Mexico Missouri message., 1914-04-09

What do you mean to do with me.
John?"
Il don't know. I haven't made up
my mind Maybe Ill kill you'll you
drive me to It."
The girl must have rushed toward
the door, desperately striving to win
past him, and just as certainly he
must have caught her and stayed her
steps What followed was pretty much
confused in Van vechtens mind. There
was sound OF scuffling; the incensed
listener in the hall heard the girl cry
out In an agitated voice: "Ohl You
are hurting mel" which was immedi.
ately followed by a stified shrek that
chilled the blood in his veins.
Next instant he had grasped the
knob and thrown all his weight against
the door.
1t was unbolted and crashed open
with explosive violence. His irrup-
ton promptly quieted the disturbance.
The man-it was the sandy-complex.
toned man--stood with dropped Jaw,
staring blankly at the intruder.
And the girl? His heart leaped. His
whole being was suffused with a warm
glow. The girl that he had despalred
OF ever seeing again, what unhappy
mlschance had brought her to this
peril? And what unrecognized mes.
sage had prompted him to arrive upon
the scene so OPPORTUNITY?
After the first shock OF pleased sur
prise. Van Yechten famed. then
turned to ice. His regard travelled to
the man In a narrowed look OF anger
that left him white to the lips. 1t was
a hard look, an ugly, wicked look that
spelled danger.
But his lifelong habit OF repression
checked any violent display OF feeling
on his part The spell was broken
when he composedly advanced a ster
farther into the room. not for an in
slant moving his steely regard from
the man. All Of a sudden his thin lips
twisted In an odd little smile that
was not at all pleasing to see.
"Well?" he said quietly. Save fol
the unmistakable undercurrent Of
menace, the tone might have, been AT
fable.
So profound was the other mans
stupefaction that he mechanically re
leased the girls wrists and fell bach
pace. Only quick anticipation o
his act saved her from falling to tn,
floor; as II was she staggered back
ward until q dust-coated library tabl,
etayed her. At this she clutched
clinging to its edges, and, wide-eyed
stared from one to the other OF tn,
men. Her tormentor's brain, obvious
once the sullen features we're longest
ed with blood, the veins on his fore
head swelled, and all his fury-now re
doubled-was directed at Van Vech
ten.
Where in hell did you come from :?
he snaried venomously.
Anyhow, not the same neighbor
hood that bred you" Van Vechtel
eyed him a moment longer with inex
preesible disfavor. Good Lord!" h
added. What nasty brute you are!
Nothing less than paralyzing amaze
ment, apparently, restrained Call
from leaping upon Van vechten an
finishing him out OF hand. And pei
haps, too, there was a quality In tn
young mans bearing that had some
thing to do with this unflinchin
= nerve. the mastery OF his look. the in
J evitable dominance of caste and breed
ing. With little bow. Van Vechte
turned again to the girl.
you are at perfect liberty to d.
4 part" he said, with calm, dignifle
3 Difference. And, really. | think 20
; had better do so at once. l can hol
g this ruffian-at least until you max
: good your escape. Once you are
the street, you know. and you ar
d safe"
L By this time she had regained SOM
u thing OF her own composure; but tn
u cool assurance of this punctiliousl
g CARRIED young man. the obvious dete
mination and air of authority that la
y behind his courtesy, evoked from he