The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-01

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80 they got away /" said Katherine
Miller with one Of her most musical
glggles. II wish had! Honestly,
Bob Lorimer, I'm not grateful for any
thing you are doing for me. am not
going to be rescued by you--or any
Of your friends"
nm sorry--but It is impossible for
Us 10 leave you here-alone. You'd
Don't you believe it" the girl re-
piled. 1.-THE kitchen is stocked. I'm
going to wait here for Don Manuel
he'll come back for me, sure. ! will
not stir a single step. I'm not atraid."
And the girl wouldn't bulge. have
said before that she had the mind Of .
child. Nothing but force could move
her.
Some OF Morrisons men prepared a
wonderful breakfast. ! felt so sorry
for the poor outlaws-whos hands
we're tied. Grimes, ex-football player
and ex-first class private with the A.
Z. F., felt sorry, too. He made a plan.
He united the bandits, man at a
time, and stood guard while food was
brought. Then he retired the man.
He said he was particular to have
them fed because he had starved for
three days in shell hole in Belgium
and he knew how it felt-he always
felt sorry for a man who had to miss
meal!
The party was ready to move at
dawn, all except Katherine Miller, She
was as obstinate as mule. Finally,
In order that we might get away, she
had to be lifted onto mule, and tied!
One Indian walked before-a1othel
behind her. It was awful. Bob hated
50, to do it, but he was desperate. It
simply wasn't decently human to leave
her behind; even If she were fool
enough to want to stay.
In the early dawn, a procession OF
triumphant secret service men aud a
sorry string Of outlaws stretched along
The edge Of the ravine and around a
spur OF the mountain.
Bob and were the last to leave. It
was very cold-and / was shiVering, so
we went back to Katherine Miller's
room for something warm to wrap
around me.
With genuine housewifely interest,
switched of the electric lights when
we left the room 4 couldn't bear to
think Of that dear little river in the ra-
vine turning out endless watts OF cleo
tricity-just to waste.
Once more we stood by the open
shaft-once more Bob caught me in
bis arms.
another kiss-a real one, darling"
he said. cts so good to know that
you're safe-and my own-again!"
In the next minute we did not hear
what we ought to have heard. With
out warning, an awful blow from al
unseen hand, descended upon Bob's
head He went down at my feet. Be-
fore I could stoop to hold up his dear
headM was caught-in arms so strong
that could not struggle!
Strong arms kept me from strug-
Cling, Little did my captOr guess that
his yise-like grip was quite unneces-
sary, Ny own horror of trampllng on
the body Of my husband, fallen at my
feet. there in the dark, kept me from
resisting. Not a moan came from
Bob's lips to tell me that he still
lived; not movement Of hand or foot
disturbed the stiffness of the cave.
The place was as black as sealed
tomb, and yet knew that it was not
Don Manuel, the bandit, who had
seized me. 1t was Hamilton Certeis!
For single moment my distress
about Bob numbed my brain, but at
length, after what seemed an hour of
awful quiet, l realized perfectly that
Certeis and Don Manuel had escaped
casing and capture by climbing the
rope ladder in the natural chimney in
the rock!
had seen Morrison investigate that
chimney. He had turned flash light
up its interior, but he hadn't dlscov-
cred the escaped men. 1t was<prob-