for that reason that
she had sent Susan for the wraps.
And now they chung to these things
and logged them along as if their lives
and safety depended upon them alone.
Miss Grayman made no reply to SUI
sans questions about what they should
eat. She simply pressed on, and Susan
followed. Sometimes they were caught
in tangles of spiny underground, from
which there seemed no issue. Yet, on
and on they struggled. They were
wearing the stout garments that Pay
ton had recommended, but even these
were becoming torn and disordered.
At last, wearied beyond expression.
they had to STOP It was getting dark
in the woods, and they knew that the
sun was near setting. Miss Grayman
selected spot where the covering of
pine needles was deep and soft. under
q group Of trees. and. spreading her
cloak and bidding Susan do the same
with her wrap. lay down. They were
worn out. hungry, thirsty. but they
had no supper They wished for
fire. but that could not be had. So
they lay down again. close together,
arms interviewed. the daughter of the
great Millionaire embracing her hum
bier sister. and finding comfort in
her companionship that at least warm
ed her heart
They tried to sleep. but. in addition
to the cold. noises now arose that
drove sleep from their tired eyes
strange sounds of the trackless wilder
ness distant, wailing screams that
gradually approached and filed them
with terror, rustlings among the
branches. the Swapping of twigs in the
inky darkness. heavier sounds from
the depths of the forest. animal voices
replying to one another. Eyes were
watching them. though they did not
know it. They twined their arms
closer and trembled. and at last sob
bed together. The cold increased. al
though, after a time. the nearer noises
ceased. At last. in spite of all the dis
comfort. they fell asleep.