The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-07

and again the inspectors significant
words, Whatever happensp Mac
Gregor had spoken the words with par
ticular emphasis-had repated them
more than once. Were they intended
to give him warning of this, to pu,
him on his guard, as well as at his
case.
And with these thoughts. many, con-
fiieting and mystifying, he found it i'm
possible to keep from associating 9TH
er thoughts of Bucly Nome, and of the
woman whom he'now frankly confessed
to himself that he loved. If conditions
had been little different. If the Incl
dents had not occurred just as they had,
he might have suspected the hand of
Bucky Nome in what was transpiring
now But he discarded that suspicion
thei nstan. that it came to him That
which remained with him more and
more deeply as the minutes passed was
a mental picture of the two women
OF this woman who was fighting TO save
her husband. and of the other, whom
he loved. and for whom he had fought
to save her for her husband. II was
with dull feeling of pain that he COM
pared the love, the faith, and the honor
of this woman whose husband had COM
mitted a crime with that one nights
indiscretion of Mrs Becker 1t was in
her eyes and face that he had seen a
purity like that of an angel. and the
pain seemed to stab him deeper when
he thought that, after all, it was the
criminals wife who was proving her
self, not Mrs. Becker.
He strove to unburden his mind for
a time, and turned his head so that he
could peer through the hole in the side
of the box. The moon had risen. and
now and then he caught flashes of the
white snow in the opens, but more fire.
quently only the black shadows of the
forest through which they were passing
They had not left lie Pas more than
two hours behind when the sledge stop
ped again and Philip saw a few scat
tered lights short distance away
Must be Wekusko," he thought
Hello, what's that"
A voice came sharply from the oppo-
site side of the box
rs that you, Fingy" it demanded
What the devil have you got there"
Your maps and things, SIR replied
Fingy hoarsely. Couldn't come up to-
morrow. so thought we'd do j; TO-
night
Philip heard the closing of a door,
and footsteps crunched in the snow
close to his ears.
Love O. God" came the voice again.
What's this you've brought them up
in. Fingy:"
Coffin box, sir. Only thing the maps
d fit into, and it's been layin' around
uselss ince MacVee KEN down in it
Mebby You can find use for it, later"
he chuckled grewsomely. "Ho-ho-ho!
mebby you CAM
A moment later the box was lifted
and Philip knew that he was being car
ried up a step and through door, then
with suddenness that startled him he
found himself standing upright. His
prison had been set on end!
Not that way, man, objected
Hodges, for Philip was now certain
that he was in the presnce of the chief
OF CONSTRUCTIVE. Put it down-over
there in the corner"
Not on your life retorted Fingy
cracking his finger bones fiercely. see
ner. Mister Hodges, | amt a coward,
but | h'lieve III bein' respectful to the
dead, n to box that's held one. Il
says on that ID CID. 'Head-This end
up an. Sep I.:, us going to be Up.
unless you gut At down. / AIM gem
70 be ha'ntcd " 10 ghosts. Ho. 10,
no" He approached close TO The
box. "Fll take this red card off, Mis-
ter Hodges. II amt nat'ral when there
amt nothing but maps n things in it"
II the cloth had not been about his
mouth, it is possible that Philip would
not have restrained audible expression
of his astonishment. at what happened
an instant later The card was torn
off, and ray OF light shot into his eyes.
Through a narrow slit not more than
a quarter of an inch wide, and six
inches long, he found himself staring
out into the room The huge gray
bearded man who had set upon him
from the ambush was at the door. about
to leave Fingy was close behind him.
And in the rear of these two. as if
eager for their departure, was Hodges,
chief OF construction.
No sooner had the men gone than
Hodges turned back to the table in the
center of the Office. 1t was not difficult
for Philip to see that the mans face
was flushed and that he was laboring
under some excitement. He sat down,
fumbled over some papers, rose quickly
to his feet. looked at his watch, and
began pacing back and forth across the
room.
so she's coming" ne chuckled glee-
fully. She's coming, at last" He
looked at his watch again, Strengthened
his cravat before mirror, and rubbed
MS hands with low laugh. The little
beauty has surrendered" he went on,
mis- face turning for an instant toward
the coffin box. And it's time-past
time"
A light knock sounded at the door,
and the chief sprang to open it A fig
ure darted past him, and for but a
breath a white. beautiful face was
turned toward Philip and his prison
he face of the young woman whom he
mad seen but two hours before in lie
Pas, the face that had pleaded with him |
that night, that had smiled upon him |
from the photograph, and that seemed
o be masked now in a cold marble |
ike horror, as its glorious eyes, like
POOLS of glowing fire, seemed searching |
him out through that narrow slit IN
he coffin box.
Hodges had advanced, with arms
-eaching out, and the woman turned |
With low, sobbing breath breaking !
rom her lips.
Another step and Hodges would have
aiken her in his arms. but she evaded
lin with quick movement, and point
d to a chair at one side of the table.
"Sit down" she cried softly. sit