The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-24

Re was therefore on the alert, quick
to see the racing automobile when it
cafne hurting round the bend, and in
the very nick of time grasped Judith's
arm and swung her bodily with him
back out Of harms way, amid the
trees that bordered the inside Of the
road.
OF necessity his motorcycle suffered.
Abandoned in the middle of the road,
It was struck by the buffers Of the
motor car and flung aside as II it had
been nothing more ponderable than a
truss of straw-landing halfway down
the embankment. a hopeless tangle OF
shattered tubing and twisted wire.
At first blush the circumstance
seemed surprising, that the car did
not stop. But then Barcus reminded
himself that Marrophat and Jimmy
could. not possibly have witnessed the
accident involving Alan and Rose, who,
together with the wreck of their ma
chine, remained well-cloaked by the
underbrush at the bottom of the cam
yon. In all probability, then, the as
sassins had assumed that Alan had
hurried on; and since their own first
business, was concerned, exclusively
with them, they had done likewise,
reasoning that they could return and
deal With his unfortunate friend at
their convenience after overhauling
their quarry, whose life they most
coveted.
AS for Rose and Alan--heaven alone
knew what had happened to them. So
Barcus set himself to find out what.
ever Providence knew without more
delay. The racing car was barely out
Of sight when he sprang from tho
shelterinS trees and, Judith at his
heels, pelted headlong down the slope
to the spot where the others had van
ished.
To find them not only alive but
practically unscathed affected that
loyal soul almost to tears.
But when congratulations had been
mutually exchanged, there fell an
awkward pause. The eyes Of the four
sought one another's ruefully each
pair quick with the unuttered but in
exorable inquiry: What next?
In the outcome, it was MIR. Barcns
who advanced the suggestion which
was adopted-though this was Its re-
ception more through lack of better
than for any actual appeal Intrinsic
in the proposition.
''When we broke down, saw" he
ventured, with backward jerk OF
his thumb to Indicate the road, "a can
yon branching of from this one about
a quarter of a mile over yonder. II it's
all the same to you people, we might
stroll round that way and see what its
natural attractions may be-h any.
But it's sure mighty poor sort OF a
canyon that doesn't lead anywhere
and nothing could possibly be more
fatiguing to our mercurial and rest
less tempers than to squat down here
and fold our hands in our laps and
wait for something to turn up-and
anyway we cant be worse on than we
nre-and-"
SUFFICIENT" Mr.. Law interrupted
with a bleak smile.
Crooking deferential arm, Barcus
offered 1t to Judith.
Everything is lovely in the formal
garden" he lnslsted-'so sweetly ro-
mantle. Are you game for an idle
saunter, Just to while the idle hours
away?
The woman found spirit enough for.
a wan smile as she tucked her hand
gratefully beneath his arm.
You're the cheerfulest soul ] ever
met" she, said demurely. What I'm
going to do without you when-if ever
1--we get out Of this awful business,
goodness only knows"
Lets talk Of something elso," he
suggested hastily. va
Unless. Of course" she pursued.
Nth unbroken gravity. y marry
sou; y IS q,