The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-28
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
They were late coming into Wash
ington, for the special had beer side
tracked in the night for several express
trains, and the noisy crowd who had
Kept n another awake till after mid
night made up by sleeping far into the
morning,
Three times did Gordon make the
journey three cars front to see If his
companion Of yesterday were awake
and needed anything, but each time
found the curtains drawn and still,
and each time he went slowly back
again to his seat in the crowded day
coach.
1t was not until the white dome Of the
capital, n the tall needle of the monu-
ment, were painted soft and vision Like
against the sky, reminding n of the
pictures of the heavenly city in the
story of Pilgrims Progress, and family
suggesting a new and visionary world,
that he sought her again, and found her
fully ready, standing in the aisle while
the porter put up the berth out of the
way. Beneath the great brim of her
purple hat, where the soft fronds OF her
plumes trembled with the motion of the
train, b lifted sweet eyes to him, as
II she We're both glad and frightened
TO see him. And then that ecstasy shot
through him again, as he realized, sud
denly what it would be to have her
Tor his life-companion, to feel her ooks
Of gladness were all for him, and have
the right TO take all fright away from
her.
They could only smile at each other
TOR good morning, for everybody was
standing up and being brushed, and
pushing here and there for suit cases
and lost umbrellas; and everybody
talked loudly, and laughed a great
deal, and told how late the train was.
Then at last they were there, and could
get out n walk silently side by side
I'm the noisy procession through the
station 10 the sidewalk.
What little things sometimes change
lifetime, and make for our safety or
our destruction! That very morning
three keen watchers were set to guard
that station at Washington to hunt out
the government spy who had stolen the
stolen message, and take him, message
and all, dead or alive, back to New
York; for the man Who could testify
against the Holman Combination was
not 10 be let live if there was such a
thing as getting him u of the way,
But they never thought TO watch the
Special which was supposed to carry
only delegates to the great convention.
He could'not possibly be on that! They
knew ne was coming from Pittsburgh,
FOR they had been SO advised by tele-
gram the evening before by one of their
company who had seen him buying n
sleeper ticket for Washington, but they
felt safe about the Special, for they
had made inquiries and been told no
one but delegates could possibly come
on it. They mad done their work thor
oughly, and were on hand with every
possible plan perfected for bagging
their game. but they took the time
when the Pittsburgh Special was ex-
pected to arrive for eating a hearty
breakfast in the restaurant across the
street from the station. Two of them
emerged from the restaurant in plenty
of time TO meet the next Pittsburgh
train, just rs Gordon, having placed the
lady In a closed carriage, was getting in
himself.
If the carriage had stood in any other
spot along the pavement in front of the
station, they never would have seen
him, but. as 1t was, they had q full view
OF him; and because they were WASH
ington men. and experts in their line,
they recognized him at once, and knew
their plans had failed, and That only by
extreme measures could they hope to
prevent the delivery OF the message
which would mean downfall and dis
aster to them and their schemes.
AS Gordon slammed shut the door of
the carriage, he caught q vision of his
two enemies pointing eXcitedly toward
him, and he knew that the blood
hounds were on the scent. His heart
beat wildly. His anxiety was divided
between tho message and the lady.
What should he do? Drive at once to
the home Of his chief and, deliver the
message, or leave the girl at his rooms,
sphone for a faster conveyance and
trust to getting to his chief ahead of
his ~pursuers?
Don't let anything hinder you! Don't
let anything hinder you! Make it a
matter OF life and death!' rang the lit
tie ditty in his ears, and now it seemed
ms If he must go straight ahead with
the message. And yet-"a matter OF
life and death!' He could not, must
not, might not, take the lady with him
into danger. If he must be in danger
Of death he did not want to die having
exposed an INNOCENT stranger to the
same.
Then there waS another point to be
thought OF.
He had already told the driver &c
take him to his apartments, and to drive
as rapidly as possible. 1t would not dc
20 stop him now and change the direc-
tons, for a plstol-shot could easily
reach him yet; and, coming from 4
crowd. who would be suspected? His
enemies were standing on the threshold
OF a place where there were many 81
their kind TO protect them, n none OF
his friends knew of his coming. i
would be a race for life from now on L
the finish. -
Celia was looking out with interes
at the. streets, recognizing landmarks
with wonder, and did not notice Cor
don's white. set face and burning eyes
as he strained his vision Ia note how
fast the horse was going. Oh, if TIL,
driver would only turn off at the mex
corner into tho side street they coulC
not watch the carriage so far, but j
was not likely, for this was the mos
direct road, and yet-yes, he ha,
turned! JOY! The street here was S,
crowded that he had sought the mar
suwer. less crowded way that he nigh