Mexico Missouri message., 1914-02-12

IObHo u9Nsthh eht sRtoehth hhsphkh
puddles, and now and then stepped
unwittingly into depressions with a
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
I 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 torrent and the
| thunder rumbled and rolled 30 that
| all the night was full OF the sound
! After what seemed an interminable
| time, Toms feet collided. with a hol-
low reverberation, against a wooden
step. He mounted three of them, and
ID an instant was out OF the rain and
storm. He surmised that he was upon
porch, and next that he was being
| conducted through a doorway into a
| house.
! A sudden feminine scream, half
suppressed. startled him. Then a
girls agltated voice-and a most re-
markably sweet voice. It seemed to
! Tom-said:
John! What has happened? Who's
| this?"
And Calls replied Don't be fright
ened, Miss Jessie. Where's your
| father"
Miss Jessie did not answer this
question. 1t seemed to Tom that a
number Of people had crowded into
the hall during this brief colloquy.
| He heard a rustling 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 II 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 trickled from his clothes
and onto the floor
Manifestly he was being made the
subject OF quite lively debate, which
came to a sudden end when Calls ad-
dressed him.
Say. you. who are you? What's
your manner"
Damn you'll" leaped hotly from
Toms lips. Free my hands and I'll
print It on your face, you dog!"
"Herel 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 composedly. And then
Tom fancied that the sweet voices
owner was approaching him. Next
second he was sure OF 1t.
will you not tell US who you are
and why you were following Mr.
Callis?"
Toms sole concern at that moment
was a profound regret that he could
not see the speaker. Her voice was
so sweet, so soft and wellbred. that
he knew she must be beautiful.
81 would be only too glad to tell
you" Tom returned, If 1t would not
at the same time give some satIsfac
ton to the thugs and hold.up crooks
who are present. Please pardon me
in the circumstances"
There was a silent pause, then @
gasp from the girl.
1T can't bel" he heard her exclaim
in a whisper that was fairly alive
with establishment
II did not occur to Tom TO wonder
what she meant.
But 1t is" he replied whimsically
also in a whisper Won't you release
me?-or at least remove this ban
: dage?"
No reply was vouchsafed him, ne
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 o.
+ carriage; in the faint, exquisite fra
I GRANGE of her presence a somethin,
e that rose to his head with the subtl,
+ lntoxication Of ether. She had lief
l him.
D He heard Jessie, in a subdued voice
ask: What did he say to you?
l. Whether or not the other girl re
I sponded he did not know. The situa
n ton was brought to an abrupt clos,
g by the man called Calls.
Take him upstairs" that worth,
l. gruffiy ordered-"the front room. Yor
may take off the bandage after he's II
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