Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-02-10

moved before Mr.. Kay, with incredible
agility, had leaped in front Of him,
slamming the door shut and locking 1t,
confronting him as he did so with a
stare Of abject terror.
Don't, don'tp he screamed out in
coherently. They're crazy! They
haven't any sense! I won't be a party
to it! It's criminal, and won't be
party to 1t! won't be party to any
thing criminal!
Let me out!' cried Matt, with a
suffocating sense of being trapped, and
struggling for the doorknob. Get out
Of my way or I'll strangle you"
mo, no" expostulated Mr.. Kay, re-
sisting him like maniac and sobbing
while he spoke. "You don't under
stand. They're determined to get the
secret out of you. They're putting
themselves within the criminal law,
and I'll be no party to 1t. Good God.
Broughton. I'm trying to save you-to
save myself! Once open. this door
and they'll tear you to pieces"
He was interrupted by loud muir
mur outside, and the door shook under
heavy impact; shook and shook,
threatening at every instant to burst
in. Mr.. Kay collapsed on a seat.
1T was none Of my doing" he moan.
ed. you'll bear witness to that
Broughton-you'll bear witness to that
when they've got us all in the dock
The foolsw he ragged in sudden out
burst 1.-The crazy fools!"
There was no escape except through
the window and that was double-two
panes of almost the thickness Of plate
glass. Matt threw up one without diff
fculty, but the other stuck. he FUN.
bled frantically at the catches. as he
endeavored to lift 1t. while the door
shivered now under the deadlier blows
Of an az. But. thank God. the eramp-
ed passageway gave them no room for
a swing! They were striking at an
angle. as the lip Of the blade once
showed as 1t drove through and re
mained imbedded for an instant.
Oh, that window! He could get no
real purchase on 1t. He skinned his
fingers and strained his back to break.
ing, and still 1t de6ed him. He must
burst it, then; that was the only way
burst It. But with what? There
was Mr.. Kay, crying out inarticulately
and handing him something! Mr.
Kay's shoe-a patent leather shoe
with buttons, still warm from the foot
He seized 1t with avidity, this help
from a quarter so unexpected-seized
it with exultation.
Taking 1t by the toe. he crashed the
heel through the window. Hammer.
hammer. hammer. with the glass shat
tering and the jagged, vicious edges
disappearing beneath a rain Of blows.
disappearing till he could trust his
hands on the frame and wriggle out.
He went legs first crawlingly. scrap
Ing his wrists and hands on the thin
knife Of undislodged glass. waistcoat
and shirt half pulled to his neck-but
out. no matter how. till, hanging his
full length. he let himself drop to the
track alongside the car.
He heard shouts above. as though
the broken window had filed with
emerging heads; he saw the chauffeur
Jump from the automobile and stink
to the ground; there was a vision of
the porter. with outstretched arms.
rushing to intercept him. and n gut
tural voice from somewhere cried out
with a sort Of wall. Don't shoot"
II anything more were needed to
hasten Mats feet 1t was this thrilling
command. He ran till the stitch In
his side was insupportable and his
limped till. thank God. there were peo-
pie all about him and lights and ami
nation and security.
It was the hour Of the New York ex-
press. with passengers waiting and
three hotel omnibuses drawn up for
their evening quota. Matt threw him
self on a bench between two Of his
unconscious preservers. painting and
grateful. while they looked at him
askance. wondering Mt his. disOrdered
appearance.
There he sat, slowly recovering him
self and meditating what he ought to
do. His first idea was to invoke the
police; to enter formal complaint
and return to the car with posse or
constables, But as he thought 1t over
the wisdom of this course grew less
apparent. His story was not likely to
be believed; indeed. his cunning Toes
might turn the tables on him and in
vent a complaint Of their own, with
him as the culprit. 1t might resolve
itself into his word against theirs-the
word Of people in private car against
that Of a lunatic prating Of 100000
and of stolen ruby ring worth for
tune. Thus analyzed his case was
ridiculous--a fantasy.
He hastened home In some trepida-
tion and only felt safe when he had
snuggled into bed.
The next day there was a note from
Chris, brought by a messenger:
You Dear You-It was so foolish OF me
to be Ill and spoil everything, though I
got 30 cross at your being turned away
that I improved instantly and ate whole
plate of calls foot Jelly. This Ii to ask
you to come and share some more with
me on sofa, and call It an invitation to
lunch. Papa 10 going to New York on
business, and we can be all by ourselves.
and I'm awfully glad and excited, though
| suppose oughtn't to tell you so-or ASK
you at all, for that matter. But come
anyway, even II the heavens fall and you
should get your beautiful wavy hair all
covered with plaster. Twelve-thirty. please.
and don't think I've changed. because !
i S-.,A ..A all La M niRht was thinking