Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-04-06


First must change your notion
that we are near death"
He could feel that she was looking
at him In the blackness. Don't you
think | know" she whispered. They
will not find US until tomorrow There
isn't air enough to last. have known
1t from the first
Some one will open the door," he
replied. I'VE may have to stay here
quite a while, but"
mo, my friend. There is no likeli
hood that 1t will be opened. The
clerks are leaving for the night"
He was silent.
SO finish the story" she went on,
Finish the story!" That was all
that he could do
Finish the story" His story and
hers--only just begun, and now to end
there in the dark.
But with a calmness as great as her
own, he proceeded to tell all that had
happened to him since he boarded the
electric car at Evanston and saw Maku
sitting within, She pressed his hand
gently when he described the trick by
which the Japanese had brought the
pursuit to an end, She laughed when
he came to the meeting with the de-
tective in his apartment. The episode
with Madam Ala he passed over
lightly, for part Of it ranked now. Not
that he blamed himself foolishly; but
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 couldn't see
you. Girl. And you seemed to doubt
me-"
ITO doubt your"
Don't you remember You said
that no American had the papers: but
you added. unless"
Unless Walsh, the burglar, had
played 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 Poritol 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
remarked 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 win say
i when he learns"
Girl, simply can't believe that
there Is no hope for US" ....
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, feel as though / should be
fighting with the door"
You can't open It," .......
; But some one of the clerks goins
out may have seen that 1t was bolted
! Wouldn't he have pushed the boil
back? I'm going to see."
He CROPPED to the door and tugged a
= the handle. The door, for all the eff
} feet his effort had on 1t, might hav'
been section of solid wall.
: Come back" she called.
He felt his way until his foot touched
D the coat. AS he let himself down be
side her, his hand brushed over he
hair. and unconsciously she Leaned
8 toward him. He felt the pressure o
( her shoulder against his side, and tn
e touch sent a thrill through him. II
b leaned back against the wall ant
t stared into the blackness with eye
r that saw only visions of the happines
:. that might have been
I'VE mustn't make any effort t
t break OUT she said. 1T is useless
: And every time we move about an
S tug at the door, 1t makes us breath
t that much faster"
v YES" he sighed, Il suppose we ca
e only sit here and wait"
s DO you know" she said softly,
n am wondering why our situation doe
v not seem more terrible to me.
/, should, shouldn't it,"
l. Il hardly think so" he replied.
d "The relative importance OF on
e worldly affairs" she went on dream
l. lily, appears to change when one see
q that they are all to stop at once. The
e recede into the background of tn
q mind. What counts then is, oh, don
e want to think of it! My fathef-he-
e Her shoulders shook for moment III
n der the stress of sudden grief, bu
It she quickly regained her contro
"There, now" she whispered. 81 won
II do that"
For a time they sat in silence. HI
,r own whirling thoughts were Of sol
y that he could not fathom; they pc
al.