The Glasgow courier., 1916-03-31


ness that numbed his muscles. 1t had
been like nightmare to him, dream
that set his head to throbbing. and in
which the only real thing was the stall
| wart bulk Of MACPHERSON encouraging
| him forward-and then--the little shoe!
He reused himself with a start, realiz-
ing that the Scotchman was answering |
his question.
ut might hae been fifteen minutes
mayhap more, when we COON to her
little footprints in the snow. Then-"
he paused a moment and his voice
softened, I'VE found her wee slipper In
q snow bank. A bit further We found
t'other one-and the snow began tae he
decked wi draps Of blood. But l
should say it was mair than half an
hour before we COON upon the lassle
hersel, lying In faint like"
"Was she consciOusY'
"Nae. and we could ia bring her to,
SO we wrappit her in oOr coats and
took her back to the guide wife"
"Will you tell us please In what con-
dition Miss Page was when I-when
you-arrived at your house with herr"
! MACPHERSON frowned at the memory
and a deeper note crept into his tones
as he said slowly:
'She was nae conscious, and her
clothes were tairn to pieces and hangin
in ribands Such clothes as she had
on, puir lassie! Her feeties We're cut
wi the Ice and the stones, and there
was a terrible wound Oh her forehead
and an Ill faured queer bruise on one
shoulder
"Was your wife alone in the house
when you returned!''
mae there was maybe half a dozen
men frae the town. who had heard Of
the lassie and had COON to help the
search. They set up shout when
they saw us, and l had one Of them
fire his revolver to tell the others Miss
Page was wi u.s."
did they show any emotion at the
sight of Miss Pages condition." asked
Languon, and u little shudder shook
Mrs. Page, who alone of all those pres
ent knew Of the tragedy to which that
''emotion" had led. MacPherson' s
2 voice, too was grim as he said:
: II wouldna call 1t emotion but there
e was u guide bit Of murmurin' against
l ! those who had driven so sweet Il lassie
e distractit and sent her to maybe her
! death IN the snow. The murmurin'
grew louder when they saw the hurt
e and there We're cries to know who had
done it. When Mr.. Langlon told them.
the murmurs grew louder and finally
4 one OF the lads cried out in Il loud voice,
4 This town has la room for wifebeat-
i ers and drunken brutes-he ought tu
: be hung"
n a stir of excitement swept through
v the courtroom, for MACPHERSON. with
V out gesture. with no more than Il
r rising infection of his voice, had
I brought before them vision of the
e snowy night and the little house from
}. whose doorway the lamplight streamed
out, mellowiny the snow to gold, ant
q touching with its fingers of light the
grim faces of that group Of men stirre,
,r to the deep anger Of the mob ut tht
" thought OF Dan Pages brutality.
Did the other men make an.
= threatS:"
II Aye. Another one of them crie'
Il cot, KILN Is too good fer Dan Page
Il He should bc h"r>ewhipped ont o
II town. At that. my wife COON up t
II me and says. For the lassies sake
81 don't let them he takin the law int
III their Nn hands or thrre'll lie mur'le
81 done this nirht.' So ! cried Dim,
81 take the matter too personal. lads
Il we've law ami a ga"l in this tow,
Somebody get the sheriff
Did they heed you:'
II cOul,ha lell ut the time. bccars
Just then Il cutter comes da>hin' oo
Il with twa men in it. ana one shout
Il DOT. Have you found Mary Page: An
I'll they all answers. Yes. she's found
$I Then he says. I'm james Pollock he
al iance-and have come to take he
kI home'"
8I Was Miss Page still unconscious: ::
III rhe question came sharply. MacPhc
son shook his head.
II Nae, she was conscious, and whr
she heerd him she gave Il cry of NJ
III no. no" and dragged herSer up frol
8| where she lay and clung to Mr.. Ian:
don. At that the man Pollock push
Il 10y me and cried, Mary. Mary-I hav
come to take you home"
he Did Miss Page answer him.
Nae, she just shookit her head, an
MIR. Langdon said, Miss Page is N
." going home yet But Mr.. Pollock W.
{" sair angry and shouted. What tt
n ,- devil have you got to do with II
-. ~ Haven't you made trouble enoush""
Wv Did Mr.. Pollock make any move +
-" ward Miss Page?'
>: Aye. He tookit quick step TO
w. ward like he would carry her Off. b'
the guide wife stoppit him.. Nell 1
,s move the puir lassie till she is war
49, and restit.' she said and put her arm
~. aboot her and tookit her into the be
~, room beyant. Mr.. Langdon helpit he
~ and when he came cot he said, Mi
~ Page will not return to her drunkt