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

Va VI I0l1el anu IcIdAcU from MS
strained position. h next thing was
to get out of that netghborhood as
swiftly as possible before those men
q time to discover that their birds
had flown. They would OF course know
at once where their departure had
taken place and come back swiftly to
search for them, with perhaps more
men to help; and a second time escape
would be impossible.
Gordon snatched up the suit cases
with one hand, and with the other
drew Celia's arm within his.
Now. we must hurry with all our
might" he said softly. Are you all
right?"
Yes" He breath vas coming in a
sob. but her eyes were shining bravely.
Poor child!' his voice was very ten
der. We're you much frightened?"
IA little" she answered more brave
ly now.
Il shall have hard work to forgive
myself for all this" he said tenderly.
But we mustn't talk. We have to get
out OF this quickly or they ma come
back after us. Lean on me and walk
as fast as YOU AN
Celia bent her efforts to take long
sprlnglng strides, and together they
falriy SKINNED the pavements, turning
1irst his corner. then that, in the gem
eral direction from which Gordon
thought they had come. until at last,
three blocks away they caught h well
come whirr of a trolley, and breath
less. flew ware just catching q car.
They cared not where it went so that
they were safe IN a bright light with
other people. No diamonds on any
gentleman's neck scarf aver shone to
Celia's eyes with so friendly a welcome
as h dull brass buttons or that troll
ley conductors coat as he rams up
their fares and answered Gordon's
questions abou how to get to East
Liberty station; and their pleasant
homely CLEAN almost were her undo
Ing. for now that they were safe at
last the tears would come to her eyes.
Gordon watched her lovingly, ten
DERBY, glad that she did not know how
terrible had been her danger. His
heart was still beating wildly with the
thought OF their marvellous escape, and
his own present responsibility. He
must run no further risks. They would
keep to crowded trolleys, n trust to
hiding i'm the open. The main thing
was to get out Of the city on the first
train they could manag To board.
When they reached East Liberty sta
tion a long train was Just coming in,
all sleepers. n they could near the
echo of a stentorian voice:
special for Harrisburg. Baltimore
and Washington! All aboard" and up
at the further end of the platform Cor
don saw the lank form of h detective
whom he had tried to avoid an hour
before at b other station.
Without taking time for thought he
hurried Celia forward and they sprang
were fairly in the cars and the wheels
moving under then did it occur to him
that his companion had nothing to a
since about IL O'clock. She must be
Vanished, and in a fair way to be i'll
again. h a fool he was not to have
I1Oh Than nD,,Y hNy- &c.
some obscure restaurant along h
as well as not and taken a later train,
and vet 1t was safer to get away at
n Without doubt there were
watchers at East Liberty. too. and he
was lucky to have got Oh the train
without a challenge. He was sure that
detectives face lighted strangely as he
looked his a Perhaps there was a
buffet attached to the train. At least,
he would investigate. If there wasn't,
they must get off at The next stop
there must be another stop surely
somewhere near the city-he could not
remember. but there surely must be.
They had to wait some time to get
the attention of the conductor. He
was having much trouble with some
~disgruntled passengers who each
claimed to have the same berth. Cor
don finally got his ear, and showing
his stateroom tickets inquired il they
>O~s w SN1&O III GA1Gp AAaAAs
NO." growled the worried conduc-
tor. You're on the wrong train. This
is a special, and every berth in the
train is taken now u one upper"
Then. We'll have to get off at the
next stop. | suppose, and take the
other train" said Gordon dismally.
There isn't n stop till mt
where in the middle of the night. 1
tell you this is a special, and we're
scheduled to go straight through. East
Liberty's the last STOP"
Then what shall WI do?' asked
I'm sure l don't know snapped
to do without mendinE other
peoples mistakes. Stay aboard. 1 sup
pose. unless you want to jump off and
commit suicide"
at all WELL" said Gordon, with dignity.
3 much the worse for the lady,
There's one upper berth, I told you.
AN upper berth wouldn't do for her."
said Gordon decidedly. She isn't well,
Suit yourself. snapped the har-
assed official. Il reckon it's better
than nothing. You may not have 1t
long. I'm likely to be asked for 1t the
mex half minute"
rs that % And is there absolutely
nothing esse?"
Young man, l can't waste words on
you. I haven't time. Take 1t or let
1t alone. It's all n 10 me. There's
some standing oom left in the day
coach. perhaps"
"TM take IT," said Gordon meekly,
wishing he could go back and undo the
last half-hour. How in the world was
ne TO 60 and tell Celia that he could
provide her nothing better than an up
per berth?
She was sitting with her hack to him,
her face resting YEARLY on her hand
against the window. Two men with
largely checked suits, big seal rings,