Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-31

their frdnuc dasn Vas icaunS tncu
toward the Tavern, or whether they
we're circilng back to Green Fancy. he
knew not. Painting. he forged onward
At last she cried out, Quaveringly:
~0h. II can 50 no fartherl Cant
we-is It not safe to stop for q mo-
mentf Ny breath Is"
God bless you. yes" he exclaimed
and came TO an abrupt stop. She
leaned heavily against him. gasplne
for breath. Il haven't the falntest
idea where we are. but we must be
some distance from the house. We
VIII rest a few minutes and then take
It easier. more cautiously. am sorry,
but It vas the only thing to DO, rough
as 1t was.
Il know. ! understand. I am NOT
complaining. Mr. Barnes. You win fnd
me ready and strong and"
let me think. I must try 70 get
my bearings. Good Lord. I wish
Sprouse were here. He can see IN the
dark. We are on the path. that's
sure"
do you think he escapedf
II am sure Of It. Those whistles
were sounding the alarm. He may
come this way. The chances are that
your flight has not been discovered. Do
you feel Ike going ont We must beat
them to the Tavern. They"
Il am ali right now," she said. and
they were OF again. Barnes now picked
bis way carefully and with the great
est caution. He could only pray that
be was going In the right direction.
An hour-but what seemed thrice as
long-passed and they had not come to
the edge Of the forest. Her feet were
beginning to drag; he could tell that
BY the effort she made to keep up with
him. From time to time be paused to
allow her to rest.
you are plucky," he once said to
her.
II am afraid could not be so plucky
II you were not 50 strong" she sighed,
and he loved the tired, whimsical little
twist she put into her reply.
To his dlsmay they came abruptly
upon a region aboundlng In huge rocks.
This was new territory TO him. His
heart sank.
''By J0ve, I'll believe we are farther
away from the road than when we
started. We must have been going up
the slope instead of down."
"In any case, Mr.. Barnes" she mur-
INJURED. 1--WE have found something to
sit down upon"
He chuckled. ''If you can be as
cheerful as oil that, we sha'n't miss
the cushions" he said, and, for the first
time, risked flash Of the electric
torch. The survey was brief. He led
her forward few PAGES to fiat boul-
der, and there they seated themselves.
Il wonder where we are" she said.
II am inclined to suspect that we
are above Green Fancy, but long
way OFF to the right of II. Admitting
that to be the case. am afraid to re-
trace our steps. The Lord only knows
what we might blunder Into"
II think the only sensible thing 10
do, Mr.. Barnes, Is TO make ourselves
us snug and comfortable as we can
and walt for the first signs Of day
break"
He scowled-and was glad that II
was too dark for her to see his face.
He wondered If she fully appreciated
what would happen to him II the pur-
suers came upon him In this forbid
ding spot. He could almost picture his
own body lying there among the rocks
and rottlng, while she-well, she
would merely 60 back to Green
Fancy.
81 fear you do not realize the ex-
treme gravity of the situation. We
must get out OF these woods II nave
TO carry you In my arms"
II shall try to keep going" she said
quickly. ''Forglve me If seemed to
falter a little. Liam ready to 90
on when you say the word"
"You poor girli Hang It all, per
haps you are right and not |. Sit still
and will reconnolter a bit. II | can
find a place where we can hide among
these rocks. we'll stay here till the sky
begins to tighten. Sit"
"Nol | shall not let you leave me
for a second. Where you 10, l CO."
She struggled to her feet, suppressing
groan. and thrust determined arm
through his.
"rhat's worth remembering" said
he, and whether Il was a muscular
necessity or an emotional exactlon
that caused his arm to tighten on hers,
none save he would ever know.
After few minutes prowllng among
the rocks they came TO the face Of
what subsequently proved to be q
sheer wall Of stone He flashed the
light, and, with an exclamation, start
ed back. Not six feet ahead OF them
the earth seemed to end; a yawning
black gulf lay beyond. Apparently
they were on the very edge OF a clIr.
Good Lord. that was a close call
he gasped. He explained In few
words aud then. commanding her to
stand perfectly stIll, dropped 10 the
ground and carefully felt his way for.
ward. Again he flashed the light. In
an instant he understood. They were
on the brink Of shallow quarry.
Lying there, he made swift calcula.