The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-26

the ind,ce.=a %::n gesture two
forms that lay at a little distance
back from the roadside, motionless
beneath sheet OF canyas--the bodies
of Trlne's creatures, recovered by the
mining gang and brought up for
Christian burial.
But Thine required no more confirm.
alton OF Judith's word. The light
fiickered and died in his evil old eyes;
his stricken countepance assumed
hue OF pallor even more intense than
was normal with it; a broken curse
Issued from his trembling. thin. old
lips; and his chin sagged to his chest,
heavy.weighted with despair that fol.
lowed realization Of the fact that he
no longer owned even one friend or
creature upon whose constituencies
loyalty he might depend.
The last bitter drop that brimmed
his cup OF misery was added when
Alan Law himself appeared, leaving
the miners cabin in company with
his betrothed-Rose now soothed and
comforted, smiling through the traces
of her recent tears as she chung to
her lover, nesting in the hollow OF
his arm.
To Alan, on the other hand, this
rencontre seemed to afford nothing
but the p1easantest surprise imagin.
able.
"WeIl!" he cried, releasing Rose
and running down to the car. Here's
luck! And at the very moment when
was calling my lucky star hard
names! How can ever reward your
thoughtiulness, Mr. Thine? 1t beats
me how you do keep track of me this
way-happenfng along like this every
time need a car the worst way in
the world!"
Drive on" Urine screamed to the
chauffeur. Drive on, do you hear?"
But Judith had stepped up on the
running board and was cycling the
driver colby, with one hand signtfi.
cantly resting on the butt of the
weapon at her side. The car remained
at standstill.
Sulphurous profanity followed, a
pungent stream OF vItuperation that
was checked only by Judith's inter
ruption We've had to gag you once
before you know. II you want another
taste Of Lhat-keep on!"
"But where's BarcuB?" Judith de,
manded when, after helping Rose into
the car and running of to thank their
hosts, Alan returned alone to the car.
Goodness only knows" the young
man answered cheerfuly HE would
insist on rambling of down the can
yon in search OF an alleged town
where We could hire motor car
somewhere down there. tried to
make him understand that we had
plenty OF time, but he was mulish as
he generally is whom he gets foolish
notion into his head. So I daresay
we'll meot him on his way back--or
else asleep somewhere by the road
side!"
Taking the seat next to the chauf-
feur, he gave the word to drive on;
and they slipped away from the loca-
ton OF the mining camp. saluted by
cheers from the miners
The road dipped sharply down the
mountaInside to the bed Of the canyon.
The car moved smoothly and swiftly.
coastine: only now and then was It
necessary to call upon the engine for
power with which to negotiate an up
grade or some uncommonly long
stretch Of level road.
Half au hour passed without word
spoken by any member Of the party.
Each was deep In his or her own es.
pecial preoccupation: Alan turning
over plans for an early wedding; Rose
hugging the contentment resained
progress toward recovery of his nor.
NAL state had been rapid. Now. ac-
cording TO- council Of surgeons and
physicians who had been summoned
to deliberate on his case, he was In
a fair way to round out the average
span OF sound mans lifetime. He
had apparently suffered nothing in
consequence OF his accident more
serious than prolonged unconscious
ness. For the last twenty-four hours
he had been In full possession of his
faculties and (for some'reason tmpos'
sible to Judith to fathom) uncom-
monty cheerful.
From this circumstance she drew
a certain sense of mystitled anxiety.
Twice In the course Of the morning
she had caught his eye following her
with gleam Of sardonic exultancy,
as though he nursed some secret OF
extraordinary potentialltleas 81
-s-s-S &asA0lGI1Gte - ~ l3 = r. ~