The Cairo bulletin., 1913-12-30
CHAPTER l.

winch ne hdu Just arrived was late.
1t hurried away from the station. and
was swallowed up in the blackness Of
the tunnel, as il it knew its own short
comings and wished to make up for
them.
1t was five minutes OF six. and as
the young man looked back at the
long fight Of steps that led to the
bridge across the tracks, a delicate
penciling of electric light flashed into
outline against the city's deepening
dusk, emphasizing the lateness of the
hour, He had dinner engagement at
seven, and il was yet some distance
to his home, where a rapid toilet must
be made II he were to arrive on time
The stairway was long, and there
were many people thronging II. A
shorter cut led down along the tracks
under the bridge, and up the grassy
embankment.
Under the center Of the bridge a
slight noise behind him. as of soft,
hurrying footsteps, caught his atten-
ton, and a woman's voice broke upon
his startled senses.
please don't stop, nor look around"
it said. and the owner caught up with
him now In the shadow. But will
YOU kindly let me walk beside you for
a moment, till you can show me how
to get out Of this dreadful place? |
am very much frightened, and I'm
| afraid / shall be followed VIII you
tell me where I can go TO hide?
After an instants astonished pause,
he obeyed her and kept on. making
room for her to walk beside him, while
he took the place next to the tracks.
He was aware, too, OF the low rumble
of a train, coming from the mouth of
! the tunnel.
His companion had gasped for
breath, but began again in a tone of
apology:
81 saw you were a gentleman, and
| didn't know what to do | thought
you would help me to get somewhere
| quickly"
Just then the fiery eye of the oncom.
| ing train burst from the tunnel ahead
Instinctively, the young man caught
! his companions arm and drew her
| forward TO the embankment beyond
| the bridge, holding her, startled and
trembling, as the screaming train tore
past them.
The mans first thought was to get
out OF the cut before another train
should come He grasped his compan
ions arm and started up the steer
emhaukment, realizing as he did 50
that the wrist he held was slender
and that the sleeve which covered Il
was Of the finest cloth.
| AS they emerged from the dark, the
man saw that his companion was a
young and beautiful woman, and thai
she wore light cloth gown with
neither hat nor gloves
| At the top Of the embankment they
paused, and the girl with her hand al
her throat, looked backward with {
shudder, She seemed like a young
bird that could scarcely tell which
way to fly.
| Without an instants hesitation, the
young man raised his hand and hailed
a fourwheeter across the street.
Come this way, quick!" he urged
helping her in. He gave the drive,
! his home address and stepped In aftel
her Then. turning, he faced his com
panion, and was suddenly keenl,
aware of the strange situation IL
which he had placed himself.
Cen you tell mo what is the mat
ter" he asked. "and where you w3..J
like to go?'
The girl had scarcely rocoyc-c.
breath from the long climb and Cd.
fright, and she answered him is
broken phrases.
| mo. cannot tell you what IS II
, nlatttr"-~she paused and Looked
him. with sudden comprehensive
what he might be thinking about h.,
"but-there is nothing-that is
have done nothing wrong" 81
paused again and looked up with eye
whose clear depths, he felt, could hil
no guile.
cor course" he murmured WIKI q
| cicion. and then wondered why he fol.
! so sure about II.
Thank you" she said Then, will
| frightened perplexity: 81 don't know
where to 90. Inever was in tti9 t.g
before. If YOU will kindly tell me how
to get som ewhere--I suppose to a rail
! road station-and yet--uo, / have no
monoy-and"-the with o sudden 1t
tie movement of dlsmay-"aad / have
no haiti Obi!
The young man felt a strong desire
! 10 shield this girl so Unexpectedly
thrown on his mercy. Yet vague fear
lowered about the margin OF his JUDI
ment. Perhaps she was 3 thief c
an adventures.
| The girl was speaking again: "But
must not trouble YOU any more. You
have been very Kind to get me Gil,
/ of th7t dreadful place. Il you Wiz
ipst STOP the carriage and let ne cls
! am sure I can take care Of mysaI.
~ could not think OF letting goo
I est cpt here alone. If YOU arc IN dan
ser i viii he}D you" The wa Uta b.
i h.s own words startled MIN. he ka Sc
ta ought 20 he more cautions pieN q
stranger, but impetuously h2 ti.rcA
/ caution to the winds. IL YOU vo.ii