The Prescott daily news., 1914-01-05
CHAP TE |,

he paused or the platform ana
glanced at his watch. The train on
which he had just arrived was late.
1t hurried away from the station, and
was swallowed up in the blackness of
the tunnel, as if 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 flight of steps that led to the
bridge across the tracks, a delicate
penoiling of electric light flashed into
outline against the city's deepening
dusk, emphasizing the lateness of the
hour. He had a dinner engagement at
seven, and it was yet some distance
to his home, where rapid toilet must
be made if he were to arrive on time.
The stairway was long, and there
were many people thronging it. 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 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 l shall be followed VIII you
tell me where | can go to hide?'
After an instant's 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 train, coming from the mouth of
the tunnel
His companion had gasped for
breath, but began again in a tone of
apology:
Il saw you were a gentleman, and
didn't know what to do l 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 steep
embankment, realizing as he did so
that the wrist he held was slender
was Of the finest cloth
AS they emerged from the dark, the
man saw that his companion was a
young and beautiful woman, and that
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 8
shudder. She seemed like a young
bird that could scarcely tell which
way to fly.
Without an instant's hesitation. the
young man raised his hand and hailed
four-wheeler across the street.
Come this way, quick!" he urged
helping her in. He gave the driver
his home address and stepped In after
her. Then, turning, he faced his com
panion, and was suddenly keenly
aware of the strange situation IL
which he had placed himself
Can you tell me what is the mat
ter" he asked. land where you would
like to go?"
The girl had scarcely recovered
breath from the long climb and tn,
fright, and she answered him il
broken phrases.
mo, / cannot tell you what is tn,
matter"-she paused and looked a
him, with sudden comprehension o
what he might be thinking about he
-"but-there Is nothing-that is
have done nothing wrong" Sh,
paused again and looked up with eye,
whose clear depths, he felt, could hide
no guile.
"Of course" he murmured with de
cision, and then wondered why he fell
so sure about 1t.
THANK YOU" she said Then. witt