Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-17
Shared
By ]. U. GiESY 4 J. B. SMITH
Authors OF Semi Dual Stories
Copyright.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.


acNaDe whistle softly kim Lee!
How did you learn about him.
From Connel,' | explained
fol time he SAID nothing, then, Il
see And did Conne say what he
meant To do
Unless he gets some lead when
Will win Your freedom, he intends 10
turn Reich and Greek Annie loose,
replied
Il nope he does, said McKabe "Oh
not tor myself Miss foote, but for
you. Now that they have laid YOU
fast 1 hope 10 God Jim Connel don't
c4ll their bluff and try to hold on
Is il a bluff" questioned
Hardy he sttted = know
them Our lives aren't worth a bean
II Jim holds out That Is. mine isn't.
don't know What they may do with
you"
Don't" cIied out His words
brought a suggestion of things worse
than any death to me
Forgive me" he begged. YOU
can't know how blame myself in this
whole matter. But for my laundering
work you would be safe, instead Of
here In this hole 1t is all my fault
that you are here"
Nonsense" ! retorted. Just how
did they get You? You haven't told
me"
AS simply As they did YOU he re-
turned Il won't back up here 10 see
how things lay after the run IN, ana
! secuted around. was leaving the
district spoke to an officer on post
and walked down the street | was
passing an alley and something hit me
in the back II was "A man-half q
dozen men as it seemed They knocked
me down and dragged me into the al.
ley, tied me up. and ran me over
here"
And 90 you have any faintest idea
o. where over there 50" | laughed
Not at all" he admitted Il was
hlindfolded and gagged. Still knoS
smelled triewater just before We
came in. so fancy we are somewhere
near the water front That don't beip
any, though. Whatever made you mix
into this Miss Foote?"
"A desire 10 see YOU set free, or
course, Mr. McKabe, | said
But why you? You had never
even seen me until last night Why
should you interest yourself in my be
half" he persisted.
Some way, in the darkness, ii seem
ed to me that meaning deeper than
the words he spoke lay in his tones.
Something reached out to me and sent
little warm flutter up from my heart
and inspired greater frankness in
my answer.
"Nr. McKabe." | said, Il don't
want TO flatter, and want YOU to feel
that | mean it when ! say that last
ntkht you impressed me as being
very much OF a man. As such want
cd to help you"
Il see" came his voice Il hardly
FELT that your actions could have been
inspired by Il purely mpers0nal inter
est IN the situation Since you have
said what you have hope that may
return your compliment by saying
that last night you impressed me as a
more than usually well balanced wo.
man"
laughed Yes; there in the dark
ness OF the cell | laughed out loud
"Mr. Mcksbe" | remarked, does it
not strike YOU that there is hldic1ous
side to this matter? Here we sit
chained by the neck like two dogs and
handy the small talk of converse
ton"
1T but proves the correctness OF my
Judgment that you are able to sense
humor In the situation he retorted
"How many women would take the
thing as you do?'
my three years with the police re.
moved some Of the feminine emotion
alism from my makeup ! returned.
perhaps" said he. Just the same,
think you must have always been
different law to yourself | felt it
last night, and today you have proved
1t by seeking to help save a strang'
err"
Hardly that" ] objected. You
must remember that you fell into dan
ger through helping US There was a
certain amount Of obligation
Nothing more?" Again his words
sent a thrill to my heart. Almost they
sounded legretful.
/ TOOK advantage OF The darkness to