The Holly chieftain., 1914-09-04

ward They managed TO eVaoe the
hotel authorities and get up the wide
staircase without observation. BY
keeping on the alert, they discovered
that the elevator had stopped at the
second floor. so the people they were
tracking must have apartments there.
Lurking in the shadowy parts OF the
hall. they watched and soon were re-
warded by seeing Dunham come out OF
a room and hurry TO the elevator. ne
had remembered his promise 10 MS
mother about the engravers. AS soon
as he was gone. they presented them'
selves boldly at the door.
Filled with the JOY that had come to
her and feeling entirely safe now IN
the protection of her husband, Mary
Dunham opened the door. She sup
posed, OF course. it was the bellboy
with pitcher of ice water. for which
she had just rung.
"Ah, here you are at last, my pretty
cousin!" 1t was the voice of Richard
that menaced her, with all the stored
up wrath of his long baffled search.
At that moment the man from the
motorcycle stepped softly up the top
stair and slid unseen into the shad-
ows of the hall.
For an instant it seemed to Mary
Dunham that she was going to faint,
and in one swift fash OF thought she
saw herself overpowered and carried
Into hiding before her husband should
return. But with a supreme effort she
controlled herself. and faced her tor
mentor with unfinching gaze. Though
her strength had deserted her at first,
every faculty was now keen and col
lected. AS If nothing unusual were
happening, she put out her cold, trem-
bling fingers, and laid them firmly
over the electric button on the wall.
Then with new strength coming from
the certainty that some one would
soon come to her aid, she opened her
lips to speak.
What are you doing here, Richard?"
I've come after YOU, my lady.
nice chase you've led me, but you
shall pay for It now"
The cruelty in his face eclipsed any
lines of beauty which might have been
there.
Il shall never go anywhere with
you" she answered steadily.
He seized her delicate wrist rough
ly, twisting it with the old wrench
with which he had tormented her in
their childhood days. None OF them
saw the stranger who was quietly
walking down the hall toward them.
"Will you go peaceably, or shall I
have to gag and bind you?" said Rich
ard. Choose quickly. I'm in no mood
to trifie with you any longer"
Although he hurt her wrist cruelty,
she threw herself back from him and
with her other hand pressed still hard
er against the electric button
Catch that other hand, Mike" COM
manded Richard. land stun this In her
mouth, while I tie her hands behind
her back"
1t was then that Mary screamed.
The man in the shadow stepped up
behind and said in a low voice:
What does all this mean?'
2 The two men, startled, dropped the
girls hands for the instant. Then
Richard, white with anger at this in
reference, answered insolently: 1T
means that this girls an escaped luna
tic, and we're sent to take her back.
She's dangerous, SO you'd better keep
out of the way"
Then Mary Dunham's voice, clear
and penetrating, rang through the
halls:
"Tryon. Tryon! Come quick! Help!
Help!"
AS If in answer to her call, the ele-
vator shot up to the second floor, and
Tryon Durham stepped out in time to
see the two men snatch Mary's hands
again and attempt to bind them behind
her back
In an instant he had seized Richard
by the collar and landed him on the
hall carpet, while well directed blow
sent the flabby Irlshman sprawling at
the feet OF the detective, who prompt
ly sat on him and pinloned his arms
behind him.
How dare you lay finger upon this
lady?" said Tryon Durham. as he
stepped to the side Of his wife and put
a strong arm about her, where she
stood white and frightened In the
doorway.
No one had noticed the bell boy had
come to the head of the stairs and re-
ceived quiet order from the detec.
tive.
In sudden fear, the discounted Rich
ard arose and attempted to bluff the
stranger who had 80 unwarrantly in
terfered Just as his fingers were about