Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-13
The Web
of Destiny
ey J. u. GieSY 4 J. b. SMITH
Authors OF Semi Qua. Stules
Copyright.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

10000 .toQnooap 10000 oaoQnnupa
MolsaDe ami joined The Others and
We bent 10 examine the floor. heard
Sheldon breathing as on. under The
amp Vt dn overwhelming emotion.
A,kabt's flash showed the foot
prints of man and what seemed like
TWO women running of along The
passage beyond the beam OF light from
the door We rose and ran in The
direction they pointed
Again We came to a blind end and
q low arch in foundation wall, With.
cur i Wofd We CraWled through and
rose and ran on up a slant.ng floor
winch seemed to lead back the way We
had come
II came over me now that We must
be getting close Ii seemed that the!
must have left The room behind Us in
a hurry, not 70 have put ont the light,
That would mean dat perhaps they
had even heard our advance and
slipped ont just before We turned the
last corner beyond the room.
Yet why, asked should Reich have
gone along as he seemed To have done
and lhe thought came that perhaps he
had compelled Greek Annie TO lead
him out some shorter way than the
back track would have been.
We came to yet another lighted
room far larger than any Of The others
We mad en-. we ran I~St caught
glimpse Of j interior tt oueh the
halfopeucd do
II was furnished. and well fur
pisucd At that II looked like a COM
Portable apartment. | wondered al It
and ran on.
Another angle led us off at slant,
continued for perhap, fifty feet and
Rided AGAIN.
McEabe bent to follow the prints
with his light and heard him grunt
,and speak quickly 10 Dual.
cone OF the women went up here"
hs said, pointing with his torch, aud
tie man turned Oft up this way" He
dropped the light on the larger tracks
which led into The Other passage.
Sheldon SWOre.
They re wise to ~ an they're try,
In 10 fool us, he gloNlod and quite
without waning cried our !CudIr;
Lilly! on LINK IT'S Colonel Mac,
Honey, LeeiIe gal,"
HIS voice woke The echoes of the
place and rams Welidly through the
passage.
: Mckabe Strengthened ANA whrea
upon him.
"Qult it." he rasped, and 5titiened
into surprised attention
Muited. choked distorted yet clear,
~ perceptible to our ears, wOman'a
voice had screamed.
It's shrill appeal rang thin aud eery
in the darkness, thrilled rs once ana
died in gurgle, and Il seemed to me
that there came the sounds OF scnf
lie somewhere beyond US
Mokabe leaped into the passage
marked by the large track and ran
forward.
We followed with what speed We
could gather in the dark.
Lily cried Sheldon again as We
r..n. Lily Reich. We've comm!
Wait!
Quite abruptly a voice spoke out Of
THE loom before rs.
THAT you, sheldon
"IAank Cod gasped the colonel
Homer. Where are you, you darned
lucky fool?'
Here answered Reich. stop
whore you are. can see your light,
We paused and waited, Dndis aud
Mckabe's flashes came up and pointed
in the direction Of the voice. They met
and focused beyond us in a blot like
the spot OF u theatres light AMI lhlo
their beau stepped The figure Of Reich
halt supporting Il woman who leaned
On his arm.
Lilly Thank Cod" whispered
Sheldon hoarsely al my elbow.
1t was gripping tableau The
slender, tawny youth, his hat gone, his
fair hair awry, his pale face with
wide eyes blnking in the brilliant
light, and the girl brownhalred,
swectlaced yet hasgard, chnSins to
him for support and protection.
felt my own heart swell and throb
with emotion and thank giving as !
sa2ed upon them in that sht.soaked
passage where we stood.
Homer advanced and joined US
while the light played upon him
why didn't YOU call sooner he
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