The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1912-04-05

dew of an early May morning. Surely
no one but a brute could endure the
thought Of the delicate pink Of those
softly rounded cheeks deepening to
scarlet and those exquisitely curved
lips quivering under the pitiless fire of
cross questioning from half a dozen
lawyers regarding the hideous details
Of the Brent murder case.
Her testimony was not essential.
The case of the state was sufficiently
strong without it. Justice would lose
nothing by her absence. Her flight
was not only entirely honorable-it
was a sacred duty she owed herself
and her family.
Fortunately she was safe enough
now. Soon after passing the next sta
ton they would cross the line into Con-
necticut, and there would be no Ques-
ton of further pursuit. If only she
were shade more apprOaehable he
was sure he could give her some valu-
able advice in the matter.
At this point in his reflections the
train came TO full stop. why. we're
there already" he muttered, glancing
out Of the window, and then lnyolun-
tarily he smiled sympathetically at the
| girl.
She. however. did not seem TO be at
| all in Il mood to receive congratula.
/ fionS. She was very pale. her lips were
/ twitching neryously, and when. just as
/ the train started again, the porter en-.
tered the car. followed by the eondue-
tor. an expression OF utter terror came
into her eyes.
I Evidently her fears were not alto
gether groundless- The two men went
/ directly to her. aud while tie porter
murmured consolingly. Now, dent be
afraid. miss; no one amt gwtne 10 hurt
you." the conductor produced tele-
graph form from which he read rapidly
/ In low tone.
| Wentworth made no attempt TO con-
ceal the fact that be was listening,
you see," said the conductor. hand
ing her the paper. these instructions
are from police headquarters. so there
is nothing for me to do but give you
1 INTO cuSlOUy 1t New maven.
Rubbish calculated Wentworth be
fore the girl could speak. If You do
any such fool thing as that you'll find
yourself in about the worst scrape you
ever tackled. This young lady isn't
charged with any crime. Is she?"
The conductor shook his head doubt
fully.
"Of course not Well, you know quite
as well as / do that you can't serve a
subpoena out of the state. It's up to
her to say whether she'll 60 back and
be a witness In that beastly trial or not
That wire didn't come from police
| headquarters any more than you did
Let me see It."
Impressed by the decision of his man.
ner. the conductor almost mechanical
IL complied with his demand.
"Just as l thought" pursued Miss
Blain's self constituted protector-"a
pure fake. Haven't even got her name
right. Spelled it with an r."
How should 1t be spelled?" asked
the porter.
why. with an n naturally" said
Wentworth, with whitening scorn.
do you know this gentleman ask
ed the conductor. turning TO the girl.
"I-that is she began helplessly.
Know me? Why. I'm one Of her
best friends" interposed Wentworth
hastily, managing TO give her elbow
surreptitious pressure. II came on this
| train purposely TO look after her, al
though she didn't know Of my inten-
ton"
! There was a moments silence. dur
ing which the girl kept her face avert
ed, the porter shuffled uneasily and
Wentworth looked defantly at the con-
ductor, who shrugged his shoulders.
! We'll" remarked that official at
length, Pm no lawyer or detective
either, and l don't know whether that
wires straight or not, but l don't like
to make things unpleasant for lady.
l can't interfere with the proper au-
thorites If they come on at New Ha-
ven, but l don't know as it's my bust
ness to give 'em any help. Perhaps
you can fix some plan between you
And. motioning to the porter TO pre-
cede him. be passed on through the
car.
The girl turned. quickly to Went
worth.
what did you mean" she asked.
by talking about my testifying in
case? Who do you think ann
81 don't think anything about it"
said Wentworth II know you're An
nette Blain. and you're leaving New
York so you won't be Obliged to appear
at the Brent trial" And he glanced
significantly at her luggage. on which
the letters "A B." appeared conspie-
uously In several places.
"Oh, no, I'm not. I'm Antoinette
Blair, and never heard of the Brent
case. I'm simply running away from
home to escape marrying a man de
test. and my guardian has found 1t
out and sent that horrid wire. They'll
keep me at New Haven until he gets
there. know they will"
Wentworth gave a low whistle.
How old are your he asked abb
ruptly.
as[inetean