Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-02-21
THE NICK OF TIME.

directions of that pleasant gentleman,
had schooled him in expecting the un-
expected; so, when an envelope mark
ed with the. code word for "Immedi-
ate!" was thrust into his hands at the
station, he guessed that he would find
his orders suddenly changed.
The letter Would have read inno-
Gently enough to casual reader; but
that innocent phrasing became, under
his translating, quick with interest,
vital with concern, suggestive of need,
and rich with the promise of an ad-
venture in which life was at stake.
He read:
"Dear Stanley:
"Go to Highland. Follow chart in
closed. Walton, the manufacturer,
and his daughter have tried to hide
themselves there. The strikers have
burned his mills. There is small
gang who have sworn to get him. A
chap by the name of Zeider is on his
trail; we missed him here. He may
be on his way there now. Walton is
sick. See the girl and stay there. I
have warned the girl against Zeider
and notified her you were coming.
"BRACKETT."
Stanley folded the letter thought
fully. "Well," he muttered, "they GER
tainly are after Walton. Poor old
chap, if he hadn't been SO pig-headed!
1t was losing game. Out to kill him,
and only the girl there. AS remem-
ber. though, she is pretty thing,
and mighty. courageous. Judging by
this note of the chief, should guess
that things went wrong suddenly in
the CITY,
After memorizing the facts in the
chart, Stanley dozed the rest Of the
journey.
At seven o'clock, he dropped from
the train at the little country station.
He found he was the only passenger
alighting, and with his chart in mind,
he slipped away through the dusk.
The. village was quiet save for the
conversation of group at what was
evidently the postoffice and general
store. Along the street the houses
were lighted, but few people were
stirring about.
'Odd,"- Stanley thought, II suppose
haven't been long enough in the
game; but it seems almost impossible
that that lean-faced Zeider may be
here one of these days to kill. You'd
think the peace and innocence of ages
were in this country town.
Crossing from the principal street
to "a side reet~with a few struggling
houses along it, he turned again, and
went on through the darkness over
rough road: When just about to give
up and conclude that he had missed
his direction, he caught sight of dim
light, and going toward it, found him
self facing small mass of shadow
that he knew was cottage. In the
upper room light was burning.
II suppose Walton's there" Stanley
thought, stopping to study the house
and its surroundings. "They ought to
be safe here, but Walton's enemies
are after his blood; and ferrets never
quit on the scent"
AS he stood in the shadow among
the trees, he heard soft muffled foot
step in the dirt road back of him; he
stood rigid. A STOPPING figure turned
in toward the cottage. Stanley slipped
along after him from shelter of tree
trunk to tree-trunk. as the light from
the window fell full on the figure, he
saw it was that of an old man, and in
his hand he held what appeared to be
a letter.
Alert and ready, but convinced that
this was not Zeider, Stanley watched
in the shadows and saw the man de-
liver the letter to the girl. The old
man turned and disappeared in the
night.
Stanley went toward the house slow
ly, making sure that he understood its
location; then he stepped on the
porch, which creaked to his step, and
knocked on the door.
For a little time there was silence;
then light step approached the door.
It opened wide, and Stanley saw a
slight, fair-faced young-looking girl
standing before him. The light from
the lamp in the bracket on the wall
threw a yellow glow that turned to
gold the curley thickness of her hair.
Her eyes seemed to him abnormally
large and dark, and he remarked to
himself that she must be living in ter
ror. He started to announce himself,
but she spoke hurriedly.
"Come in" she said, in strained
yet pleasantly toned voice. 'If you
will step into that room"
He turned to go through the door,
Crash! he felt himself going! He sank
to the floor, fighting gamely to retain
consciousness, but knowing he was
losing. AS he slid forward he turned;
he saw dimly the quailing figure of
the girl. her lips parted, her eyes
| staring in horror as she watched him,
in her hand something that looked
| like bar of metal. Over him swept
the weakening nausea that often pre-
cedes unconsciousness, and darkness
came.
Staplav hoard himcalf proan. and