The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-01-09

toh IN the wall and hooded the room
with light. Then he stood quite still
and calculated by Jover' in a bewil-
dered sort Of way, for shrinking
against the wall was a young girl, ter
ror and embarrassment blending in the
imploring glance she turned toward
him. Perfunctorily Mckee noted that
she was a very pretty girl and that her
hair, disordered as 1t was, was Of a
reddish brown tint he had never e
before. but instantly classed as prefer
able to all others. For the rest she
wore a modish costume of tailor made
serge and carried a travelling bag.
MY God!" cried the intruder, with
a little sob that went straight to Nc
KEGS heart. "what shall 1 dol"
Are you-real?' asked Mckee dubi-
ously. He was ~persuading himself into
the notion that 1t must be q dream.
The girl gazed fearfully Mt the poker
and covered her fnce with her hands.
"Oh," she gasped Historically, II am
afraid.'
"You really look it." returned Nc.
Kee politely. He thought her remark
a trife melodramatic. Wont you be
seated" he continued, and well talk
it over?"
The girl sank into the chair he plac-
ed for her and wept softly into a ridic-
-ulous looking square Of lace. Mckee
watched her c~uriously.
Il don't know what you think" she
burst out In sudden defiance, "and /
don't care. It's too late now. l ran
In here to escape a a He insulted
me. l was alone on the street.
just got here tonight. And I-I-hid
In this room before you came in, and
then / couldn't get out" she ended,
sobbing afresh.
Il am Dudley McKee," said that
gentleman quietly, and I'll take pleas.
ure in seeing you safe home after you
have rested a bit. There's no harm
done, except that you're very much
excited"
II have no home-now." said the CIR
DULY. 81 ran away-to go on the
stage. My guardian was not good tc
me. He wanted me to marry him
and I-had to leave. Oh. I know yor
don't believe mel" she added ~piteously.
Some impulse made Mckee go ovei
to her and stroke the ~disordered hail
softly. She looked up. startled, and
their eyes met with an instantaneous
flash of meaning. Then she blushed
and her eyes fell.
Thus they remained, motionless, for
a time. each trying to realize, tc
grasp, the wondrous newness Of the
thing that had come into their hearts
during the instant when their glances
met and blended in an unspoken word
With a quick movement Mckee bent
v and kissed the trembling lips
Even as he did so he felt her arms
about his neck.
them like a hideous crash of sound
The girl leaped from her chair and
fled from him, her face afire with sud
den shame.
"You can't go now" said McKes
firmly. "You would be seen. Whoever
1t is, l shall get rid of him at once"
He closed the sliding doors and. re
entering his study, opened the outer
door. There stood the Rev. Ashton
Wright.
You left a note saying you wished
to see me this morning. said the Wis
itor. II was passing and saw YOU
light. If you will excuse the untimeli
ness of the hour
Mckee stared at him stupidity. "It
is fate" he said.
what Isl" asked the astounded cler
gyman.
II wanted to see you about quite an
other matter" said Mckee, speaking
rapidly. "rve forgotten what it was
1t doesn't matter. But just now
want you to marry me and ask nc
questions"
He glanced at the clock. 1t marked
11:4O.
The Rev. Ashton Wright stared at
his host in blank amazement.
Mckee opened the sliding doors.
Gomez he called to the girl, and she
ran to his side.
go ont" he commanded.
The Rev. Mr.. Wright opened his
mouth and then closed 1t again, re
Numbering McKee's injunction. He
knew the young man sufficiently well
not to question his motives. And so,
after a preliminary gasp or two. he
stumbled through the wedding service.
When it was finished all three looked
at one another as though newly awak.
ened from a dream.
Just then the clock struck 10