The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-18
Copyright. 1914. by the
LUBIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY

might be dead began to force itself
upon Cecil. leaving him palid with ST.
lent agony. AS he sat thus. waiting
for the news that did not come, sud
den commotion outside the house caus
ed him tc spring to his feet. every
nerve tense. An instant later there
burst into the room an aged woman
whom he recognized as the holder Of
tate. and who cast at his feet the
bundle of unthreshed grain which she
carried and fell upon her knees
"Succor. lord The sword of Swarth.
more is Croftlaigh's shield" she cried.
and instinctively. as had done his fa.
theirs for 600 years. the eighteenth
Earl, OF Swarthmore place his hand
upon her head and responded as they
had done to the feudal appeal:
"Swarthmore shields! In seed. in
stalk, in ear and sheaf. the Croftlaigh
corn is mine to keep. Speak on"
1t was 4 commonplace tale. to tell
which the old woman had invoked the
ancient right of Croftlaigh's people to
instant speech with their overlord-
Meg. the old woman's daughter. had
been stolen away.
Lured and coaxed by an artfui
stranger she had Tilted Ned Alwine.
Croftlaigh man and Cecil's chauffeur.
and had promised TO run away. but at
the last moment her fears and con-
science had triumphed. and she had
refused Then the stranger and an.
other had seized upon her. by force
had dragged her. struggling and cry
ing. to the waiting motorcar and sped
away.
Cecil recalled the girl-sweet and
fair as hawthorne bud. with the
clean heart and gentle ways Of the
naidens who CLEAN in the Westmore
land fields. His eyes blazed with sud.
den fire.
by force they took herr" he de
manded.
81 swear it. my lord. The child
fought and cried to me-and could
not save her. The west road they
went, my lordr
Cecil turned away sharply.
'fhe motor at oncei" he ordered. and
James. who had not dared prevent the
entrance of one bearing the symbol of
the unthreshed grain. but who had
lowered uneasily in the background.
hurried to transmit the order.
BE cOmforted The maid shall como
back to YOU nnharmed." Lord Cecil
said and strobe out. leaving the old
woman muttering blessings.
For the time being Cecirs own sor.
rows were forgotten The traditions
9nd instincts handed down through tnr
ages had cast their commands upon
him-to abandon all else until he had
rendered the protection demanded of
his lordship. though the one in peril
might be the neaneSt of his vassals
Not five minutes had elapsed before
Lord Cecil's motor was roaring along
the road toward the coast with white
faced Ned Alwine gripping the wheel.
Mile after mile the chase continued
without the quarry being once sighted.
but at each village and hamlet Cecil
was told that speeding car had pre-
ceded him by a quarter hour. by ten
minutes. by five minutes, Fast as the
fugitives were moving. they were being
overtaken.
In Kenswick an outraged consta bic
pointed to the dust that hung in the
air. and by Derwentwater the machine
was in sight and evidently aware that
it was being pursued, for its speed was
increased Il
Slowly. however. the distance be-
tween the racing cars was cut down
until not more than fifty yards inter-
vened :,
Suddenly one Of the occupants of the
leading machine rose, knelt upon the
seat and rapidly emptied a revolver. II
Cecil could hear the bullets hum
ming harmlessly above his head. One,