Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-12-03
kRssgs PHILIP STEELE
LGaaSg$ssa ~ YALNORnWGH NOuNTEDPOuCE
DDINS SA3 H JAMES OLIVER CURwooD
Author Of The Danger Trail heonor Of eSnCWsdc
Ma = ~ ~ copyriEh The

oil, The Bobbs-Merrill Company.


chief OF construction. put 1t down
over there in the corner"
mot on your life," retorted Fingy,
cracking his finger bones fiercely.
See here, Mister Hodges, l amt a
coward, but b'lieve in bein' respect
full to the dead m to box that's
held one. 1t says on that red card,
'Head-This end up an, s'elp me-,
it's going to be up, unless you put It
down. | amt goin to be ha'nted by
no ghosts! Ho, ho, no" He ap-
preached close to the box. "I'll take
amt nat'ral when there amt nothing
but maps n things in It,"
If the cloth had not been about his
mouth, it is possible that Philip
would not have restrained audible en-
preston of his astonishment at what
happened an instant later. The card
was torn off, and ray of light shot
into his eyes. Through a narrow slit
not more than quarter of an inch
wide, and six inches long, he found
himself staring out into the room.
The huge gray-bearded man who had
set upon him from the ambush was
at the door, about to leave. Fingy
IVES close behind him. And in the
rear of these two, as If eager for
their departure, was Hodges, chief Of
construction.
No sooner had the men gone than
Hodges turned back to the table in
the center of the office. 1t was not
difficult for Philip to see that the
mans face was flushed and that he
was laboring under some excitement.
He sat down, fumbled over some pa
pers, rose quickly to his feet, looked
at his watch, and began pacing back
and forth across the room.
$50 she's coming" he chuckled
gleefully. "She's coming, at last!"
He looked at his watch again,
Strengthened his cravat before mir
ror, and rubbed his hands with low
laugh. THE little beauty has sur
rendered." he went on, his face
turning for an instant toward the
coffin box. "And it's time-past
time"
A light knock sounded at the door,
and the chief sprang to open it. A
figure darted past him, and for but a
breath a white, beautiful face was
turned toward Philip and his prison
the face of the young woman
whom he had seen but two hours be-
ore in LIE Pas, the face that had
pleaded with him that night, that had
smiled upon him from the photo
graph, and that seemed to be masked
now in a cold marble-like horror, as
its glorious eyes, like pools of glow.
ing fire, seemed searching him out
through that narrow slit in the
coffin box.
Hodges had advanced, with arms
'eaching out. and the woman turned
With low. sobbing breath breaking
rom her lips.
Another step and Hodges would
lave taken her in his arms, but she
'vaded him with quick movement
and pointed to a chair at one side OF
the table.
"Sit down." she cried softly. "Sit
down, and listen"
Was it fancy, or did her eyes turn
box against the wall? Philips heart
was beating like a drum That one
word listen" he knew was intended
for him.
"Sit down." she repeated. as
Hodges hesitated "Sit down-there
and I will sit here. Before-before
YOU touch me, want an understand
ing. You will let me talk. and lister
-listen."
Again that one "listen!"-
Philip knew was intended for him.
The chief had dropped into hi!
chair, and his visitor seated hersel
opposite him, with her face towart
Philip. She flung back the fur from
about her shoulders, and took off he
fur turban, so that the light OF tn
big hanging lamp fell full upon tn,
glory Of her hair. and set off NOR
vividly the ivory pallor of her cheeks
in which a short time before Philil
had seen the rich crimson glow o
life. and something that was not fear
1--WE must come TO an understand
ing" she repeated. fixing her eye
steadily upon the man before hel
81 would sacrifice my life for him
for my husband-and you are de
maniing that I do more than that.
must be sure of the reward"
Hodges leaned forward eagerly. a
II about to speak. but she interrupte
him.
"Llsten!" she cried, fire begil
ming to burn through the whitenes
of her cheeks. "It was you VIII
urged him to come up here whei
through misfortune. we lost our littl
home down In Marion, You offere
him work, and he accepted It, b,
lieving you friend. He still though
, you friend when I knew that yo
were a traitor, planning and schen