Middletown transcript., 1911-01-21

Daddy uses 1t for storing furE
and the like, she explained. III
dark, but you're not afraid, are
you?
/ He came close beside her and
i peered in. Afraid? Me afraid
Not after what I've gone through
/ these three days! he added
bitterly.
/ His cropping fingers touched
her wrist. She thrilled at their
warmth.
Why didn't you force me to
hide your she asked, noting the
big revolver at his hip. I always
Imagined bad men did such
things as that.
He turned. Bad men do, came
his quick response.
Oh! and she laughed timidly,
holding her hands tightly to-
gether. What a strange, attrac.
tive fellow this Spider was! How
gray and wide his eyes were, and
how frankly, boyishly they met
her own! How softly he spoke,
and how quick bis lips were to
smile! And to think there we're
men who sought to kill him!
GIoria's narrow horizon had been
peopled by SO few that somehow,
all unbidden, she caught herself
wishing she might sit and talk
with him.
IL don't know how I'm ever
going to thank you, the man
went on, after the long interval
of silence. You're doing a
powerful lot for me. Is it because
you are afraidP he added.
Because because am sorry
for you, she gulped bravelg and
looked up into his eyes.
Then the man did a very bold
thing. He stepped over and
took her face within his warm
fingers.
You're a brave, dear little
woman, he said tenderly, slowly;
and before she could catch at
her breath be had kissed her
upon the forehead. She felt her.
self growing faint and sank back
against the wall. The pressure
of his warm lips burned her
flesh. Her heart throbbed so
msdly, so wildly that she half
feared she would choke for
breath. The mans voice came to
her ears as from a great height.
I forgot to tell you, he said,
that there's another man with
me. He'll be here any minute
now. You'll bring him here, too,
won't you, little woman9
Another man? she Wavered.
And then, as q sudden sound of
steps came across the porch, she
put out her aim and pushed the
man through the opening and
hurriedly closed the panel.
I'll bring-the other man-to
you, she stammered. Keep quiet.
Daddy's coming.
Hillman came through the door
and paused irresolptely on the
threshold. Gloria went across
the floor and lighted the lamp.
I thought you were in bed,
GiOriS, he spoke up, as the girl
adjusted the chimney with trem-
ulous fingers.
No, daddy. She tried hard to
control her words. l was just
watching the stars. It's q won.
derful night.
When, after time, the old
man went upstairs to his room,
leaving her alone, Gloria slipped
out onto the porch. The cool,
damp air was grateful to her
flushed, hot face, and she drank
in the refreshing breeze with
deep, quivering breaths. 1t was
at that moment, standing there
in the half twilight, her hands
clinched, her breast rising and
falling unanimously, that the
realization crushed upon her
like some brutal, remorseless
first. What had she done? She
had taken q hunted murderer and
hid him from the law! She had
suffered him to touch her hand
and to press his lips against her
forehead! She had given him,
that poor, ragged, hungry break.
er of the law, her first kiss! Some.
thing caught in her throat and
she began TO sob quietly, the big
tears running down her hot
cheeks. Then, through the mist
that blinded her eyes, she saw
one brave little star-her star
twinkling high up in the heavens
and with a gnlp she dashed the
tears away.
| don't ever believe-he-kill-
ed-a, man, she defended. II