The Detroit times., 1912-07-25
CHAPTER vi.
Philip Follows a Pretty Face.
(HantlnuAdi


(Contlnued), M
The girl was passing swiftly down
ne main street when he took up tho
ursuit. Suddenly she turned into a
ath dug through the snow that led
verward. Ahead OF her there was
nly the starlit gloom OF night and
be distant blackness OF the wilder
ess edge. Philips blood ran a little
aster. She had expected that he
Fould follow, knew that he was close
ehind her, and had turned down into
his deserted place that they might
ot be observed! He made no effort
ow to overtake her, but kept the
anne distance between them, whist
ng carelessly and knowing that she
you'd stop TO wait for him. Ahead OF
hem there doomed up out OF the dark
ess clump of sapling spruce. and
INTO their shadow the girl disappeared.
A dozen PAGES more and Philip
imself was buried In the thick. gloom.
lie heard quick, light footsteps In the
now-crust ahead OF him. Then there
anne another sound-a step close be-
lind him, a noise Of disturbed brush,
low voice which was not that OF a
Woman, and before his hand could
lip to the holster at his belt human
orm launched itself upon him from
he side, and a second form from be-
hind, and under their weight he fell a
helpless heap into the snow. Power
iul hands wrenched his arms behind
bis back and other hands drew cloth
About his mouth A stout cord was
visited around his wrists, his legs
were tied, and then his captors re-
ieved him of their weight
Not word had been spoken dur
he brief struggle. Not word was
spoken now as his mysterious assail-
ants hoisted him between them and
Followed In the footsteps OF the wom-
ln. Scarcely a hundred PAGES beyond
The spruce the dark shadow or a cab
IN came into view. Into this he was
carried and placed on something
which he took to be box. Then
light was struck
For the first time Philips aston
lshed eyes had view OF his captors.
One of them was an old man, giant
IN physique, with a long gray beard
hnd grayish yellow hair that fell to
his shoulders. His companion was
scarcely more than a boy, yet in his
supple body, as he moved about,
Philip recognized the animallike
btrength OF the forest breed A word
spoken in whisper by the boy re-
|yealed the fact that the two were
father and son. From that side OF the
room which was at Philips back they
dragged forth a long pine box, and
|were engaged In this occupation when
THE door opened and third man en-
tered. Never had Philip looked on
more unprepossessing face than that
Iof the newcomer, in whose little black
|eyes there seemed to be gloating
triumph as he leered at the prisoner.
He was short, with huge breadth OF
shoulders His eyes and mouth and
nose We're all but engulfed IN super
tfiuous flesh, and as he turned from
Philip to the man and boy over the
box he snapped the joints Of his fin
gers in a startling manner.
"Howdy, howdy!" he wheezed, like
one afflicted with asthma Good,
good" With these four words he laps
ed into the silence OF the older man
and the boy.
AS the box was dragged full into
the light, a look of horror shot into
Philips eyes. II was the rough-box
of a coffin! Without word. and APP
parently without signal, the three
surrounded him and lifted him bod
fly into IT, To his surprise he found
himself lying upon something soft,
as IL the interior of his strange pris-
on had been padded with cushions.
Then, with extreme caution, his arms
were freed from under his back and
strapped to his side, and other straps
broad and firm, were fastened from
side to side OF the box across his
limbs and body, as II there were dan
ger of his flying up and out through
the top. Another moment and a
shadow fell above him, pitch gloom
engulfed him.
They were dragging on the cover
to the box! He heard the rapid beat
ing of a hammer, the biting OF nails
into wood. and he writhed and strug-
gled to free his hands, TO cry out,
to gain the use of his legs, but not
the fraction OF an inch could he re-
lieve himself Of his letters. After a
time his stralning muscles relaxed,
and he stopped to get his breath and
listen. Family there came to him the
sound of subdued voices, and he
caught a glimmer Of light, then an
other, and still a third. He saw
now that half dozen holes had been
bored into the cover and sides OF the
box. The discovery brought with 1t
a sense of relief At least he was not
to be suffocated. He found, after an
interval that he was even comfort
able, and that his captors had no.
only given him a bed to lie upon,
but had placed a pillow under his
head.
HLADTER VII