Smyrna times., 1918-02-13
Over the Line
By ELLIOT WALKER

socket ana Srlpped the handle. II may
have to start quick" she thought. Then
her clear voice rang out, starting the
echoes from the bOulders above:
''WhO is it? Who spOke?"
A little stream of gravel triCkled
down beside the big rock at her side;
few small stones ratified; then
white face lifted into view, and hand
implOred silence.
Jennie Freeland raised her whip in
sudden alarm and looked again.
George" she cried. at isn't you?
What are you doing here"
The young man was in the road
now. ''FOr Gods sake, Jennie get me
over the line" he whispered. His
voice and eyes implored piteOusly. He
held up a red, swollen wrist. ITS
broke, 1 guess; can't drive"
The girls 1.-the arm went out and
dragged him up beside her.
'YOu did it, GeOrge?" trembled her
lips.
Yes! They're after me, Jennie.
I've been running and hiding all night
Get up, Bet =" The lash fell in a
stinging cut The mare leaped under |
it, and then steadied to a rapid trOt. |
"It's ten miles, George; We'll beat |
them! They can't be far behind. Oh, |
I never dreamed it was you"
Don't give up, Jennie"
| "Give-yOu-up The color surged
back to the fresh young face. Her
tone was half scornful, half tender.
81 suppose you want to go straight to
Hiram's?"
"NO, l can't trust him. If 1 can
strike Grant Brokers he will know
where to put me, and blind them
somehow. Old Grant will do anything
for me-"
She pressed her face to his. 81
know the road. Thatll help us If we
get by the stretch. The sheriff was
hitching up as l drove past. Bob FL
lery was with him"
"What did you hear, Jennie" The
mans voice trembled. 81 never meant
tO-LU-"
81 didn't hear much Don't let's
talk about it. I know they made out
a warrant, and that the-the doctor
was still working over him. That's
all"
Along the ill kept, gravelly road
winding through the rugged Vermont
hills, the gray mare sped.
"What became of your hat, George"
81 lost it in the woods. 1 fell over
stump. Oh Jennie, think of how
happy we were to be, and nOww He
was weak, exhausted and horror
stricken.
Mother risked everything for fa-
l ther," she said, "and things came out
l all right. After you're over the line
I'll come. It will be hard to leave
home, but I'll come. If you're caught
I'll wait"
They had covered half the distance
Betty rattling bravely along, but pant
ing slightly. Far behind, the anxious
lovers heard a faint hallOO. Theil
heads turned in simultaneous fright.
1 'Its Parmelee, and he's got Samp
sons pair. It's all up, Jennie. Kiss
ne, darling. before they see us" Case
tone was strong and firm now. Hi
features lighted up. "It's worth it ALL
he whispered. ITS worth it,"
AS he leaned forward for that las
caress the girl Strengthened up an
laughed shrilly. "Sit still !" she CRIED
"Don't hinder mew
Now the hOOf beats came plainly
% their ears, and now the sheriff's shOu
Jennie looked back and waved he
hand. A hundred yards and she tur1
ed abruptly into an old wood road, u
a sharp incline -gOading her beast, el
cOuraging, guiding with hands that ne
er faltered-a little further, deeper il
~ the woods.
"Keep quiet, George. We can crO'
it-they never can," she said.
The gray mare snOrted, tremble
felt carefully with her fOrefeet.
"GO on, Betty! It's all right, Betty
They were over Behind them WI
a frail, Matchmaking bridge of ancie
logs and boards, spanning a chas
thirty feet in depth
"YOu may kiss me now. Oh, GeOr
dCarr She burst into wild weepi1
and clasped him close.
Sheriff Chester Parmelee stopped
horses on the other side of the gap.
"Of all the crazy cOOts 1 ever see
,ur he yelled in high wrath. "An' I
comm all this way to find George,
I heered he was fOllerin' the road
IN need of runnin' off, George; that m
NV wv hez come to all right, and says 'tw
Ell all his fault, an he he'd no business
ce say what he did about the gal-dld
= . know she was anythin' ter yer. So
so we're hard hitter" The sheriff gr
ned. "Tve warrant here for servi
an hev ter go back. Whatll you t
do? 'Tain't possible to cross o.
ag'in. This epd's all loose an cav
Jennie, how come yer ter pick /
up2"
"Oh, found him on the road"
)EL. uT Soo 500" remarked Parme