Middletown transcript., 1915-05-08
CHAPTER xvl-contInued.

He was pointing again, but in q very
different direction now. AS her anx-
ious eye sought the place he indicated.
her face flushed crimson with evanes-
cent JOY. Just where the open ground
Of the gully melted again into the for
est, the figure of q man could be seen
moving very quickly. In another mo-
ment IT had disappeared amid the
foliage.
Straight for the station" an
nOunced Mr.. Sloan; and, taking out
his watch, added quickly; the train
is not due for Is minutes. He'll catch
It."
The train south?"
yes. and the train north. They
pass here"
Mr.. Black turned a startled eye
upon the guide. But Reuther's face
was still alight. She felt very happy.
Their journey had not been for
naught. He would have six hours
start of his puTsuers; he would be that
much sooner in Shelby; he would hear
the accusation against him and .refute
It before she saw him again.
But Mr.. Blacks thoughts were less
pleasing than hers. He had never had
more than passing hope Of divers
innocence. and now he had none at
all The young man had fed, not in
response to his fathers telegram. but
under the impulse of his own fears.
They would not find him in Shelby
when they returned. They might never
hnd him anywhere again. A pretty
story to carry back to- the Judge.
AS he dwelt upon this thought his
reflections grew more and more
gloomy, and he had little to say till
he reached the turn where the two
men still awaited them.
In the encounter which followed no
attempt was made by either party to
disguise the nature Of the business
which thus had brought them to-
gether. The man whom Mr.. Black
took to be a Shelby detective nodded
as they met and remarked, with a
quick glance at Reuther:
$50 you've come without him! I'm
sorry for that. l was in hopes that
might be spared the long ride up the
mountain"
Mr.. Black limited his answer to one
OF his sour smiles.
Whose horse is this?" came In per-
emptory demand from the other man,
with q nod toward the animal which
could now be seen idly grazing by the
wayside. And how came 1t ON the
road alOne?"
we can only give you these facts, 4"
rejoined the lawyer. 1T came from
Tempest lodge. 1t started out ahead
OF us with the gentleman we had gone
to visit on its back. We did not pass
the gentleman on the road, and IL he
has not passed you he must haye left
the road somewhere on foot. He did
not go back to the lodge"
"MT. Black"
"I am telling you the absolute truth.
Make what you will of it. His father
desires him home. and sent a mes
sage. This message this young lady
undertook to deliver, and she did de-
liver it. with the consequences have
mentioned. II you doubt me take
your ride 1t is not an easy one, and
the only man remaining at the lodge
Is deaf as a post"
mt. Blkck has told the whole
story" averred the guide.
They looked at Reuther.
Il have nothing to add" said she.
Il have been terrified lest the gentle
man you wish to see was thrown from
the horses back over the precipice.
But perhaps he found some way of
getting down on foot. He is a very
strong and daring man."
"The tree!" calculated the detec-
tive's companion. He was from a
neighboring locality and remembered
this one natural ladder up the side OF
, the gully.
Eyes, the tree" acknowledged Mr..
Sloan. THAT, or a fall. Let us hope
1t was not fall"
AS he ceased long screech from an
approaching locomotive woke up the
echoes of the forest. 1t was answered
by another from the opposite direction.
Both trains were on time. The relief
felt by Reuther could not be con-
cealed. The detective noticed It,
I'm wasting time here" said he.
Excuse me. Mr.. Black. If push on
ahead of you. If we don't meet at
the station. we shall meet in Shelby"
Mr.. Blacks mouth twisted grimly.
He had no doubt OF the latter fact.
Next minute they we're all cantering
in the one direction. the detective very
much Inf the advance.
Let me go with you to the station. Z"
entreated Reuther. as Mr.. Black held