Middletown transcript., 1915-05-01
CHAPTER xv-cOntInued.

twenty-five miles and over a very
rough mountain road. Did l not conf
IDENTIFY expect to fnd Oliver there,
should not let you undertake this ride.
But the inquiries have just made
lead me to hope for the best results"
Whats that?"
That's the cry of a Loom"
"How awful! Do they often cry like.
that?"
mot often in the nighttime"
Reuther shuddered.
Mr.. Black regarded her anxiously.
Had he done wrong to let her Join him
in this strange ride?
Shall we go back and wait for
broad daylight" he asked.
mo, no. could not bear the sus-
pense of wondering whether all was
going we'll and the opportunity being
given you Of seeing and speaking to
him. We have taken such precautions
chosen so late (or should l say so
early a start-that I'm sure we have
outwitted the man who is so watchful
vi u5s Oul IL VIC 6O DdChb WC SdAhOS
slip away from him again; and oliver
will have to submit to a humiliation
1t is our duty to spare him. And the
good judge, too. l don't care If the
looms do cry; the night is beautiful"
And it was, had their hearts been in
tune to enjoy it. A gibbous moon had
risen, and, inefficient as it was to light
hn nP ho fOpouf ~ IL
lumined the treetops and brought out
the diffenence between earth and sky.
The road, known to the horses, II not
to themselves, extended like a black
ribbon under their eyes, but the
patches of light which fell across it at
intervals took from it the uninter-
rupted gloom it must have otherwise
had. Mr.. Sloan, who was at once
their guide and host, promised that
dawn would be upon them before they
reached the huge gully which was the
one dangerous feature of the road.
Their guide hRd prophesied truly
Heralded by that long cry of the loon
the dawn began to reveal itself and
the everyday world of the mighty for
est was upon them with its night
mystery gone.
But not the romance of their errand
or the anxiety which both felt as tc
its fulfillment. Full sight brought full
realization. However they might seek
to cloak the fact, they could no Longer
disguise from themselves that the OBJ
ject of their journey might not be ac
ceptable to the man in hiding at Tenn
pest lodge. Reuther's faith in him wal
strong, but even her courage faltereC
as she thought of the disgrace await
ing him whatever the circumstance
or however he might look upon hii
fathers imperative command to re
turn.
But she did not draw rein, and thu
three continued to ride up and on
Suddenly, however, Mr.. Sloan wa
seen to turn his head sharply, and il
another moment his two companion
heard him say:
I'VE are followed. Ride on and leav,
me to take look"
Instinctively they also glanced bacl
before obeying They were just round
ing the top of an abrupt hill, and eX
pected to have an uninterrupted view
Of the road behind. But the masse
of foliage were as yet too thick 70
them to see much but the autumna
red and yellow spread out below them
81 hear them; do not see them.
remarked their guide. Two horse
are approaching"
How far are we now from tn
lodge?"
"A half-hour's ride. We are just a
the opening of the gully"
"You will join us soon?"
LAS quickly as | make out who ar
on the horses behind u.s."
Reuther and the lawyer rode or
Her cheeks had gained a slight flust
but otherwise she looked unmoved. H
=. was less at ease than she; for he ha
less to sustain him.
The gully, when they came to Il
proved to be formidable one. 1t wa
not only deep but precipitous, and 70
the two miles they rode along its edg
they saw no let-up in the steepness O
one side or of the almost equal
abrupt rise Of towering rock on tn
other. 1t was Reuther's first exper
ence of so precipitous climb and VI
der other circumstances she Nigh
have been timid; but in her preser
heroic mood, it was all part of he
great adventure, and as such accepted
The lawyer eyed her with CROWN
admiration. He had Tot miscalculate
her pluck.
AS they were making a turn to gal
the summit, they heard Mr.. Sloan