Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-07-24

'sThanE heaven, ne got safsly away
do you mean to tell me you came
away without the-your belongings,
Miss Camer0nf' exclaimed ODowd-
They are not with me-" she replied.
Her grasp on Barnes arm frightened
-Oh. isn't II splendid They did not
catch him He-"
"wIil you both swear on your sacred
honor that ye haven't the Jewels In
your possessionT
"Unhesifatingiy." said Barnes.
II swear, Mr.. OD0wd."
'sThen," said he, 4 have no time TO
waste here. I am looking for q tin
box. beg your pardon for disturb
ing you"
~Oh, Mr.. ODowd, I shall never for
get Oh that you have"
"whist, nOwl There In one thing ]
must insist on your forgetting COM
pletely: all that has happened in the
last Eve minutes. What ] am doing.
Mr. Barnes, would be my death sen
tence n Il ever became known"
eft shall never be known through
me, ODowd. I'd like 90 shake your
hand. old man."
God bless you. Mr.. O'Dowd,"- said
the girl en- low, small voice, singular
iy suggestive Of tears. "SOme day j
may be in n position to-"
sDon't say IT. You'll spoil every
thing II you let me think you are In
my debt. Bedad, don't be 50 sure I
sha'n't see you again. and soon"
'Tell me how to ind Harris Tavern.
old man. III"
aNo, I'm dashed II I do. You ought
20 be grateful 20 me for not stopping
you entirely. without asking me to
give you a helping hand. Good-by.
and God bless yoe. I'm praying that
ye get away safely. Miss Cameron. So
long. Barnes. II you were q crow and
wanted 20 roost on that big tree In
front Of Hmt's Tavern, I dare say
you'd take the shortest way there by
flying as straight as a bullet from the
mouth Of this pit. following your ex-
tremely good-looking nose"
They did not wait for the break OF
day. Taking ODowd's hint, Barnes
directed his steps straight out from
the mouth Of the quarry and pressed
confidently onward. In answer to q
question she informed him that there
were no fewer than twenty-five men I'm
Green Fancy, all OF them shrewd, reso-
lutte and formidable.
Il cannot. for the life Of me. see
why they took chances on inviting me
10 the house. Miss Cameron"
She was silent for a moment, and
when she spoke 10 was with great In
tensity. ~Mr. Barnes, I had your life
In my hands all the time you were at
Green Fancy. ! shudder now when
think Of what might have happened.
Before you were asked TO the house,
was eoolly informed that You would
not leave Il alive II ! so much as
breathed q word TO you concerning
my unhappy plight. The first word Of
an appeal 10 you would have been the
signal for-for your death. That n
what they held over me. When
spoke TO you on the couch that night,
Eoh, don't you sect Don't you see
that I wantonly. cruelty. selflshly
risked your life-not my own-whez
-
'There. there. nowF' he cried. con
solingiy. as she put her hands TO hel
face and gave way 20 sobs.
"Forgive me-" she murmured. q
didn't mean % be 80 silly"
eft helps. 70 cry sometimes" he said
lameiy.
The first faint signs Of day were
struggling out OF the night when they
stole across the road above Hart'i
Tavern and made their way through
the stable yard to the rear Of the
house. HIS one thought was TO gel
her safely inside the Tavern.
The door was locked. He delivered
series Of resoundIng kicks upon Ia
stout face. Revolver in hand. he faced
about and waited for the assault OF
the men who. he was sure. would
come plunging around the corner Of
the building In response TO the racket
But there was no attack.
At last there were sounds from
within. A key grated In the lock and
q bolt was shot. The door few open
Mr. Clarence DIllingford appeared In
the opening partially dressed. his
hair sadly tumbled. his eyes blinking
In the light Of the lantern he held
aloft.
"well what the" Then his gaze
alighted on the lady. 'For the love
Of" began the embarrassed Dilling.
ford. swhat the dew I-say. can't
you see that I'm not dressedf What
the"
"0ive me that lantern" said Barnes,
and snatched the article out OF the un-
resisting hand. "Show me the way
to Miss Thackeray's room. Dillingford.
No time for explanations"
"Weli. for the love Of"
II win take you to Miss Thackeray's
room," said Barnes. leading her swift
" through the narrow passage. "She
win make you comfortable for the
that IN until I am able to secure q
room for you. Come on. Dillingford."
Miss Thackeray was awake.
Through the closed door she asked
what ON earth was the matter.
u have a friend here-a lady. VIII
you dress as quickly as possible and
take her In with you, for q little
whileT
There was no immediate response
from the inside. Then Miss Thackeray
observed. quite coldly: Il think I'd
like to hear the lady's voice. IL you
ion't mind. recognize yours per
tectly, Mr.. Barnes. but ann not In the
habit Of opening N.Y.