, 1912-12-12

Cant you read-oh. there now-I be
your pardon! You come to me for Orc
lection and I-well, don't be too bar
on me just yet. IN find the time an,
pace TO ten you" He drew away al
most as his hand was ready to clas,
ners-all because her sweet eyes me
MS trustingly-he could have sworn
lovingly.
Just now | nm a poor little repro
bate" she sighed ever so miserably
you are very good. I'll not forget
I'll not permit you to forget" h,
said eagerly.
isn't the h~ousekeeper a long time ii
coming?" she asked quickly n,
laughed ~contentediy.
We've no reason to worry about her
It's h pursuers from Bazelhurst that
should trouble us. Won't you tell mt
the whole story?" And she told hin
everything. sitting there beside him
with a hot drink In her hand and a
growing shame in her heart. 1t was
dawning upon her with alarming force
that b was exposing a hitherto un.
known incentive. It was not a con-.
Portable awakening. And you cham.
pfon me to that %extent?" he cried Joy.
ously. She nodded bravely and went
o
so here I am" she said In conclu-
sion. 81 really could not have walked
to Ridgely tonight. could ~"
81 should say not"
"And there was really nowhere else
to come bur hereT' obviously.
"See that light over there up the
mountain? 2" he asked. leading her to q
window. 'Old mqn Grimes and his
wife live up there. They keep a light
burning all night to scare Renwood's
ghost away. By Jove, the storm will
be upon us in a minute. l thought II
had blown round u.s. The roll OF
thunder came up the valley. Thank
heaven you're safe indoors. Let them
pursue II they like. I'll hide You II
they come. and the servants g re close
mouthed."
II don't like the way you put 1t. Mr..
Shaw"
"Hello, heIlo-the house!' came a
shout from the wind ridden night out.
side. Two hearts inside stopped bent,
ing for a second or two. She caught
her breath sharply as she clasped his
arm.
"They are after mer' she gasped.
'"They must not find you here. Real
ly, Miss Drake. 1 mean 1t. They would
not understand. Come with me. &c
down this hall quickly. 1t leads to the
garden back Of the house. There's a
gun room at the end Of the hall. Go In
there, to your right. Here. take this
It's an electric saddle lantern. Ill
head these fellows of. They shan't
find you. Don't be alarmed
She sped down the narrow hail, and
he, taking time to slip into a long
dressing coat. stepped out upon the
porch in response to the now prolong.
ed and impatient shouts.
who's there?' he shouted. The light
from the windows revealed several
horsemen In the roadway.
Friends" came back through the
wind. Let is in out Of the storm. It's
a terror"
~ don't know you" There was a
shout of laughter and some profanity.
"Oh. yes you do, Mr.. Shaw. Open
up and let us in. It's Dave Rank and
Ed Hunter. We can't make the cabin
before the rain" Shaw could see
their faces now and Their by the fash
es Of lightning, and he recognized the
two woodsmen, who doubtless had
been visiting sweethearts up toward
Ridgely.
take your horses to the stable, boys,
and come in," he called, laughing
heartily. Then he hurried on to the
gun room. He passed Mrs. Ulrich com
ing downstairs yawning prodigiously.
He called to her to wait for him in the
library.
There was no one in the gun room.
The door leading to the back porch
was open. With an exclamation he
leaped outside and looked about him.
Good %heavens!" he cried. stagger-
ing back.
Far OF In the night, a hundred yard
OIL more up the road, leading to Crime
cabin he saw the webbing, uncerta'
flicker of a light vending its way IT,
a will-o'-the-wisp through the nigh
Without a moments hesitation al
with something strangely like an oath
he rushed into the house, almost mp
setting the h~ousekeeper In his haste.
"visitors outside. Make EN- com
Portable. Back soon,'' he jerked out
as he changed his "a with small re
spect for his injured arm. Then ht
clutched a couple Of r~aincoats from the
rack and few out of the back door like
a man suddenly gone mad.
CHAPTER VIII.