The Detroit times., 1912-08-13

UP 70 catch Blllinger leaning over
the pommel OF his saddle staring al
something almost directly under rs
horses feet.
What's that?" he demanded. "A
handkerchief"
Philip picked il up--a dainty Dit OF
tl,I linen. crumpled and sodden py
dew. and held IL out between the
forefinger and thumb of both HANDS
Yes, and a woman's handkerchief
Now what the devil
He stopped AT the look In Billing
er's face as ne reached down TOT 1he
handkerchief. The square JAWS Oh
the man were set like steel springs,
but Philip noticed that his hanu WAS
trembling. 10
"a woman in the gang, ne
laughed as Philip mounted
They started out at eanter:
Rillinger still holding the DIT OF
linen close under his eyes. AFTER
little he passed IL back 10 Phlllp
WIN was riding close beside him.
"something happened last night.
no said looking straight ahead OF
him. that I can't understand
didn't tell my wife. | haven't toiu
any one. But ! guess YOU ought 10
know. It's interesting. anyway
and has made wreck OF my nerves.
He wiped his face with a blackened
rag which he drew from MS mp
norket ave were working hard 10
get out the living. leaving the dead
where they were for time, ana
mad crawled under the wreck OF the
sleener I was sure that | had heard
cry. and crawled in among the
debris. showing a lantern ahead OF
me About where Berth Number len
should have been. the timbers had
telescoped upward, leaving an open
space four or five feet high. was
on nv hands and knees, bare
headed, and my lantern lighted up
things as plain as day. AT first
saw nothing, and was listening
again for the cry when ! felt some
thing soft and light sweeping down
over me, and looked up. Heav-
ems
Billinger was hopping his face
again. leaving streaks OF char-olack
where the Precipitation had started.
Pinned up there In the mass OF
twisted steel and broken wood was
woman" he went on. she was
the most beautiful thing | have ever
looked upon. Her arms were reach
ing down TO me: her face was turn
ed a little to one side. but still look
ing at me-and all but her face and
part Of her arms was smothered In
a mass of red-gold hair that fell
down to my shoulders. could have
sworn that she was alive. Her lips
were red, and l thought for mo-
ment that she was going to speak to
me. | could have sworn, too, that
there was color In her face. but II
must have been something In the
lantern light and the redgold of
her hair, for when | spoke. and then
reached up. she was cold.
Billinger shivered and urged his
horse into a faster gait
IT went out and helped with the
injured then. I guess 1t must have
been two hours later when re-
turned to take out her body. But
the place where / had seen her was
empty. She was gone. At first
thought that some of the others had
carried her out. and / looked among
the dead and injured. She was not
among them. searched again
when day came. with the same re-
suit No one has seen her. She has
completely disappeared-and with
-the exception OF my shanty there
= @Nsa hc'--~ ~'>hin ts-N~mp- kof
0.whe. , Coz Av. ps
taken. What do you make OF II,
Steeie7"
! Philip had listened with tense In
terest.
Perhaps you didn't return to the
right place" he suggested. Her
body may still be In the wreck"
Billinger glanced toward him with
a nervous laugh.
said "She had evidently not gone
TO bed, and was dressed. When
returned found a part of her skirt
in the debris above. A heavy tress
OF her hair had caught around steel
ribbing, and II was cut of Some
one had been there during my alb
sence and had taken the body. L
I'm almost ready 10 believe that l
was mistaken. and that she was alive
found nothing there, nothing
that could prove her death.
lis II possible" began Philip,
holding out the handkerchief
II was not necessary for him 20
finish. BillinFer understood, and
nodded his head
That's what I'm thinking" he
said. is IL possible? What In God 5
name would they want of her. un-
less"
Unless she was alive" added
Philip. Unless one or more OF the
scoundrels searching for valuables in
there during the excitement, saw
her and carried her off with their
other booty. It's up to US, Bill
ingerv
Billinger had reached inside his
shirt, and now he drew forth
small paper parcel
II don't know why--but kept the
tress of hair" he said. See"
From between his fingers. as he
turned toward Philip. there streamed
! out a long silken tress that shone a
marvellous gold In the sun, and in
| that same instant there fell from
| Philips lips cry sucn as Billlnger
had not heard. even from the lips
OF the wounded; and before he could