The Taney County republican., 1913-10-23


"Please!" she insisted, holding out
the ring. 81 shall get right out Of this
carriage unless you do"
"But perhaps some one gave you the
ring, and you are attached to IT,"
My father" she answered briefly,
"and he would want me to use It this
way" She pressed the ring into his
hand almost impatiently.
Il will keep it until you want ii
again." he said kindly.
You need not do that, for | shall
not claim it," she declared. you are
at liberty to sell it. know it is worth
good deal"
Il shall certainly keep it until am
sure you do not want it yourself" he
repeated. Now let us talk about this
journey Of yours. We are almost at
the station, Have you any preference
as to where you go? Have you friends
to whom you could go?"
She shook her head.
There are trains to New York every
hour almost"
Oh MOI" she gasped in frightened
tone.
And to Washington often"
Il should rather not go to Washing
ton" she breathed again.
Pittsburgh, Chicago?" he hazarded.
Chicago will do" she asserted with
relief Then the carriage stopped be.
fore the great station, ablaze with
light and throbbing with life.
He hurried her through the station
and up to the ladies waiting room,
where he found a quiet corner and a
large rocking.Chair, in which he placed
her so that she might look out of the
great window upon the panorama of
the evening street, and yet be thor
ougly screened from all intruding
Chances by the big leather and brass
screen of the ladies bootblack."
He was gone fifteen minutes, during
which the girl sat quietly in her chair,
yet alert, every nerve strained. At
any @Oment the mass of faces she was
watching might reveal one whom she
dreaded to see, or a detective might
place his hand upon her shoulder with
quiet Come with me-"
When Dunham came back, the nery,
Gus start she gave showed him how
tense and anxious had been her mind
He studied her lovely face under the
great hat, and noted the dark shadows
beneath her eyes. He felt that he
must do something to relieve her. II
was unbearable to him that this young
girl should be adrift, friendess, and
apparently victim to some terrible
fear.
Drawing up a chair beside her, he
began talking about her ticket.
"You must remember ] was utterly
at your mercy" she smiled sadly. "a
simply had to let you help me-"
81 should be glad to pay double for
the pleasure you have given me in al
lowing me to help YOU" he said.
lust at that moment boy in a blue
uniform planted solelCather suit
case at his feet, and exclaimed: Here
you are, Mr.. Durham. Had fierce
time fndin' you. Thought you sale
you would be by the elevator door"
so did" confessed the young man
81 didn't think you had time to gel
down yet. Well, you found me any
how, Hardness"
The boy took the silver given him
touched his hat, and sauntered of.
You see explained Durham, III
wasn't exactly the thing for you to bC
travelling without a bit of baggage.
thought 1t might help them to trace
you if you really were being followed
So took the liberty Of phoning ovel
TO the clubhouse and telling the boy
TO bring down the suitcase that left
q there yesterday. / don't exactly know
what's in it. had the man pack it anC
send it down to me, thinking ! might
stay all night at the club. Then went
home, after all, and forgot to take II
along. 1t probably hasn't anything
very appropriate for a lady's costume
but there may be hair-brush and somt
soap and handkerchiefs. And, any
how, if you'll accept it, it'll be some
thing for you to hitch on to. One feele
a little lost even for one night with
out a rag one can call ones own ex
cept a Pullman towel. ] thought II
might give you the appearance Of a
regular traveller, you know, and, not q
. runaway"
He tried to make her laugh about
1t, but her face was deeply serious as
che looked up at him.
Il think this is the kindest ant
most thoughtful thing you have done
yet" she said. Il don't see how l car
ever, ever thank you!"
Don't try" he returned gaily
: There's your train being called. Wee
+, better 90 right out and make you com
Portable. You are beginning to be very
tired"