Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-07-03

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 wooden
| step. He mounted three Of them. and
| in an 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
house.
A sudden feminine scream, half
suppressed, startled him. Then a
girls agitated voice-and a most re-
markably sweet voice, 1t seemed to
Tom-said:
John! What has happened7 Who's
this?"
And Calls replied: Don't be fright
ened. Miss Jessie. Where's your
father?"
Miss Jessie did not answer thiA
question. 1t seemed to Tom that a
number Of people had crowded into
the hall during this brief colloquy.
He heard a rustlfng 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 trickred from his clothes
and onto the floor.
| Manifestly he wan being made the
subject of quite lively debate. which
came to sudden end when Calls ad-
dressed him.
Say. you. who are you? What's
your manner"
Toms lips. Free my hands and I'll
print 1t 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 composediy. And then
Tom fancied that the sweet voices
| owner was approaching him. Next
second he was sure of II.
"Will you not tell US who you are
and why you were following Mr..
Callis?"
Toms sole concern at that moment
was q profound regrot that he could
not see the speaker. Her voice was
SO sweet. SO soft and well-bred. that
he knew she must be beautiful.
81 would be only too glad to tell
1 IL
at the same time give some sausfac-
tion to the thugs and hold-up crooks
who are present Please pardon me
in the circumstances"
There was silent pause. then a
gasp from the girl.
"It can't bel" he heard her exclaim
in a whisper that was fairly alive
with astonishment.
1t did not occur to Tom to wonder
what she meant.
But 1t is" he replied whimsically.
also in a whisper. Wont you release
me?-or at least remove this BAN
dage?"
further speech from the pulse-disturb-
ing voice. In the soft, silky susurra-
ton OF her skirts there was a quality
that signified grace and lightness of
carriage: in the faint, exquisite fra
GRANGE of her presence a something
that rose to his head with the subtle
intoxication of ether. She had left
him.
| He heard Jessie, in a subdued voice,
ask: What did he say to your"
Whether or not the other girl re-
sponded he did not know. The situa-
ton was brought to an abrupt close
by the man called Calls.
Take him upstairs" that worthy
gruf1ly ordered-"the front room. You
may take off the bandage after he's In