The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-29
CHAPTER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

ioilow- and finds him insensibIe from a fall.
When ne r-covers they start out IN tho
desert.
CHAPTER LNNNII.--DESOLAT
The southwark hills however, SEEM
ed the nearer. They seemed to have
won att least two thirds of the way
across. And low down upon the slope
of one Of the bordering hills tiny
light shone like friendly star.
With tacit consent both turned that
way, Alan leading, Judith his pertina-
cious shadow, with never word or
sign between them to prove that
either was aware OF the others COM
pany.
Bnt this was n state of affairs that
could not long endure. Judith had the
price to pay for her own trials. suffer-
ing and privatlon: the strain began to
+, tell sorely upon her. She reeled slight
ly rs she walked, weaving winding
trail across and across the straighter
line of footprints that marked Alans
course through the ordered pattern Of
the powdered sagcbrush.
And OF sudden she collapsed. She
felt it coming and dug nails in her
palms to restrain groan. The white
world swan giddily about her, rocking
; like q confused sea. Her knees became
as water. She sank silently to the
earth.
Instinct alone made Alan glance over
shoulder for she had made no sound
whatever
lie turned and came directly back to
! Her, knelt beside her. lifted her head.
pillowed II gently on his arm and piled
her in turn with the dregs of tho can
teen,
I'll, "a
tie shiver, She revived.
For moment sho lay still. searching
his Swallowed face with her eyes that,
though the moon was full upon them.
were themselves pools OF enigmatic
shadow.
| accepting Alans aid without muir
muir.
| Naither spoke at any time.
She shivcred again in his arms, and
he quietly shrugged out OF his coat
and put ii about her shoulders. She
as n ::iance for him: 1t wrunB her heart
that he should so expose himself for
her sake; but not for worlds would sho
have had II otherwise.
lie helped her gently to regain her
| feet. passing an arm round her.
| Thus they struggled on in strange,
/ dumb compunionship OF misery and
wonder.
But now conditions We're again re-
verscd: Alan could i'll afford tho added
strain upon his failing strength; mo-
ment by moment Judith was growing
the stronger. now life flooding her be.
ing as the thought persisted and would
not bo rcfuted, that he must some
how care for her IN spite of NIL that
lay between them.
Thus an hour passed. and for all
their desperate struggles neither could
sec that the light on the mountainside
was yard the nearer.
Behind them other lights appeared.
two staring yellow eyes that pcered up
over the horizon. seemed to pause a
time in search of the two, then leaped
cut directly toward them.
OF this they were altogether igno-
rant: and when deep, droning sound
disturbed the desert silence. like the
burning of come gigantic cat, both as
cribed IL to the drumming of their
! iaboring pulses.
The two lights were not mile be-
hind them when, silently. without q
sign to warn tho girl, Alan released
ii shot.
Instantly sho vas knec!inE by his
side. But In the act OF bending over
him she drew back and remained for
several moments motionless, staring at
those twin glazing eyes, sweeping down
upon tHen WIZ All the speed
by Il stX-cylindcr touring car negotiat-
ing 4 trackless descrt--tracIless, at
least. since the dust storm had obliter-
AIRED every sign OF the beaten trails.
When Judith did move X WAS not to
comfort Alan. On the contrary, her
first act was to draw from her pocket
q heavy. blunt-nosnd revolver. break 1t
AT the brecch and blow its barrel clear
Of dust. Her hand went next to the
holster on Alan's hip. From this she
extracted his Colts IA. treating It as
she had the other. Then she crouched
low above the man sho loved, as IL
! thinking perhaps to escape notice from
the occupants of the motor car.
Ii thai were her thought, 1t was bred
al an idle hope. Alan had chosen to
fall In the middle of wide space so
arid that not even sagebrush had VEN
tured to take root there. When the
glare OF the headlights fell upon them
1t was inevitable that discovery should
follow. The motor car stopped within
twenty feet. Three men Jumped out
and ran toward the pair, leaving two in
tho car--thc chauffeur and one who oc-
cupied n corner OF the rear seat; an
aged man with the face OF damned
soul, doomed for little time to live
upon this earth in the certain know
ledge Of his damnation.
AS this happened, Judith Urine leaped
TO her feet and stood over the body Of
Alan, revolver poised In either hand
Halt she ordered !mperatively.
Hands up"
Continued Tomorrow