The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-09-25

For some time there was silence. |
Both were listening intently for sounds |
In the hall. She leaned closer to whis- |
per In his ear. Their shoulders
touched. He wondered II she expert
enced the same delightful thrill that
ran through his body. She told him OF
the man who watched across the hall
from the room supposed to be occupied
by Loeb the secretary. and Of
| Sprouse's incomprehensible daring.
"Where Is Mr.. Curtis2' he asked.
Her breath famed his cheek, her
lips were close to his ear. There Is
no Mr.. Curtis here. He died four
months ago in Florida"
81 suspected as much" He did not
press her for further revelations.
"Sprouse should be here by this time.
must go out there and see IL he re-
quires any"
She clutched his arm frantica'ly.
"You shall do nothing of the kind. You
shall not"
Ssh What do you take me for,
Miss Cameron He may be sorely In
need Of help. Do you think that ]
would leave him to God knows what
sort of fateT
"But he said positively that was to
go In case he did not return in-in Of
teen minutes" she begged. "He may
have been cut Off and was compelled
to escape from another"
"Just the same. I've got to see what
has become Of"
"No! MOI" She arose with him,
dragging at his arm. "Do not be fool
hardy. You are not skilled at"
"There is only one way to stop me,
Miss Cameron. II you will come with
me now"
"But I must know whether he Sc
cured the"
''Then let me 60. I will find out
whether he has succeeded"
He was rougher than he realized In
wrenching his arm free. She uttered n
low moan and covered her face with
the door. His hand was on the knob
when a door slammed violently some
where In distant part Of the house.
A hoarse shout of alarm rang out,
and then the rush of heavy feet over
! thickly carpeted floors.
Barnes acted with lightning swift
: ness. He sprang to the open window
half-carrying. halfdragging the girl
with him.
"Now for r. he whispered. "Not a
second to lose. Climb upon my back,
quick, and hang on for dear life" He
had scrambled through the window
and was lying fiat across the sill
Hurry Don't be afraid. am strong
enough to carry you IL the vines do
their part"
With surprising alacrity and sure
ness she crawled out beside him and
. then over upon his broad back, clasp
Ing her arms around his neck. Hold
, Ing to the ledge with one hand he felt
. for and ciUtched the thick vine with
the other. Slowly he slid his body OF,
!, of the sill and swung free by one arm
An instant later he found the lattice
with the other hand and the hurried
descent began.
twinkllng Of an eye he picked her NJ
In his arms and bolted across the lit
=. tie grass plot into the shrubbery. Sh'
did not utter a sound.
= Presently he set her down. Hi
= breath was gone. his strength ex
, hausted.
!, "Can you-manage to-wnlk llttl'
= | he aCtun I'M ha NJ n
q and follow as close to my heels as yol
can. Better that should bump int
things than YOU"
a Shouts were now heard, and shril
? blasts on police whistle split the air
Il On they stumbled, blindly, reckless
ly. He spared her many an injury b!
taking 1t himself. More than once sh
I murmured sympathy when he crashe'
=. into a tree or fioundered over log
" Utterly at sea, he was now guessing a
the course they were taking. Whethe
r their frantic dash was leading then
n toward the Tavern. or whether the
k were circling back to Green Fancy. h
!? knew not. Painting. he forged onward
I At last she cried out. quaveringly:
a "Oh, IL can go no fartherl Can
I we-ls 1t not safe to stop for me
,r ment' My breath Is"
e "God bless you, yes" he exclaimed
and came to an abrupt stop. Sh
Ie leaned heavily against him, gaspn
Is for breath. II haven't the faintes
4. idea where we are. but we must b
Is some distance from the house. W
:" will rest few minutes and then tax
ID II easier. more cautiously. i am sorr!
but 1t was the only thing to do, roug
W as II was.
~ know. understand. am nc
e. complaining Mr.. Barnes. You will fin
he me ready and strong and"
II LET me think. must try to q
lie my bearings. Good Lord, l wis
~ | Snrouse were here He can see In III