Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-23

/
her to marry him by compromising her
in exactly the same way as Freddy
Cage had forced Kitty Maynard to
marry him to save her from Herbert.
! In fact, Walsh had cribbed the idea
| from me; and the one abduction had
led to the other.
At the same time | was Internally
uneasy There was no trusting Walsh
and if we did not find Alice at The
Cedars. l should be frightened out OF
my life
! Seruton was properly furious. All the
| way he was either growing or raging
at Walsh; and did hope to goodness
, he would get the chance on dealing
with the hound.
CASTOR made short work of the road
to Primer. But oh, it was devillsh
uncomfortable journey! ] was so
frightened lest Walsh should have TAX
en- Alice somewhere else. =
! did not let CASTOR drive the car to
the front gates of The Cedars. tolt
! him to%turn down side lane half a
mile on the London side of it, and we
came to gate in little wood | knew
of this entrance from Carrie Delamere
| | had taken her out in my car one af-
! ternoon; and she had suggested that
we should have picnic tea in the little
wood. After tea she had taken me
along a path through 1t which had
! brought us to the garden Of The Cad
ars
Scruton and I hurried through the
i wood to the gate Of the garden. It was
| locked; but we lifted 1t off its hinges
| and slipped into the covert of shrub
berry which ran right UP to the house.
I was pleased to see that several of the
| windows were open and a glass door
leading from the house to the garden.
"Somebody's living here at any rate.
said Scruton.
We came under covert to within ten
yards of the house; then we heard a
murmur of voices from an open win
dow in the left side of 1t on the ground
floor. AS we worked our way noise
lessly toward it. l heard the tones OF
Alice's voice; and my heart gave a
little jump of relief.
When we faced the window, there
was Walsh sitting with his back to us.
right in the window seat. with one el-
bow sticking out over the sill. Beyond
him. sitting at little table with tea on
II, was AliCe. l Sd" tudt Hei idte was
pale: and I saw that she was looking
at Walsh with an extra ordinary express
sion of contempt and dislike.
For the hundredth time. I tell you
there's no way out Of it-youve got to
marry me-" said Walsh, in lazy ag.
gravating drawl.
"If you were the only man in the
world I wouldn't after today said
Alice
She spoke quite calmly without any
temper. but as if she were thoroughly
in earnest, and her voice was as full Of
dislike and contempt as her eyes.
after today - after this visit you're
paying me, I'm the only man in the
world who will marry YOU" said Walsh
in a taunting voice.
THAT makes no difference you de,
testable cad!" said Alice slowly
What way to speak of your future
husband, On your wedding day too
said Walsh, and he laughed quietly. as
if he were enjoying himself thoroughly
"And do bear in mind that it's only out
of natural nobility of nature that I'm
marrying you at all. 1t isn't really
necessary
He laughed again = a laugh that
made the very toes of my boots itch to
kick him.
While he laughed. in three noiseless
strides Scruton crossed the turf, leaned
in at the Window and his arm shot
round Walsh's neck. scragging him.
Then with furious jerks and tugs he
began to drag him out of the window.
Mind his neck" cried.
Damn his neck. Come out, will
your" cried Scruton.
And Walsh came out, all waving
arms and legs, grunting black in the
face with fury and being throttled.
Get Alice away" said Scruton.
She was already at the window;
caught hold of her, lifted her through
and carried her into the shrubbery. It
seemed the natural thing to do.
put me down Put me down." she
cried, trying to twist out of my arms.
Very good" said. But we've got
to hurry
! put her down, but kept an arm
round her as hurried her along. She
away. But it seemed all right where
it was--to me-and I kept it there.
She might have tripped and fallen on
the TOugn STOuilu Ol lue SIIuDDeIy-
"Oh. I was so frightened. | am so
glad you came" she said in a shaky
voice.
"And was frightened, too -awfully
frightened | know that BLACKBOARD
Walsh It was the luckiest thing in
the world that l lighted on Robes
pierre
ooh, it was lucky" she cried.
We were nearly at the bottom of the
shrubbery when Walsh began to shout.
l pushed through it, out into the open
and looked back He and Scruton were
going at it hammer and tongs on the
lawn in front of tie house. | had no
fear for Scruton; he was the heavier
man and as hard as nails. while Walsh
was soft and on the puffy side He was
bowling for servants. While | looked
he went down heavily, and he did not
get up hurried Alice out of the gar
den.
In the wood I loosed her - not that
| wanted to and we went through it
more slowly.
IL