The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-11-09

, you with your overcoat. Now I'll pull
down this window, SO no one will sus-
pect us and follow. That's all right
now; come on! You go ahead. Just
keep close to you. / know the way in
my sleep. Eve played fire here many a
year, and could climb down In my
Sleep"
Gordon found himself wishing that
this delightful brotherinlaw were really
his. There was evidently to be no OPP
portunity Of scape here. He meditated
making a dash n getting away in the
dark when they should reach the foot
OF the stairs; much as he hated to leave
that way, he felt he must do so IL there
was n chance for him at all; but,
when they reached the ground, he say
that was hopeless. The car that was
to take them to the station was drawn
up close to h spot, n the chauffeur
stood beside II.
Your mother says fer you to hurry,
Mister Jefferson" he called in q sepul-
chral tone. They're coming out around
the block to watch. Get in as quick as
you can"
The burly chauffeur stood below
Gordon, helped him to alight on his
feet from the fire escape, and hustled
him into the darkness Of the convey
ance.
They were very quiet until they had
left the dark court and were SPEEDING
down the avenue. Then the brides
mother laid, two gentle hands upon
Gordon's, leaning across from her seat
to do 80, and said:
my son, / shall never forget this Of
you, never! It was dear of you to give
me this last few minutes with my dar-
ling!"
Gordon, deeply touched and much
put to II for words, mumbled some
Il khsno AhANKA At-. -r II --,A
her, n Jefferson relieved the situa-
ton by pouring forth q volume Of in
formation n questions, fortunately
not pausing long enough to have the
latter answered. The bride sat with
n hand clasped in her mothers, and
said not a word. Gordon was haunted
by the thought Of tears in her eyes.
There was little opportunity for
thinking, but Gordon made q hasty
plan. He decided to get his party all
out to the train and then remember
his suit case. which he had left checked
in the station. jefferson would prob
ably insist upon going for 1t, but he
would insist more strenuously that the
brother and sister would want to have
this last minute together. Then he
could get away In the crowd and dis
appear, coming later for his suit case
perhaps. or sending a porter from his
own train for 1t. The only drawback
to this arrangement was that it seemed
a dishonorable way to leave these peo-
pie who would in the nature Of things
be left In a most trying position by his
disappearance, especially the sad little
bride. But 1t could not be helped, and
his staying would only complicate
things still further, for he would have
to explain who he was, and that was
practically impossible on account Of
his commission. 1t would not do to
run risks with himself until his mission
was accomplished and his message de-
livered. After hat he could confess
and make whatever reparation a man
in his strange position could render.
The plan worked very well. The
brother of course eagerly urged that
he be allowed to go back for the suit
case, u Gordon, with well feigned
thoughtfulness, said in q low tone:
Your sister will want you for a
minute all to herself"
A tender look came into the boys
eyes, and he turned back smiling to the
stateroom where his mother and sister
were having a wordless farewell. Cor
don jumped from the train and sprint
ed down the platform, feeling meaner
than he ever remembered to have felt
in his whole life, and with a strange
h~eaviness about his heart. He forgot
for the moment that there was need
for him to be on his guard against pos
4 ava CO oSAS Wy Ahts ltAi
Even the Importance Of the message
he carried seemed to weigh less, now
that he was free. His feet had a
strange unwillingness to hurry, and
without a constant pressure OF the will
would have Jagged In spite OF him. His
heart wanted to let suit case and COM
mission and everything else go to the
winds and take him back to the state
room where he had left his sorrowful
bride of an hour. She was not his, and
he might not go. but he knew that he
would never be the same hereafter. He
would always be wondering where she
was, wishing he could have saved her
from whatever troubled her; wishing
| she were his bride, and not another's.
He passed back through the station
I gate, and a man In evening clothes
| eyed him sharply. He fancied he saw
a resemblance to one of the men at
the Holman dinner table, but he dared
not look again lest a glance should cost
him recognition. He wondered blindly
which way he should take, and II 1t
would be safe to risk going at once to
the checking window, or whether he
ought to go in hiding until he was sure
young Jefferson would no longer look
for him. Then a hand touched his
shoulder and a voice that was strange
ly welcome shouted: .
This way, George! The checking
| place is over to the right"
He turned and there stood Jefferson.
smiling and painting:
"You see, the little mother had some
thing to say to Celia alone, so l saw I
was detrop, and thought I'd better
| come with you" he declared as soon
as he could get his breath.
Gee, but you "a run!" added the
| painting youth. Whats h hurry?
| It's 10 whole minutes before the train
leaves. / couldn't waste all that time
kicking my heels on the platform, when
I might be enjoying by new brotherin-
avs company. l say are o really
| going to live permanently in Chicago?
do wish you'd decide to come back
to New York. Mothern miss Celia no
end. I don't know how she's going to
stand It."
Walking airily by Gordon's side, he
talked, apparently not noticing the
sudden start and look of mingled anx-
iety and relief that overspread his
brotherinlaw's c~ountenance. Then an
other man walked by them and turn
ing looked in their faces. Gordon was
sure this was the thick set man from
4 lIalxa ~ n mo nuaino Gordon