Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-04-22
CHAPTER xvI-cOntinued.

He was pointing again, but in a very
different direction now. AS her anx-
ious eye sought the place he indicated
her face flushed crimson with eyanes- !
cent Joy. Just where the open ground .
of the gully melted again into the for
est. the figure of a 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 eaton
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 Tor
naught. He would have six hours
start of his pursuers; he would be that
much sooner in Shelby; he would hear
the accusation against him n refute
it before she saw him again.
But Mr.. Blacks thoughts were less
pleasing than hers. He had never had
more than a passing hope of divers
innocence, and now he had none at
all. The young man had fled, not III
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
find 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
az they met and remarked, with a
quick glance at Reuther:
so 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 a nod toward the animal whicl
could now be seen idly grazing by tn
wayside. "And how came it on tn
road alone?"
we can only give you these facts,
reioined the lawyer, ut came fror
Tempest lodge. 1t started out ahea
of us with the gentleman we had gon
to visit on its back, We did not pas
the gentleman on the road, and if h
has not passed you he must have lei
the road somewhere on foot. He di
not go back to the lodge"
MIR. Black
Il am telling you the absolute trutI
Make what you will of it, His fathc
desires him home, and sent a me
sage. This message this young Lad
undertook to deliver, and she did d
liver it, with the consequences | hay
mentioned. If you doubt me tai
your ride. 1t is not an easy one, al
the only man remaining at the lod
is deaf as a post"
MIR. Black has told the who
story averred the guide.
They looked at Reuther.
Il have nothing to add" said 81
81 have been terrified lest the gent
man you wish to see was thrown fro
the horses back over the precipi,
But perhaps he found some way
getting down on foot. He is a We
strong and daring man."
The tree!" calculated the Diet
tiye's companion. He was from
n%eiphboring locality and remember
this one natural ladder up the side
the gully.
Eyes, the tree" acknowledged ]
Sloan. That. or a fall. Let us he
1t was not a fall"
AS he ceased a long screech from
approaching locomotive woke up
echoes of the forest. 1t was answe
by another from the opposite directi
Both trains we're on time. The re
felt by Reuther could not be {
cealed. The detective noticed 1t.
"Tm wasting time here" said
Excuse me, Mr.. Black, If | push
ahead of you. If we don't meet
the station. we shall meet in Shell
Mr.. Blacks mouth twisted grin
He had no doubt of the latter fact
Next minute they were all canteI
In the one direction, the detective '
much in the advance.
Let me go with you to the stati
entreated Reuther. as Mr.. Black