Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-03-08

at Swain told nac that ne vas in a bud
way.
els she all right as vas his frs 1ues-
ton. and his eyes secured to burn into
me.
Yes" l answered "a little testify,
she's all right-that is. il you mean
Miss Vaughan. For heavens sake,
Swain. be a little sensible. What's the
use of working yourself up into a state
X this! Did you sleep any last
night"
NO" said Swain. after thinking a
minute. No. ! believe not"
How about b~reakfast?"
Il don't seem to remember about
breakfast" he answered. after a mo-
ment's thought. -.
l stepped TO the door. called the
guard, and putting a bill into his hand,
asked him to send up the prison barber
n to have q good meal sent up in
the course of half am hour. When the
barber arrived. l had him take Swain
in hand. give him Il shave and sham
poo and general freshen!ng up. Then
the breakfast arrived. and 1 made him
sit down and eat. He obeyed passively.
and l could see the food did him good.
When he had finished his coffee, /
handed him u cigar.
Now. SWAIN" l began. sitting dow
opposite him, I'm going to ak to you.
seriously. In the first place, Miss
Vaughan is in no danger. Simmonds
had two men in the grounds watching
the house all last night, ready to inter-
fere at the least sign OF anything
wrong. That watch will be kept up
as long as Miss Vaughan remains
there"
That's good" he said. 81 didn't
know that. But just the same. she
mustn't remain there. Even with the
men on guard, you may be too late"
Just what is it your afraid of" 1
asked him. c%uriously. do you think
her LIES in danger?"
Worse than that" said Swain thick
ly. his face suddenly livid. "Oh, worse
than that"
l confess that 1 caught something OF
his horror; but l shook myself patient
ly.
l.. Il m believe that" 1 said. But,
Az the least cutlery, they will burst in
to the house. And remember. the three
erVantS are there"
They cut no figure. If they didn't
near those screams the other night, do
you think they would hear n others?
You get her away from there. Mr..
Lester" he went on rapidly. IF she
won't come of her own accord, YOU must
use force"
But, my a SWAIN" 1 objected. 4.
can't do that. Do you want me to kid
nap herr"
JuSL tnat-lf It's necessary"
I'd soon be occupying a cell
mere, too. i don't see what good that
| would do"
1T would save her" he asserted dog
gedly. 1T would saw her. That's the
only thing to consider"
But l rose to my feet in sudden i'm
patience; what consideration was She
showing for him or for me or for any,
one? ~"'
You're talking foolishly." I said.
III much better be thinking of your
W danger; it's much more real than
hers" 1 had an impulse to add that,
SINCE she a chosen her path. it was
managed to check the words. HAS n
new light on the case occurred to you ?''
No. he answered, listlessly; Il have
not thought about it. When do you
see her again. Mr.. Lester?"
I'm to see her tonight"
will you give her u note from me ?''
Yes I agreed.
His face lighted again at that. and
he cleared a corner of his table, and sat
down to write the note. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY difficult to compose. for hi tore
up two drafts before he got one to suit
him. But at last it was done, and he
folded II, rummaged an envelope out
OF a pile of papers on a chair, slipped
the note into it, and handed it to me.
There" he said, and his face was
bright with hope. Il think hat will
settle it,"
"a far from sharing his certainty,
but l put the envelope in my pocket,
assured myself that there was nothing
more l could do for him, and returned
to the office. Just as l was getting
ready to leave. Mr.. Royce came in, a
chagrined look on his face.
Mrs. Royce just telephoned me-" he
said. She drove out there, as l asked
her to, but Miss Vaughan refused to
see her"
/ had expected it. hui the certainty
that we had failed again did not add
to my cheerfulness.
Swain wants us to kidnap her" l
said, with a twisted smile.
I'm not sure but that he's right"
said my partner, and went thoughtfully
away.
l went to my rOOms, changed, had
dinner at a quiet restaurant, n then
took the elevated for the long trip to
the Bronx. 1t vas after 8 o'clock when
l pulled the bell beside the tall gates
to Elmhurst. The gardener was evi-
almost at once and admitted me. With
out waiting for him. I walked up the
drive toward the house. The lights
were OH in the library, and l stepped
up to the open door.
Then l stopped, and my heart fell.
For there were two white-robed fig
ures in the room. One was Miss Waugh.
an and the other was Francisco Silva.
The girl was sitting at his feet.
They had evidently heard my foot
steps. for they were looking toward the
door, and Miss Vaughan arose as soon
as ] came within the circle Of light.
But IL ] expected her to show any en-
barrassment. / was disappointed.
Come In, Mr.. Lester" she said. II
believe o. have not met Senior Silva