The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-05-07

incongruous party. He tripped over
distractions and splashed through
puddles, and now and then stepped
unwittingly into depressions with q
jar that clicked his teeth together
and wrenched his neck until his head
ached. Round and round his captors
seemed to be leading him-they had
long ago turned aside from the road,
he was positive; his brain whirled
and he staggered drunkenly. Only
once did he attempt resistance, and
stopped abruptly when his helpless
condition demonstrated the futility Of
any such move on his part.
The wind had died down, but the
rain still poured a torrent and the
thunder .rumbled and rolled so that
all the night was full of the sound
After what seemed an interminable
time, Toms feet collided, with a hol-
low reverberation, against a wooden
step. He mounted three of them, and
in ar instant was out of the rain and
storm. He surmised that he was upon
a porch, and next that he was being
conducted through a doorway into a
house.
A sudden feminine scream, half
suppressed, startled him. Then a
girls agitated voice-and a most re-
markedly sweet voice, it seemed TO
Tom-said:
John! What has happened? Who's
this?"
And Calls replied: Don't be fright
ened, Miss Jessie. Where's your
father?"
Miss Jessie did not answer this
question. 1t seemed to Tom that a
number of people had crowded into
the hall during this brief colloquy.
He heard a rustling of feminine
dresses and excited feminine whisper
ings, denoting that at least two wom-
en- were talking nearby. Then Calls
commanded the other two of his cap
tors to hold him tight" as If they
were not doing so already. After this
he sensed that Calls moved away
from him, and he remained standing,
as sodden as a drowned man, while
the water trickled from his clothes
and onto the floor.
Manifestly he was being made the
subject of quite a lively debate, which
came to a sudden end when Calls ad-
dressed him.
Say, you, who are you? What's
your manner"
Damn you!" leaped hotly from
Toms lips. Free my hands and I'll
print it on your face, you dog"
Here! None Of that" another
masculine voice warned sharply.
There are ladies here"
They're in deuced poor company"
snarled Tom.
Gag him." Calls briefly command.
ed. Here, take this"
But there was an interruption. Tom
heard a girls voice-not Jessie's, who,
ever Jessie might be, but one infinite,
ly sweeter, say: Wait" The request
was made composedly. And then
Tom fancied hat the sweet voices
owner was approaching him. Next
second he was sure of it.
"Will you not tell us who you are
and why you were following Mr.
Calls ?"
Toms sole concern at that moment
was a profound regret that he could
not see the speaker. Her voice was
so sweet. SO soft and wellbred, that
he knew she must be beautiful.
Il would be only too glad to tel
you" Tom returned. IF it would moi
at the same time give some satisfac
ton to the thugs and hold-up crooks
who are present. Please pardon me-
in the circumstances"
There was a silent pause, then 6
gasp from the girl.
1T can't bel" he heard her exclain
in a whisper that was fairly aliv,
with establishment.
1t did o occur to Tom to wonder
what she meant.
But 1t is" he replied whimsically
also in a whisper. Wont you releas,
me?-or at least remove this ban
dage?"
No reply was vouchsafed him, n,
further speech from the pulse-disturb
ing voice. In the soft. silky susurra
ton of her skirts there was a qualit,
that signified grace and lightness O
carriage; in the faint, exquisite fra
GRANGE Of her presence a something
that rose to his head with the subtl
intoxication of ether. She had lef
him.
He heard Jessie, In a %subdued voice
ask: What did he say to YOU ?
Whether or not the other girl re
sponded he did not know. The situs
ton was brought to an abrupt clos
by the man called Calls.
Take him upstairs that worth.
gruffly ordered-"the front room. 70
may take of the bandage after he's Il