The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-07

"You do care then! 1 am something
"Of course I care; 1 should be a
strange girl if did not. You are much
to me; SO much you must guard your
self"
For your sake?"
She did not hesitate.
"Yes-for my sake. You promise
In the dark 1 bent down and pressed
my cheek to her own, and. to my sur
prise, she made no effort to draw away.
That is custom in my country"
l said gravely, half fearing she might
be offended, " the symbol of a pledge"
II understand" and she stood very
broken down every conventional bar
rier. 1t has changed me; cannot feel
or think as l could yesterday. l do
not know what legerdemain has been
resorted to, Monsieur, but l am not
the same girl you first met; all of life
looks different. Perhaps you can tell
me sometime how such a miraculous
change could occur in a single night.
So l accept your pledge" and she gave
me both hands, "iust as you offer it.
Now we are partners, as they say out
West. Is not that it, Monsieur"
Partners2 perhaps l do not COM
prehend that term; you mean friends?"
Even more than friends; associated
together for purpose; trusting each
other. You know now?"
Yes, and we will go at once and
learn our fate-as-as partners"
1t may have been a hundred feet to
the hangar, grass-coyered, but some
what rough. l could not help thinking
how difficult it would be to start the
monoplane if the field beyond was
equally irregular, yet surely it would
not be; the mechanics would have
chosen better, and besides, as I remem-
bered from my brief visit in the afternoon
there was nothing to critieise. We saw
nothing, heard nothing, as we drew
closer to the black bulk of building, and
CROPPED our way along its side, endeav-
Orlng to locate the shed to the north.
The door, as l vaguely recalled, was
to the east, and / left her at the corner,
concealed by the dense shadow, and
crept cautiously forward alone, feeling
along the rough boards for the latch.
1t opened noiselessly enough, but the
darkness within was intense. So dim
was my recollection of the place that
l was almost afraid to stir lest I might
disturb something and create an alarm.
In the silence l became aware of some
one stirring not far away, and waited
anxlousIy, seeking to locate the sound.
In the silence I could distinguish heavy
breathing, and then a noise which made
me think of a body rolling in the floor.
I stepped within, feeling with both
hands and feet, but encountered nothing
until l touched work bench against
the opposite wall As I stood there,
facing about, staring into the black
void, I could locate the breathing to
my right.
Who is there? answeri" exclaimed,
bending forward.
There was no reply, only recurrence
of struggle, and, after a moment of
indecision, I felt my way along the
bench, and came In contact with the
figure of man lying In the floor.
Again spoke sternly, gripping his
shoulder In nay fingers, but received
no reply. Suspecting that, whoever
the fellow might be, he was gagged
and helpless, for my hand already dis
covered strand of rope about his arm.
/ felt for his face. There was a cloth
IN his mouth, bound tightly into place
by a handkerchief knotted behind his
head. Whoever she man might be,
he was evidently no ally of Brandt's to
receive such treatment. and l slashed
the linen with the aid of his pocket