The Detroit times., 1912-06-19
.MWANrm M...
BROWN DERBY
~
Wells HASTINGS
sSso Author Of GEO
The Professors Mystery
(seshlsllby BObbs1e'a (s
CHAPTER XXI.
A Word.

The room was much like the others
into which had looked. bare, with
sort OF sickening imitation OF insu-
tutional cleanliness. The walls were
unrelieved by single picture, and
save that they were here and there
blotched or cracked with age, looked,
as | have said, very much like the
walls OF private room in a hospital.
The broad boards OF the floor were
bare also, and at some rather remote
time had been painted nondescript
green The room was almost without
furnishings A rickety dresser stood
against one wall. a painted tron-frame
wash-stand with tin pitcher and bowl
occupied corner, and across the
room from the dresser and against
the opposite wall was little, single,
iron bed, whose coverings, although
clean, were in state OF crying disre-
pair. There was also wooden chair
in the room, as there was In each or
the others. The only piece or turni-
ture that at all distinguished II was
a great, tumbledown, easy chair,
whose tattered velvet was half hidden
by an old steamer rug.
Nancy was seated in this chair with
her back turned almost squarely upon
The window. The dress In which had
last seen her had been replaced by
pain garment OF striped Bingham such
as trained nurses wear. and which. l
suppose, was an extra precaution
against her escape, modified form
OF prison dress. Some little rustic or
the window shade. perhaps, made her
turn her face toward the window, and
saw that she was pale and had been
crying.
Nancy" | whispered, Nancy"
She sprang 10 her feet and stood
looking about her, one slim hand rails
ed fearfully 10 her heart. Did some
body CALI" she asked.
Don't be frightened" | said III
Is /. Mason Here at the window
She crossed the room uncertainty.
as If she had heard many voices OF
late or had waited so anxiously 10
hear. that now she could not believe
You. Mason. YOU" she whispered.
yes, | climbed up the Ivy. | am
here at the window. | have come 10
take you home again"
She knelt on the floor beside the
window. and raised the shade a
little, so that now we looked into each
others eyes.
my dear, my dear" | said, ARE
you well? Is everything all right
here?"
Nancy drew long, shuddering
breath. "Oh, Mason. | am so glad,
glad YOU have come. | have been 80
worried about you. | was afraid
afraid they might have killed you"
Il don't think they would 90 quite
so far as that" | laughed.
Il don't know, Mason" Nancy said
very seriously. They brighten me.
They are capable of almost anything
wicked, desperate or wrong, and
am afraid for you even now. II is
mad OF you TO be clinging there with
your face TO the bright light | am
going to pull down the shade
Don't" | said. The Waterman
wont be round again for ten minutes
at least, and | want to see YOU"
NO., said Nancy, ut is too danger
GUS lam going to pull II down. We
can talk just as well from different
sides OF the curtain"
But" | protested.
No. said Nancy firmly, cit has to
be-" Then with little flush and SO
softly that | could scarcely hear the
whisper, Kiss me, dear"
She bent forward so that her face
pressed close against the cruel. rust
ing bars OF iron, the wondrous mys.
terry OF her beauty tenderly enfolding
her The dear, brave eyes looked into
mine for an eternal instant, then fell
as I bent and kissed her lips. The
agonies of hell could not have fright
ened me then.
You are coming with me now
now said, and stretched one hand
10 bar OF the iron grating, which
bent in my hand.
Nancy caught my wrist with a
quick, restraining little gesture. NO
Mason, not that way" she said 1T Is
too dangerous for you. Yes, too dan
gerous fer both Of us. am going 70
pull down the shade, and you must
talk TO me quietly; for OF course you
can take me away. tomorrow, per
haps, and there is no immediate
danger"
mo danger" repeated: why
Nancy. the place is horrible"
Then you had better not look at II
any more" said Nancy. and pulled