Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-07-31

O'Dowd spoke out of the darkness:
"You forget that have your own word
for it that yen be dead woman be-
fore the day is over. Wouldn't it be
better for me TO begin shooting at once
and spare your soul the everlasting
torture that would begin Immediately
after your self-produced decease?'
A little cry of relief greeted this
quaint sally. you have my word that
win return with you quietly if"
"Thunderation |" exclaimed Barnes
wrathfully "What do you think am?
A worm that"
Easy, easy, me dear man." eau
toned O'Dowd. keep your seat.
Don't be deceived by my internal Irish
humor. 1t is my way to be always po-
lite, agreeable and-prompt. I'll shoot
in second if We move one step out
side that cabin"
"O'Dowd you haven't the heart to
drag her back to that beast Of a.
"Hold hard Well come to the point
without further palavering. Where
are We dragging her yourself, ye ras-
CALI"
'sTo a place where she will be safe
from insult, injury, degradation"
swell, have no fault to find with
We for that" said O'Dowd "Bedad,
didn't believe you had the nerve to
tackle the job. You may be interested
to know that up to the moment left
the house your absence had not been
noticed, my dear Miss Cameron. And
as for you, my dear Barnes, your
visit is not even suspected. How the
divil did We do it, Barnes?"
Are you disposed to be friendly,
O'DowdT demanded Barnes. IF you
are not, we may just as well fight it
out now as later on"
"You are not to fight !" she cried in
great agitation. what are you doing?
Put it awayi Don't shoot!"
"Is it a gun he is pulling?" inquired
O'Dowd calmly. "And what the deuce
are you going to aim at me hearty? !
have bufs-eyel lantern with me.
From the luxurious seat behind this
rock l could spot ye in second. Hav-
ing said as much l now propose arbi-
tration. Would We mind handing over
that tin box in exchange for my po-
lite thanks and a courteous goodby to
both of ye?"
"We have no box of any description,
Mr.. O'Dowd,' cried she triumphantly.
"Thank heaven, he got safely away !"
do you mean to tell me you came
away without the-your belongings,
Miss Cameron" exclaimed O'Dowd.
"They are not with me-" she replied.
Her grasp on Barnes arm frightened.
"Oh, isn't it splendid? They did not
catch him. He"
"Will you both swear on your sacred
honor that We haven't the jewels in
your possession"
"Unhesitatingly," said Barnes.
II swear, Mr. O'Dowd."
"Then," said he, 81 have no time to
waste here. 1 am looking for tin
box. beg your pardon for disturb
ing you.'
ooh, Mr. O'Dowd, shall never for
get all that you haye-"
"Whist, now! There is one thing !
must insist on your forgetting COM
pletely: all that has happened in the
last five minutes. What | am doing,
Mr.. Barnes, would be my death SEN
tence if it ever became known"
sit shall never be known through
me, ODowd I'd like to shake your
hand, old man."
"God bless you, Mr.. O'Dowd," said
the girl in low, small voice, singular
ly suggestive of tears. Some day
may be in a position to-"
Don't say it! You'll spoil every
thing if you let me think you are in
my debt Bedad,e don't be so sure /
sha'n't see you again, and soon"
"Tell me how to find Harris Tavern,
old man. I'll"
mo, I'm dashed if l do. You ought
to be grateful to me for not stopping
you entirely, without asking me to
give you a helping hand. Good-by,
and God bless you. I'm praying that
we get away safely, Miss Cameron. So
long, Barnes. If you were crow and
wanted to roost on that big tree in
front of Harris Tavern, | dare say
you'd take the shortest way there by
flying as straight as bullet from the
mouth of this pit, following your ex-
tremely good-looking nose.''
They did not wait for the break of
day. Taking O'Dowd's hint, Barnes
directed his steps straight out from
| the mouth of the quarry and pressed
| confidently onward. In answer to a
| question she informed him that there
were no fewer than twenty-five men in
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
| to the house, Miss Cameron"
| She was silent for a moment, and
when she spoke it was with great in
| toncitv 0Mr Rarnac had x,o,,r l;fo