Evening star., 1914-07-26
MEDDLING WITH THE MILTTANTS
Continued from page 2

ieved, several members of the opposition
had been won over. The vote on the land
bill would be taken at midnight; although
Rankin and his followers were using every
known artiice to force delay.
Then he turned to another column, and
read of the search for him, and how the
police appeared to be completely at sea.
They had been up to the Naples again and
interviewed Constance. Yes, she had driven
Mr.. Ransome to Exham Station. The night
ticket agent had seen "a person answering
his description arrive in a~big automobile
probably half an hour after the express went
down. He had waited for the two-ten local
to Clarkwell Junction. The conductor of
the local had taken ticket from a man of
like description, who got off at the junction.
Clearly the young and brilliant statesman
had disappeared either upon leaving the
train at Clarkwell Junction or tram that
he might have taken to London.
Ransome saw all in a flash, and again
madness rose. Constance then had played
double made a fool of him and herself too!
Well, since she had chosen In the mean
time he might stay here for weeks without
anyone being the wiser. And the vote was
due in six hours! He flung himself from the
chair and paced the room.
ALMOST instantly his motion was ar
rested by dull, whirring sound, as if an
iron bird had struck the window. A minute
later something whizzed through the bars
and fell on the floor like spent skyrocket:
He picked it up. An arrow! Attached to
the arrow was string. He drew it in. 1t
grew heavier, and yielded a rope; tied to
the rope, heavy file. He set to work with
feverish energy.
The bar yielded, and then to work again.
He hurled against the second. 1t gave.
Again-it broke! He wrenched it loose
Flinging away the file, he tied the rope to
one of the two bars left. He let himself
through the window, then down the rope.
Plucking his sleeve through the tangle-
wood, a hand beckoned. He followed; came
"a woman-led him across the open space,
and he saw the black bulk of an auto.
The figure turned. "Get in," said the
Hon. Constance Stanhope, and went and lit
the lamps.
Constance drove, and, crouched in the
seat beside her, Ransome stared straight
ahead. Clearly he was absorbed in some
plan,-a dramatic reentry into affairs,
checking and turning of the tide.
He altered his posture, and Constance
ventured a word.
No reply. The machine plowed on
through the blackness Again Constance
felt impelled to speak. The steady chug
chug- -chug of the motor was intolerable.
@Mr Ransome-I-I-"
Of sudden the whip sat upright. He
burst into a hearty laugh. 1t was a long,
clear, jubilant laughter, and it carried a new
note. Constance said he, "why did you do
it?"
Something in his tone gave her assurance.
She parleyed. "Which?' she asked
"No need to ask why you abducted me-
Il would like you to ask me why," said
Constance.
(Which I will not" he returned aNo
The puzzle is, Why did you release me?"
at wasn't that loved the sex less, said
Constance, "but because love my country
more. You are needed in London"
"Tut, tut!" said the statesman. @That is
all bosh. You carried me off as huge joke.
1t got too big for you. Then you came to
the rescue. That's clear. But there's an
other reason. Shall tell you?"
"If you wish" Her voice trembled.
@You saved me because you love me-"
She choked, inarticulate.
as it not SO? Speak, Constance.
"Yes."
@And you will keep on carrying me away
all your life; for you are going to marry