The Press., 1919-09-04
tSopyright. 1919. by the Mcclure Nsws-
 paper Syndicate.)
A tWig snapped and a light flashed

vealed.
 But bush interposed between Inc; and the fiashlight. which tried in vair
 to penetrate to the place where she
 was standing.
 Some more noisy twigs indicated tht
 holder of the light was approaching
 with steady strides. She held hel
 ground, determined to put up a fight
 Presently the brush was pushed back
 and the sweeping arc of light almost ? found the girl. A hand reached out in
 front of the bullseye and pointed a :, for.niduble looking object at her-a
 long, narrow object that reflected the
 light.
 Don't dare to move" warned a
 harsh masculine voice. i've got you covered"
 The hatpin fell from the girls nerve less grasp and she trembled again. She "ns as good as dead, she felt con- 1 VlEced. Even in those moments of what appeared to be dire peril she chided herself for so recklessly ven- turing into the haunts of the hotel 1 burglar. She should have known he ! Avonshire woods, waiting for night to come 50 he could ply his trade. 4 spirit of adventure, however, had prompted her to accept Bessie Ely ridges dare to walk alone through the woods back to the hotel and run chances of meeting friend burglar" | as she jocosely called him. She had started out bravely enough, but as darkness approached and she saw no signs that she was approach ing the hotel she became more and more apprehensive.
 Finally she was forced to the belief that she was lost, and had wandered about aimlessly until she came across the dark glen in which she was now being obliged to pay for her intrepid ity.
 T was foOl!" she told herself, while her teeth rattled. "Fm in the worst plight imaginable. Here I stand. helpless before that desperate man who has terrorized the resort for three weeks"
 The light found her and rested on her few seconds. 1t showed a slim. hgll-haircd girl, with small, rather rouEd face, standing at bay, back against tree. Her big hat was tilted on Ine side of her head with a rakish- heSS that was not intended,
 A laugh came from the man with the light, whom she could not see. lnez ShuGdered.
 "A gir!!' exclaimed the harsh voice. "A girl! and--by George! it's Inez Luwton"
 >le started. Surely this robber could not know her.
 "Who are yOu?' she demanded in as hfnl tones as she could muster.
 lie turned the light on his own face.
 She almost screamed, but she man. :l-, d to sttle it, so that the sound that r"l." from her throat was more like -:H>p or a grOun.
 "i hester Straight '" she said weakly, " "u--you of all men! To think that AnG-that yOu---"
 I!'e situation was too much for her. i'' intense fear she had experienced, c:Epird with the revelation that the n;'n who stood before her was the one r. ':'lic her. Inez Lawton for the first ill.," in her life, knew what it was to faint.
 Chester Straight had attended col !, *s" with her, and while they had not | .Hll"n in love at first sight it had not | l;' A. Il them long to become seriously | 1'l": of each other. On the day they N' graduated they became engaged ::!:I lnez went to her own home to t'.'''h music and wait for him to make ;' ':ailr Tor himself, and some worldly w. a!fh to go with it. A year later hester wrote her that the proposed marriage could never be, because he had contracted tuberculosis; so he re- l""S"d her from her obligation.
 "i'ont expect to hear from me again. he wrote. 'I must wipe the memory of you from my mind" He in- >i>tr.. that she keep the ring, and she lid.
 That was the last letter she ever ' ;'riv' q from him, but she wore the "kcA of their engagement, deciding !rNr:' 70 marry, so long as she could 70: nave the one man she cared for '"1 years after the last word from l h"Strr. lnrZ went with her parents 'n tour of the west, which brou.h, hem to the little resort in the foot fills of the Rockies. when lneZ regained consciousness | he was lying on her back, wet hand ,efchlef pressed against her forehead. hen the nausea that accompanies a aint had passed she began to take in- , crest ill her surroundings and discov- Ted that her head was pillowed in lap. They were on the shore i small lake, on which the moon- ght was dancing.
 Don't move," cautioned that harsh | I oice. You'll soon feel better" Horrors! Remain passive with her t cad in burglars lap? Never! She q to her feet, where she sway f giddily but gradually regaining q rength. c Here" he answered, and took some p ling from his pocket. Mind if I Il noke" And he began filling the Ire y )lver' with tobacco. "I dropped my r 'al gun in the lake while coming b 'er-and just when it seemed I need t. it most" u He rose to his feet suggesting, "If c 'a feel better now we'd better hike n the h0teL'