The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-07-02

What do you mean to do with me,
john"
Il don't know. / haven't made up
my mind. Maybe I'll kill you'll you
drive me to it,"
The girl must have rushed toward
the door, desperately striving to win
past him, and just as certainly he
steps. What followed was pretty much
confused in Van yechten's mind. There
was a sound of scufling; the ~incensed
listener in the hall heard the girl cry
out In an agitated voice: "Oh! You
are hurting mel" which was immedi-
ately followed by a stifed shrek that
chilled the blood In his veins.
Next instant he had grasped the
knob and thrown all his weight against
the door.
1t was unbolted and crashed open
with explosive violence. His irrup-
ton promptly quieted the disturbance.
n man-it was the sandy-complex-
Toned man-stood with dropped jaw.
staring blankly at the intruder.
And the girl? His heart leaped. His
whole being a suffused with a warm
glow. The girl that he had despaired
OF ever seeing again, what unhappy
mischance had brought her to this
peril? And what unrecognized mes
sage had prompted him to arrive upon
the scene so opportunely7
After the first shock of pleased sur.
prise, Van Vechten famed, then
turned to ice. His regard travelled to
the man in a narrowed look of anger
that left him white to the lips. 1t was
a hard look, an ugly, wicked look that
spelled danger.
But his lifelong habit OF repression
checked any violent display Of feeling
on his part. The spell was broken
when he composedly advanced a step
farther into the room, not for an in
slant moving his steely regard from
the man. All of q sudden his thin lips
twisted in an odd little smile that
was not at all pleasing to see.
"Well?" he said quietly. Save for
the unmistakable u"ndercurrent of
menace, the Tone might have been af-
fable.
So profound was the other mans
stupefaction that he mechanically re-
leased the girls wrists and fell back
a pace. Only a quick anticipation Of
his act saved her from falling TO the
floor; as IL was she staggered back
ward until a ~dust-coated library table
stayed her. At this she clutched,
clinging to it's edges. and, w%ide-eyed,
stared from one to the other of the
men. Her ~tormentor's brain, obvious
ly, stirred only sluggishly; but all at
once the sullen features we're longest
ed with blood, the veins on his fore
head swelled, and all his fury-now re-
doubled-was directed at Van Vech.
ten.
Where in hell did you come FROM"
he snarled enormously.
Anyhow. not the same neighbor-
hood that bred you" Van Vechten
eyed him a moment longer with mex
preesible disfavor. Good Lord!" he
added. What a nasty brute you are!"
Nothing less than paralyzing amaze.
meHl, apparently, ItsJIdiueu CalllS
from leaping upon Van Vechten and
finishing him out of hand. And per-
haps, too, there was a quality in the
young mans bearing hat had some
thing to do with this %unfiinching
nerve. the mastery of his look. the in.
evitable dominance of caste and breed.
ing. With a little bow, Van Vechtsn
turned again TO the girl.
You are at perfect liberty to de
part" he said. with calm, digni1ed
Difference. And, really. / think you
had better do so at once. | can hold
this rufian-at least until you make
good your escape. Once you are in
the street. you know. and you are
safe"
BY this time she had ~regained some
thing of her composure; but the
cool assurance Of this punctiliously
CARRIED young man.. the obvious deter.
mination and air of authority that lay
behind his courtesy, evoked from her