The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-21
CHAPTER XIII.

CHANGING through the window he saw
that they were in front Of a railroad
track upon which a lo.lg freight train
was rushing madly along at a giddy
pace for a mere freight. The driver had
evidently hoped to pass this point be-
fore the train got there, but had failed.
The train had an exultant sound as il
1t knew it had outwitted the driver.
On one side of the street were high
buildings n on the other q great lum-
Der yard, between which and their car
riage there stood a team of horses
hitched TO a covered wagon, from the
back of which some boards protruded,
and this on the side next to Celia
where the door would open! Gordon's
heart leGped up with hope and wonder
over the miracle OF their opportunity.
The best thing about their situation
was that their driver had stopped Just
a little back OF the covered wagon, so
that their door would open to the street
directly behind III covered wagon. 1t
made it possible for the carriage door
to swing wide and for them to slip
across behind tie wagon without get
ting too near the Slriver. Nothing could
have been better arranged for their
escape n the clatter Of the empty
freight cars drowned all sounds.
Without delay Gordon softly I'M
latched the door and swung it open,
whispering to Celia:
Go! Quick. over there by the fence
in the shadow. Don't look around nor
speak! Quick! I'll GOMEZ"
Trembling in every limb, yet with
brave, starry eyes, Celia slipped like a
wrath from the carriage, stole behind
the boards n melted into the shadow
Of the great fence Of the lumber yard,
her purple plumes mere depths OF shad-
W against the smoky planks. Gordon,
%grasping the suit cases, move instant
~ sfter her. deftly and silently closing
the carriage door and dropping into
the shadows behind the big wagon,
scarcely able to believe as yet that they
had really escaped.
Ten feet back along the sidewalk was
a gateway, the posts being tall and
thick. The gate itself was closed, but
1t hung a few inches inside the line Of
the fence, and into this depression the
two stepped softly and stood, flattening
themselves back against the gate as
closely rs possible, scarcely daring to
breathe, while the long freight clattered
and rambled It's way by like a lot Of
jolly washerwomen running and laugh
ing In a line and spatting their tired,
noisy feet as they went; then the We
hicles impatiently took up their
onward course. Gordon saw the
dow below him and glance back
hastily over his shoulder, and the man
on the other side OF the box looked
down on his side. The glitter Of some
thing in his hand Shone for an instant
in the glare Of the signal light over
the track Then the horse lurched for
ward and the cab began it's crazy gait
over the track and up the cobbled
street. They had started onward with
out getting down to look in the car
riage and see if all were safe with their
prisoners, and they had not even
looked back to see If they had escaped.
They evidently trusted in the means
| they had used to lock the carriage
doors. and had heard no sounds of
their escaping. 1t was incredible, but
it was true. Gordon drew a long
breath of relief and relaxed from his
strained position. The next thing vas
to get out Of hat ne~ighborhood as
swiftly as possible before those men
had time to discover that their birds
had flown. They would of course know
at once where their departure had
taken place and come back swiftly to
search for them, with perhaps more
men to help; and a second time escape
would be impossible.
Gordon snatched up the suit cases
with n hand, and with the other
drew Celia'S arm within his.
Now, we must hurry with all our
might" he said softly. Are you all
right?"
Yes" Her breath was coming in a
sob, but her eyes We're shining bravely
Poor child" his voice was very ten
der. Were O much frightened?"
"A little" h answ cred more brave
ly now.
II shall have hard work to forgive
myself for all this" he said tenderly,
But we mustn't talk. We nave to get
our OF this quickly or they may come
back after u.s. Lean on me and walk
rs fast as you an"
Celia BEN her efforts to take long