Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-30

caught his excitement, and fairly leaped into
the open. The veneer of civilized genera
tions slipped from him; the swift vengeful-
ness of his forebears descended upon him. As
he raced along the main road, his hand went
under his coat, lovingly lingering something
concealed therein.
| RUT the lapse of time between Celia dis
appearance and the alarm had enabled
her captors to elude him. The Hollow was
deserted; every trace that might indicate
the line of flight evaded him. He rode back
along the way he had come, this time more
slowly. Suddenly he turned the mares head
into an opening in the woods. He proceeded
cautiously now. At a turning a cluster of
low bushes faced him, with branches bent
and broken, and message of torn lace frills
clinging to them.
He was out Of the saddle in an instant
The rain had fallen during the night, and
the sodden moss that carpeted the ground
still retained the imprint of tiny feet, show
ing him the way they had set when the child
swerved from the beaten path.
Into the tree-shadowed depths he fol-
lowed, oblivious of the mares existence.
She whinnied nervously, and started to fol
low: but Charley gave no heed to her.
| Farther into the tangle of ground plants and
wet moss the footsteps led, then stopped al
| together.
Charley dropped to his knees and searched
closely There could be no mistake Where
| the tiny footsteps ceased they were taken up
| by others, footprints of men, those of
one branching off obliquely from the others
toward Dunsmere Hollow, the scout sent
after their few belongings. Queer little disks,
ranged regularly, followed after the others
the gamboling yellow pup, of counsel
/ If did not OCCUR tn him n waste time IN
summoning aid: there was no moment to
/ lose The trail was not difficult to follow
The men had pushed carelessly through the
brake; elsewhere the oozing moss betrayed
| their passage. Charley emerged from the
woods in the falling dusk upon narrow path
that wound up sheer mountainous slopes.
He knew it well. 1t led to deserted quarry
on the far side of the mountain, where a
desperate band might well elect to camp;
SO complete its facilities for escape, SO
dangerous its approach.
Even in daylight the ascent was one to
test stout nerves but, once assured he had
made no mistake in the trail, Charley well
coined the falling darkness. The moon had
not yet risen, and the shadows chung about
him as, patient, untiring, he plodded up
ward, his hand within his coat, caresslng, his
eyes straining to meet the glow of fire to
warn him of the kidnappers' presence.
| SUDDENLY he drew up, sitting his
breathing He had almost stumbled IN
to their midst in the darkness. Their fire
had burned low, the dying ernbers sending
forth only an occasional CLEAN as the sharp
night wind famed them to glow
BY daylight the kidnappers had climbed
more rapidly than their pursuer. Now, their
hunger appeased, the three men lay sleeping
before him at his mercy
His eyes travelled swiftly about the in
closure. The Pickering light advanced, re
treated maddeningly, lighting the shadows
for an instant, then dying away. Charley
cautiously removed his boots, lest the heavy
soles crunch upon the loose stones Of the
quarry. As he crept forward his hand stole
under his coat again. When he removed 1t,
he gripped the hilt Of naked steel
A small bundle wrapped in coarse blan-
ket lay piteously helpless beyond the brutal
captors Dimly Charley discerned the tear
stained face of his golden Honey Girl, the
tiny lips quivering with the force of spent
sobs. The blood of his forebears leaped in his
veins, his eyes cleaned murderously, the
steel blade flashed aloft; then he steadied
himself. His vengeance must wait till the
child was safe.
Gathering the little form to him 50 eau
tiously that he scarcely rislled the danger OF
waking her, he crept stealthily toward the
ODeninp of the quarry He had almost COM