The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-21
p MI Continued.

and Celia, half frightened, was forced
to cling to her protector to keep from
being thrown on the floor of the cab.
"Oh, are we running away?" she
breathed awesomely into his ear.
81 think not,--dear," he answered
back. the last word inaudible. THE
driver thinks we are in a hurry but he
has no need to go at this furious pace
] will tell him."
He leaned forward and tapped on the
glass, but the driver paid no attention
whatever saw perhaps to drive faster.
Could ii be that he had lost control
Of his horse and could not stop, or
hadn't he heard? Gordon tried again,
and accompanied h knocking this
time with a shout, but all to no pur-
pose, The cab ratified steadily on.
Gordon discovered now that there were
two men on the box instead Of one, and
q sudden premonition sent a thrill or
alarm through him. What If after all
the presence OF that detective had been
a warning, and he unheeding had
walked into a trap? What a fool he
had been to get into a carriage where
he was at the mercy of the driver. He
ought 10 have stayed in open places
whore kidnapping would be impossible.
Now that he had thought Of ii he felt
convinced that this was just what the
enemy would try to do,-kidnap him.
The more fruitless he found his efforts
to make the driver heal him the more
he felt convinced that something was
wrong. He tried to open the door next
him and fOund il tuck. He put all his
strength forth to u the catch but 1t
held fast. Then a cold sweat stood out
upon him and horror filled his mind.
His commission with its large signific-
nee to the country was in imminent
jeopardy. His own life was in all prob
ability hanging in the balance, but most
of all he felt the awful peril of the
sweet girl by his side. What terrible
experiences. might be hers within the
next hour IF his brain and right arm
could not protect her. 1nstinctively his
hand went to the pocket where he had
kept bis revolver ready since ever he
had left Washington. Danger should
not find him utterly u~nprepared.
He realized, too. that 1t was entirely
possible, that his alarms were I'M
founded; that the driver was really talk
ing them to the East Liberty station;
that the door merely stuck, and he was
needlessly anxious. He must keep a
steady head and not let his companion
see that he was nervous The first
thing was 10 find out if possible where
they really were. but that was a diff
cult task. The street over which they
ratified was utterly dark with the gloom
of a smoky city added to the night.
There were no street lights except at
wide intervals. n the buildings APP
peared to be blank walls OF darkness,
probably great warehouses. The way
was narrow, and entirely unknown.
Gordon could 1ot tell If he had ever
been there before. He was sure from
his knowledge Of the stations that they
had gUne much farther than to East
Liberty, and the darkness and loneli-
ness Of the region through which they
were passing filled him again with a
vague alarm. 1t occurred to him that
he might be able to get the window
sash down and speak to the driver, and
he struggled with the one on his own
| for a while, with little result, for
1t seemed TO have been plugged up with
wads OF paper all around. This fact re-
newCd his anxiety. 1t began to look
as II there was intention in sealing up
that carriage. He leaned over and felt
around the sash OF the opposite door
n found the paper wads there also.
There certainly was intention. Not to
alarm Celia he Strengthened back and
went to work again at his own window
sash cautiously pulling u the paper
until at last he could let down the glass.
A rush of dank air rewarded his eff
forts, n the girl drew a breath Of re-
lief. Gordon never knew how near she
had been TO fainting at that oment
She was sitting perfectly quiet in her
corner watching him. her fears kept
TO herself, though her heart was beating
wildly. She was convinced that the
horse was running away.
Gordon leaned his hand out Of the
window, but Immediately he caught the
Gleam of a revolver in a hand that hung
at the side Of the drivers box, pointed
downward straight toward his face as
II with intention to be ready in case
OF need. The owner of the hand was
not looking toward him, but was talk
Ing in muffled tones to the driver. They
evidently had not heard the window let
down, but We're ready for the first sign
OF an attempt on the part Of their vic
tins TO escape.
Quietly Gordon drew in his head
specuiating rapidly on the possibility
Of wrenching that revolver out Of its
owners hand. He could do it from
Mhere he sat, but would 1t be wise?
They were probably locked in a trap.
n b driver was very likely armed
also. What chance would he have to
save Celia II he brought on a desperate
night at this point? If he were alone
he might knock that revolver out of the
mans hand and spring from the win
dow, taking his chance Of getting away
but now he had Celia TO think OF and
the case was different. Not.for a uni
verse Of governments could he leave a
woman Ill such desperate straits. She
must he considered first even ahead Of
the message. This was life n death.
He wondered at his own GOODNESS as
he sat back in the carriage and quietly
lifted the glaze frame back into place.
Then he laid Il steady hand on Celia's
again and STOPPING close whispered into
her eau:
II am afraid there's something wrong
with u driver. Can you be a little
brave.-dear" He did not know he
had used IN" last word this time, but
1t thrilled into the girls heart with o.
sudden accession OF trust.
"Oh, yes" she breathed close to his
face. You don't think he has beer
drinking, do your"
"Well, perhaps" said Gordon relieved
at the explanation. But keep calm.
think we can get out of this all right.
Suppose you change seats with me and
let me try If that door will open easily.
We might want to get out in n hurry
In case he slows up somewhere pretty
SOON
Celia quietly and swiftly slipped into
Cordon's seat n he applied himself
with all his strength and ingenuity gen
tly manipulating the latch and pressing
his shoulder against the door, until al