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

was deep in the mysterious problem
which confronted him. Half dozen
times he broke in upon his thoughts
to glance at the girl at the opposite ia
Bile. Once he was sure that she had
been looking at him and that she had
turned just in time to keep her face
from him. Philip admired pretty wom-
en-, and OF all beauty in woman he low
ed beautiful hair, so that more and
more frequently his eyes travelled to
the shining wealth of copper-colored
tresses near him. He had almost I'm
ished his supper when a movement at
the other table drew his eyes up square
", and his heart gave a sudden jump
The girl had risen She was facing
him, and as for an instant their eyes
met she hesitated, as if she were on the
point of speaking. In that moment he
recognized her.
1t was the girl in the photograph, old
er, more beautiful-the same soft, sweet
contour of face, the same dark eyes
that had looked at him in MacGregor's
Office, filed with an undesirable sad
ness now, instead of the laughing Joy
of girlhood. In another moment he
would have responded to her hesitation.
to the pathetic tremble of her lips, but
before words could form themselves
she had turned and was gone. nd yet
at the door, even as she disappeared, he
saw her face turned to him again, plead
ingly, entreatingly, as if she knew his
mission and sent to him a silent prayer
for mercy.
Thrusting back his chair, he caught
up his hat from a rack and followed
He was in time to see her pass through
the low door out into the night With
out hesitation his, mind had leaped to
definite purpose He would overtake
her outside, introduce himself, and then
perhaps he would understand the con-
fiicting orders Of Inspector MscGregor.
The girl was passing swiftly down
the main street when he took up the.
pursuit. Suddenly she turned into
path dug through the snow that led
riverward. Ahead of her there was
only the starlit gloom of night and the
distant blackness of the wilderness edge.
Philips blood ran a little faster. She
had expected that he would follow,
knew that he Was close behind her, and
had turned down into this deserted
place that they might not be observed.
He made no effort now to overtake her,
but kept the same distance between
them, whistling carelessly and knowing
that she would stop to wait for him.
Ahead of them there doomed up out of
the darkness a clump of sapling spruce,
and into their shadow the girl disap-
peared.
A dozen PAGES more and Philip him
self was buried in the thick gloom. He
heard quick, light footsteps in the snow
crust ahead Of him. Then there came
another sound-a step close behind him.
a noise of disturbed brush, low voice
which was not that of a woman. and
before his hand could slip to the holster
at his belt a human form launched it
self upon him from the side, and sec
ond form from behind. and under their
weight he fell helpless heap into the
arms behind his back and other hands
drew cloth about his mouth. A stout
cord was twisted around his wrists,
his legs were tied, and then his captors
relieved him of their weight
Not a. word had been spoken during
the brief struggle. Not word was
spoken now as his mysterious assailants
hoisted him between them and followed
in the footsteps of the woman. Scarce
ly hundred PAGES beyond the spruce
the dark shadow of cabin came into1
view. Into this he was carried and
placed ON something which he took to
be box. Then. light was struck.
For the first time Philips astonished
eyes had view of his captors. One
of them was an old man, a giant in
physique, with a long gray beard and
grayish yellow hair that fell to his
shoulders. His companion was scarce
" more than a boy, yet in his supple
body, as he moved about, Philip recog-
nized the aninlal-like strength of the
forest breed. A word spoken in a