The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-10-19

But even as he slowed up for tn
turn he caught sight of tire track
: swerving wildly and turning OF int
the sand between two dunes. H
shut of his power and set his brakes
drew into the side of the road, an,
jumped. out.
He passed the barrier Of the dune
and caught sight Of David's racinI
car in the waves. The pillows fam
ing with moonlight were sweeping
over the little machine with terrifying
ruthlessness, now tossing up spra.
which the moon turned to jewelry
now s%mothering 1t all from view.
Royce gazed aghast. He tore hill
hair at the vision. He could almos'
see Gloria caught in the wheel and
held fast while she drowned, slowly
choking.
He was about to dash into the sea
and fight it for the body of the little
runaway when he saw footprints in
the wet sand.
With a cry Of relief DR.. Royce fol
lowed them across the sand to the
highway. But Gloria had not turned
north in the road. She had been
wooed into the dense, lush foliage.
The doctor regarded it with dread.
He could not imagine how tempting
it had been to Gloria's truant heart.
He was afraid that she might have
lost her mind with fear.
He had hardly plunged into the
thicket when he lost track OF her.
He ran back, hoping that he might
find some courier with news. In
stead he met q boy from a pine
apple plantation. Royce hailed him
and learned that he was going for
a doctor. He had heard and seen
exactly nothing Of Gloria.
He was about to let the boy go when
it occurred to him that Gloria's father
would be frantic for some word of her
whereabouts. He found a prescription
pad in his pocket and a bit Of pencil
and he wrote a note.
Pierpont Stafford, Royal Poin-
ciana: l found GlOria's car in the
surf and her footprints leading
into the everglades. l am follow
ing them, hut think you had better
organize searching parties to beat
the whole district.
STEPHEN ROYCE.
He gave this to the boy and q bill
from the small roll he found In his
pockets. He made the boy promise
to 60 to the nearest telephone and
transmit the message to the hotel.
Royce returned again to the chase, in
Gloria alone there.
Now and then he found some hint
Of her, a shred Of silk from her Paris
frock torn away by a clutching thorn.
Gloria had not been long in finding
out that there a be too much liberty
as well as too little. No calm wander
in a dream through nightmare
and could have seen a more fantastic
world than that Florida ENHANCEMENT.
She was entranced at first, but at
ength she had had enough.
She had read Of people who walked
n circles till they died Of exhaustion.
She felt ready to die SO already. But
she was yawning her pretty
lead off. She beat about the bush and
aid "Shoo!" to any crocodiles or boa
constructors that might be in hiding.
'hen she stretched herself out and be-
IAN a little prayer. She could not
awake to finish it. In her sleep
iful bed she had foolishly left. She
reamed that she was asleep In her
wn room.
Meanwhile DR.. Royce stumbled and
roped through the jungle in search
f her, and her father and brother
ERE in conference with the Palm
leach police.
The message that Royce had given
, the boy from Colohatchee reached
lem a little before dawn. 1t only in
omething to do. They made nc
lrther secret Of Gloria's disappear
nee. They called on everybody for
clip.
Cars went scurrying along the little
that pushes a short distance /,
to the forest; boats OF every sort !
ided along the drainage canal; motor s
pats, canoes, skifs, dugouts were :
hither and yon among the I
lousands of waterways.
David forgot Lois Freeman and the !
lgagement he had to play golf with ,
or that morning. He and his :
Their had anticipated the dawn In :
Ie bayous. s
Freneau, strolling across the lawn :
open the Office Of the New York .
he represented, found Lois +
reeman and her father reading the !
orning papers. They spoke of the :
IS of Gloria and the $4,000 offer Z
r her restoration to her father. 8
eneau meditated. He could use $5,- 6
o or less to great advantage.
When Lois invited him to play golf h
said that he had another engage .
Whatever motive it was that =
oved Freneau, he resolved to foreGo 4