The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1914-12-23

al lilo anu SAo"1Cu Jul vi me car WIN
her. 1t was difficult task, but he
managed it. Outside. in the confusion
no one paid any attention to him. So
he threw the unconscious girl over
his shoulder and staggered on toward
the road.
1t was fortunate that the accident
had occurred where it did. Five miles
beyond was the station marked for the
arrest of Norton as an abductor and
the taking in charge of Florence as a
rebellious girl who had run away frsm
her parents. If he could reach Ehe
Swede's hut, where his confedekates
were in waiting, the game washis.
After struggling along for 1alf an
hour carriage was spied bf Vroon,
and he hailed it when it reached his
side.
whats the trouble, mister?" asked
the farmer.
"a wreck on the railroad. My daugh-
ter is badly hurt. Z must take her to
the nearest village. How far is it,"
About three miles"
"I'il give you twenty dollars for the
use of that rig of yours"
Cant do it mister"
"But it's case of humanity, sir!"
Indignantly. You are refusing to aid
the unfortunate"
The farmer thought 1t over for a mo-
ment. All right. You can have the
buggy for twenty dollars When you
get to the village take the nag to Doc
Sanders livery. He'll know what to
do"
Thank you. Help me in with her."
Vroon drove. away without the least
intention of going toward the village
AS result, when Florence came to
her senses she found herself sur
rounded by strange and ominous faces.
At first she thought that they had
taken her from the wreck out of kind
ness; but when she saw the cold,
impassive face of the man Vroon she
closed her eyes and lay back in the
chair Well, i'll and weak as she was.
they should find that she was not
without certain strength.
In the meatime Norton revived and
looked about in vain for Florence. He
searched among the crowd of terrified
passengers, the hurt and the I'M
harmed, but she was not to be found.
He ran back to the princess and helped
her out of the broken car.
Where is Florence?" she asked
dazedly.
God knows! Here, come over and
sit down by the fence till see if there
is field telegraph"
They had already erected one, and
his message went off with a batch of
others. This time he was determined
not to trust to chance The shock
| may have brought back Florence's re-
cent mental disorder, and she may
have wandered off without knowing
what she was doing. On the other
hand, she may have been carried off.
And against such a contingency he
must be fortified. Money! The curse
OF God was upon it.; it was the trail
Of the serpent, spreading poison in its
wake.
By and by the princess was able
to walk; and, supporting her, he led
her to the road, along which they
walked slowly for at least an hour
They might very we'll have waited for
! the relief train. But he could not
stand the thought of inactivity. The
| princess had her choice of staying be-
hind OR going with him. He hated
| the woman, but he could not refuse
| her aid. She had a cut on the side
of her head. and she limped besides.
They stopped at the first farmhouse
explained what had happened, and the
mistress urged them to enter. She
she had seen no one, and certainly not
a young woman. She must have wan.
dered off in another direction. She
ran into the kitchen for a basin and
towel and proceeded to patch the
princess hurts.
She was extremely uneasy. Thai
she should be under obligation to Nor
| 1OA S1AOQ AC4s uGE0 was SPARK
Of conscience left in her soul. She
had tried to destroy him, and he had
been kind to her. Was he a fool OF
was he deep, playing game as shrewd
as her own? She could not tell. Where
was Vroon? Had he carried Florence
off?
An hour later a man came in
"Hullo! More folks from the
wreck?"
Where's the horse and buggy
Jake?" his wife asked.
Rented it to a man whose daughter
was hurt. He went to the village
"WilI you describe the daughter?'
asked Norton.
The princess twisted her fingers.
The farmer rudely described Flor
ence. f''@