Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-12-20
CHAPTER XII tcontinued).

The carriage ratified on, bumpety-
bupm. over rough places. around cor
ners. fitting now and then sideways,
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.
II 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"
glass. but the driver paid no attention
whatever save perhaps to drive faster.
Could it be that he had lost control
of his horse and could not stop, or
hadn't he heard? Gordon tried again.
and accompanied the 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
a sudden p%remonition sent a thrill OF
alarm through him. What ii after all
the presence OF that detective had been
q warning, and no u~nheeding 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 tc have stayed in open places
where kidnapping would be impossible.
Now that he had thought of 1t 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 hear him the more
he felt convinced that something was
wrong. He tried to open the doo next
him and found it stuck. He put all his
strength forth to turn the catch but it
held fast. Then a cold sweat stood out
upon him and horror filled his hind.
His commission with its large signiic-
ance 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. Instinctively his
hand went to h pocket where he had
had left Washington. Danger should
not find him utterly u~nprepared.
He realized. too. that it was entirely
possible, that his alarms were un-
founded; thai the driver was really TAX
ing them to the East Liberty station:
that the door merely stuck, and he was
needlessly anxious. He rust keep a
steady head and not let his companion
see that he was nervou The first
thing was TO find out II possible where
they really were, but that was a diff
U 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. and the buildings APP
peared to be blank walls of darkness.
probably great warehouses. The way
was narrow. and entirely unknown.
Gordon cou)d not tell if he a ever
been there before. He was sure from
ms knowledge of the stations that they
had gone much farther than to East
Liberty ana the 1artnoSo a,3 1aca1;
ness of the region through which they
were passing filled him again with a
vague alarm. II occurred to him that
he might be able to get the window
easn down n speak to the driver. and
ne struggled with the one on his own
BIC Tor q while. with little result, for
u seemed 10 have been plugged up with
wads Of paper all around. This fact re-
his anxiety. 1t began 10 LOOK
~ u there was intention in sealing up
thai carriage. He leaned over and felt
around the sash OF the opposite door
ana round the paper wads there also.
There certainly was intention. Not 70
alarm Celia he Strengthened back and
went to work again at his own window
SASH cautiously pulling out the paper
until at last he could let down the glars.
a rush 81 dAnk air rewarded his ef-
torts. and the girl drew n breath of re-
,Iel; Gordon never knew how near she
~. ,,o .;t.nM a. tfat omen
cnrner was ss.iis perLect,y quiet in her
60 nerself. thepgh her heart was beating
wildly. She was convinced thar ths
Hnrsca Iannlnt away.
~t,nSnr. ~, ,taneo nis hand out OF the
~,es,m 81 : rawn ~c' .n ne caught the
6c. ~ s,Ie =. me driyer's box. pointed
" Win to b . ready In Gaze
mot snoI,cs .e. 0w 81 OF the hand was
ins IN ,r,,s,as ssnu '...In, put was talk
lsidarti.. hNS ~ - = tne driver. They