The Columbus journal., 1911-04-19

that We are near death"
He could feel that she was lookin
at him in the blackness. Don't 70
think know" she whispered. The
Will not find us until tomorrow. Ther
isn't air enough to last. l have know
it from the first"
Some one will open the door," b
replied. I'VE may have to stay her
quite a while. but"
No. my friend. There is no likel
hood that it will be opened. Tn
clerks are leaving for the night"
He was silent.
SO finish the story" she went on.
Finish the story" That was al
that he could do.
Finish the story" His story an,
hers-only just begun. and now to en-,
there in the dark.
But with calmness as great as he
own, he proceeded to tell all that ha.
happened to him since he boarded tn,
! electric car at Evanston and saw MAXI
sitting within. She pressed his hans
gently when he described the trick b,
which the japanese had brought thu
pursuit to an end. She laughed whel
he came to the meeting with the de
tective in his apartment. The episode
!. with Madam Ala he passed ovel
lightly. for part of it ranked now. No,
that he blamed himself foolishly; bu,
he wished that it had not happened.
That woman did a fine thing" said
the girl.
He went on to describe his efforts
to get free from Alcatrante.
And you were under the table in
Arima's room," she exclaimed, when
he had finished.
Il was there; but l couldn't see
you. Girl. And you seemed to doubt
me-"
TO doubt you?"
Don't you remember? You said
that no American had the papers: but
you added, unless"
Unless Walsh. the burglar. had
played a trick on Poritol and held the
true papers back. went straight
from Arima's to the Jail and had an
other talk with Walsh. He convinced
me that he knew nothing at all about
the papers. He seemed to think that
they were letters which Pcritol wanted
for his own purposes"
Then you did not doubt me-" Glad
relief was in his voice.
Il have never doubted you," she
said. simply.
There was silence Only their breath
ing and the ticking of Orme's watch
broke the stiffness.
Il don't believe that Alcatrante knew
that this place was unventilated." she
at last.
No: and he didn't know that you
were here"
He thinks that you will be released
In the morning. and that you will think
it wiser to make no charges. What
do you suppose his conscience will say
when he learns"
Girl. simply can't believe that
there is no hope for u.s."
What possible chance is there,"
Her voice was steady. The clerks
must all have gone by this time. We
can't make ourselves heard"
Still. l feel as though should be
lighting with the door"
You can't open it,
But some one of the clerks going
cut may have seen that it was bolted.
Wouldn't he have pushed the bolt
back? I'm going to see"
He groped to the door and tugged at
he handle. The door, for all the eff.
'ect his effort had on 1t, might have
been a section Of solid wall.
Come back" she called.
He felt his way until his foot touched
he coat. AS he let himself down be-
;ide her. his hand brushed over her
lair. and unconsciously she leaned
oward him. He felt the pressure of
Ter shoulder against his side, and the
ouch sent thrill through him. He
eaned back against the wall and
stared into the blackness with eyes
hat saw only visions OF the happiness
hat might have been.
I'VE mustn't make any effort to
,reak out" she said. 1T is useless.
And every time We move about and
Ug at the door. 1t makes us breathe
hat much faster"
Yes" he sighed. Il suppose We can
'niy sit here and wait"
do you know" she said softly. 81
I'm wondering why our situation does
rot seem more terrible to me. II
hould. shouldn't it,"
Il hardly think so." he replied.
The relative importance of our
worldly AFFAIRS" she went on dream
ly. appears to change when one sees
hat they are all to stop at once. They
ecede into the background of the
mind. What counts then is. oh. don't
want to think of 1t! My father-he-"
Ter shoulders shook for a moment un-
ler the stress OF sudden grief. but
he quickly regained her control.
There. now." she whispered, Il won't
10 that"
For a time they sat in silence. His
,wn whirling thoughts were of a sort
hat he could not fathom; they DOS.
essed him completely, they DESTROYED.
seemingly. al power of analysis, they
made him dumb; and they were tan.
lied ineStricab!y in the blended i'm.
'ressions Of possession and loss