Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-08

without being watched. and thus perhaps
be able 70 serve her whom Ne loved
Ruthe ford had long since given up
trying to conceal or combat this love with
himself He loved Mrs. Taicott I'm spite
OF his own notions OF honor, in spite of
any doubt which might attach to her con-
duct. And loving her, he found himself
utterly unable to believe her anything
but the sweet true woman that she
seemed. so all his reasoning. and 1t
now seemed all his planning got him
nowhere. He had reached n dead line
beyond which he could not pass. At
every turn he seemed to be thwarted.
until his whole being stormed at the OBJ
stacles which prevented him from stand
ing boldly by her side and offering her
his help, his protection. He asked no
reward but this.
The day had passed and he had ac-
complshed nothing, for all his high
resolves OF the morning. Dusk was
settling gently over the ship. The ten
der witchery Of the twilight was not yet
invaded by the triumphant magic OF cleo
trlcity, which should transform the ves-
sci into floating miracle OF light. Thor
oughiy dlsplrited with his feeling Of
helplessness, Craig entered one Of the dim
corridors which led to his stateroom.
Then, as II in answer to his great de-
sire for action came a sudden inter
ruption. woman's low, startled cry
rang above the mellow monotone OF the
ships sounds. Again II arose, frightened,
pleading followed by the husky, inn
perative tones of a mans voice.
Coming" cried Rutherford, running at
top speed toward the voices, certain that
II was woman crying for help
He was not mistaken. Turning the
corner OF the passage which led to his
own door. he came full upon two strug-
Cling figures A woman was endeavoring
to ward Off man. She was young and
slight, the man. short and stocky, yet
the woman seemed to hold her own In a
manner which showed surprising
strength. for every move of her assailant
was met and foled.
All this Craig took in at a single glance.
The next look showed him that one of the
two was Mrs. Talcott-the woman of all
the world that he had been wanting to
aid-and in a trlce he had sprung upon
the man and grappled with him. This
action. as II transpired, required no
special herosm The mans defense was
weak; indeed, he seemed de-
slrous only of getting away. Meanwhile
he sought to shield his face, either from
discovery or from attack. with his left
arm. Craig struck at the shielding hand
with quick twist OF his body the man
tore himself loose and fed down the
corridor.
Rutherford started to give chase, when
an imploring call from the girl brought
him to standstill.
Don't go! Oh don't pleasev
She was leaning against the wall, pant |
Ing for breath. and seemed almost ready |
to drop from the unusual exertion. Craig |
sprang to her side, his arms extended. |
1nvoluntarlly she shrunk back and drew |
herself upright 1.-THE and firm. Howbeit |
the trembling hands pressed against her |
breast and the startled eyes, cleaning |
large and bright from the white oval of |
her face, told eloquently Of her need of |
Craig looked at that slender figure, so
alone in the world, with all the longing |
Of ages upon ages of physlcally-doml-
1ant man written in his features-but his
arms fell Imply to his side. 1t seemed to |
him, in that moment, as though he would
have given anything he possessed for the
If not the right, to take her
But her very weakness was her best
protection.
who was that MANI" Craig demanded.
IL don't know" she whispered un-
peering over her shoulder. and
moving nearer to Ruther-
'ord II don't think-I ever saw him
before"
Craig wondered momentarily why she
lesitated, and why she had seemed afraid
or him to follow the fugitive. Her next
words, however, gave him fresh food for
hought. Putting her hands to her face.
ls If the fright and excitement which she
lad undergone were finally dominating
Ter resolution, she sobbed:
"Oh, what shall We do, what shall we
10! I had no idea that any one on board
Snew about this! I thought we were
afe"
She lifted her hands, and there, dang
ing from the torn edge of her cloak,
;raig gllmpsed tho blue buckle. Her
lervous fingers sought TO loosen or secure
t, he could not tell which; and in his
Isual masterful way, which had been sue
essful with womankind until he met
irs. Henry Talcott, he reached out to
elp her with II.
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