Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-12-26

.'7tN AioA-tt v lNupW III the up
d per tier tbut not. sc noted. the window
% 10 Rose.s bedchamberl and one or two
D / hsA-s which he found burning dim in
the kitchen offices and other servants
j quarters on the lower floor he would
nave thought the house empty.
= lie negotiated that last flight OF
! steps which led to the topmost floor
with extraordinary stealth. advised
lAereto by sound. or rather a series
OF sustained sounds, which had there
loIore been inaudible to him. Possibly
they had not till then existed; possibly
the man servant whom he found snor-
ing III chair outside closed door
mac not fallen asleep and begun to
shore until the moment when Alan set
loot upon the lower step of that final
ascent.
No sound warned him of the door
that opened at his back as he stood
watching the sleeping guard. A pierre
ing shrek was the first intimation he
received that his presence had been
discovered. 1t served as we'll to move
MN instantly into action: single
glance overshOulder showed him the
inquire of a maid-servant in can and
gown, her mouth still wide and full Of
souhd-and Alan fell upon the guard
IKE thunderbolt. The man had
barely tine to jump up and recognize
Tue alarm: then fist caught him on
the point of his jaw, and he returned
promptly TO deep unconsciousness.
No time now for qualms of com
junction on account of the savage
ruthlessness Of that blow: no time
even to search the fellow for a key to
the closed door: already the maid was
taking the stairs in full flight and cry.
four steps and a howl like a warlock's
to every jump.
BACKING of, Alan took a short run,
cleared the PROSTATE body of the guard
with a leap, and flung himself full
force against the door, his shoulder |
striking point nearest the lock. With
spilnterlng crash it broke inward. |
Without dignity or decorum he |
SPRAYED on all fours into the presence
Of Judith Urine.
Poor Mr.. Law" she cried. with a
hooking nod, always disappointed!
m so sOrry-truly | ami"
oh, spare me your sarcasm" he
begged resentfully. It's ridiculous
enough, this whole mad business"
But | am not sarcastic" she insist
ed with such sincerity that he opened
MS eyes in wonder. Believe me. |
am sorry for once it is | and not Rose
whom you find locked up here, For.
you see, l am locked up, by way of
Observation-Disclosures to my having had
pity on you once too often-while nv
rather decamps mysteriously for parts
You don't know where he's gone.
them"
DO you?" she asked sharply.
In a general way. BY special train
to the West"
Taking Rose?"
so I'm told"
The woman choked upon her anger.
but quickly mastered it.
He shall pay for this!" she assever-
ated
Your father? l wish him nothing
more nor less than your enmity." Alan
assured her civilly. But since IL .
seems that he has gone, and Rose with .
him. if you'll forgive me, l think I'll I.
De going"
"Alone?"
''Why-yes."
You wouldn't care for a companion ,
III voyage?" she suggested.
"Oh-reallyi" he protested :,
She held up an arresting hand. lis :
en-" she begged. :.
From the street below came the I'M
nistakable rattle of policeman's To- :
ust on the sidewalk. =
That damned maid" Alan OWNED
The same" Judith agreed with
minous calm. Has it struck you that :
on may have some trouble getting ~
way without my permission?" \,
I'm not so stupid as not to have a,
bought Of that" he countered y,
Then be advised-and take me o.
18th you"
"In what capacity, please? As y,
1emy or-ally?" ~,
las ally-you're right: we can't be h.
iends-until we overtake that spe-
al train. After that, by your leave, N
Il shift for myself" o.
ITS not such a bad notion" he re- ~.
ected: with you under my eye. you 70
mt do much to interfere"
IF | promise" she suggested bo
I'll take your word" he agreed sim 70,
y. But you're in for lot of hard.
lip, I'm afraid. The one way to catch o.,
} with your father is by aeroplane- a
ID I've got one waiting" mr.,
She nodded intently. Don't con-
Ter me as woman when it comes b,s
hardship" she limited obliquely. bo
I've no reason to, going on what I CO,
ow of you" 80
Give me one minute to find my coat ,
d hat" g..
In less than that time she was at his ~,
lie in the hallway. -.
The police entered by the front door no,