Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06

but thsn she WA angry. she Jumped
| over into tAS wAts$ ana vsdsd to the
shore. carrying her bag herself. and
ran up tho beach. followed by Ram
say.
Here We afe--stranded." she CRIED.
| Why don't you swim to one of tho
isisads ana sss seHe ono to como after
"swima' no pleaded. 'whe.er.
Well-then call. fro your pistol"
| An Evil Looking Place.
ooedisntiy he nrsd several times in
tho Air, thea stopped, pleading that It
surely WAC not right to use up all
the cArtridEes wAstefuiiY.
you see" she cried petuiantly, you
won't DO anything at All that I want
there" 1n o'oF
Doris had spisd tho hsherman.s
shack ana NOW made her way TO n.
stu carrying the bag.
c.H,ioa ssy 0ps No the the door Of The shack
there was Are still snoiderinr on
tho hearth. He famed Il and it fiansd
up. disclosing a stump Of candle ON the
What /. disgusting place" shud.
SILL" he reminded. ct 10 a shelter.
Here, let me place this pallet before
tho hreplAce where you can get dry and
| warm"
lie threw nfe coat over her shoulders
as sho drew out the explosive packet
nom her breast and looked at 1t to
sec II II was safe. lie watched her as
she totally ignored him.
After tomorrow. Miss whitney," he
remarked slowly, II trust I shall not
annoy you further. Some ono else will
have to be assigned to this case. Good
night"
There was trace OF CONSERVATION
on her face as she realized that he was
going to leave her, then she turned
away without a word.
He closed the cabin door Just as .
fash OF vivid lightning played against
tho window and lighted up the interior
OF tho shack. She drew the coat about
her with . SILVER Of cold and fear.
Out In the rain Ramsay sat down
on the doorstep. lie was I'm his shirt
sleavcs now, coatless and hatless. Tot
he smiled 10 himself Above all things
he must take ITO With a smile.
Doris Tries to Rest.
AS the storm ragged with increasing
fury, Doris huddled up on the smelly
couch Tho lightning Increased IN
intensity. Rain was now coming In
under the window. The coat felt warm.
He was outside. without even that pro-
! faction What a selfish little MINK she
was. After all. why should she be an
Ery with him: In fact. was sho really
angry at all?
AS the stub OF candle on the Table
died and the freight fickered. Doris,
on tho couch. watched the play OF the
freight on the walls. Things began
70 assume strange shapes in the flicker.
Tho candle sputtered and went out.
The thunder doomed menacinkly.
Ramsay wasn't such bad sort after
all. Besides, she was really frlxhten-
ed.
She jumped UP and stood in the fire.
H~t.~ a.
light rosc and fell. making weird
shapes on the wall. They danced and
fiickered In fantastic fashion. 1t was
more than she could stand. Even tho
cold rain outside was preferable to that
terror indoors. She strodA over to tho
door.
AS the door opened, Ramsay. who had
been alternately standing and ffailinG
his arms 10 keep warm and sitting TO
keen dry, looked up. He moved over
making room for her where II was
drlest and che sat down beside him.
However,, he kept his face averted.
4 particularly vivid fash OF light
ming caused her TO shuddcr and che
moved closer TO him. touching his
shoulder. still he said nothing.
Suddenly she reached In her watsi
and drew forth the explosive packet
She held It out TO him. 1t was the
token OF surrender.
Please, DOTlc, no CTlco, lCdpluS u
his feet as he took the packet. you
must not sit here in tho rain. Won't
you go inside while ! watch?"
Yes. Jack" she whispered. rising.
Inside Ramsay stirred up the fire
throwing on moro wood until he had
4 cheerful blaze.
The Hidden Hand Lands.
There. now, little girl" no cried
cheerily. Everything Will be all right
in the morning. Try to sleep"
Obediently she curled up in the coat
as Ramsay went out to resume his
watch.
And yet the intuition OF terror which
, Doris had felt was true. For even
as she handed him the packet in token
, of surrender. down on the beach the
. Hidden Hand and his nefarious gang
], were landing in the tisherman's boat
Outside the cabin Ramsay had placed
the packet in his breast for safe-keep.
Ing while Doris was trying to snatch
a few hours Of fitful rest until dawn
, Half doing on the cot. she was sud.
, denly awakened by terrific crash OF
, | thunder that followed with vivid
shaft OF lightning. She shuddered and
, looked around at the wierd shapes.
= Suddenly a second fash revealed 9
face in the window. An instant and
= II was gone. Was it real? Or Was I,
{ her heightened imagination?
Z She did not stop TO think. II wa,
D enough FOR her that IL looked like on.
t OF the emissaries Of the terrible Hid.
q den Hand. She leaped to her feet
: Jack" she screamed in terror.
what's the matter. Doris? asked =
|. reassurins voice IS the door swun,
open. u"s
. I saw a face In that window
4 Gun drawn. Ramsay dashed from IN,
$ room Around the shack he secuted
!. There was nothing wrong
Q 1T must have been your nervous
n ness, my dear" he treasured. return
s ing; Cheer un; there's nothing"
1 tell you saw a face" she "a
Z peated. not petuiantly now.
o Take my gum he insisted "If va,
see anythns-fre! I'll be just out
side"
d BIindinE FLASK.
AS Ramsay took his place again a
the door. not thirty feet away crouche,
= the Hidden Hand and his crew.
t Doris could not sleep now. II va
d q night of terror for her. She sat bol
d upright. staring at the window. tensef,
e watching the pickering shadows of III
:, freight.
"Who-o Who-o,"