Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-07-24

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 If 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.. Curtis?' he asked.
Her breath famed his cheek, her
lips were close to his ear. "There is
no MIR. Curtis here. He died -four
months ago in Florida"
Il suspected as much" He did not
press her for further revelations.
"Sprouse should be here by this time.
l must go out there and see if he re-
quires any"
She clutched his arm frantically.
You shah 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 fate?"
But he said positively, that was to
go in case he did not return in-in fif-
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"
..Noi mol" 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. If you will come with
me now"
But / must know whether he Sc
cured the"
"Then let me go. Iswill find out
whether he has succeeded"
He was rougher than he realized in
wrenching his arm free. She uttered a
low moan and covered her face with
her hands. Undeterred, he crossed to
| the door. His hand was on the knob
when a door slammed violently some
WI re in distant part of the house.
\ hoarse shout of alarm rang Que
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, half-dragging the girl
with him.
snow for it p 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 l am strong
enough to carry you if 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 clutched the thick vine with
the other Slowly he slid his body off
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.
His feet touched the ground. In the
twinkling of an eye he picked her up
in his arms and bolted across the lit
tie grass plot into the shrubbery. She
did not utter sound.
Presently he set her down. His
breath was gone, his strength ex
hausted.
"Can you-manage to-walk little
way?" he gasped. "Give me your hand
and follow as close to my heels as you
can. Better that should bump into
things than you."
Shouts were now heard, and shril
blasts on police whistle split the air
On they stumbled, blindly, reckless
". He spared her many an injury b,
taking it himself. More than once SHE
murmured sympathy when he crashed
into a tree or fioundered over log
Utterly at sea, he was now guessing a
the course they were taking. Whether
their frantic dash was leading then
toward the Tavern, or whether the!
were circling back to Green Fancy, HI
knew not. Painting, he forged onward
At last she cried out, quaveringly:
ooh, II can go no farther! Can
/ we-is it not safe to stop for mo
; ment? My breath is"
"God bless you, yes" he exclaimed
and came to an abrupt stop. Sh
, leaned heavily against him, gaspin,
, for breath. 81 haven't the faintes
idea where we are, but we must b.
J some distance from the house. W.
will rest few minutes and then TAX
it easier, more cautiously. / am sorry
but it was the only thing to do, rougl
' as it was.
81 know, / understand. l am no
. complaining, Mr. Barnes. You will fin,
E me ready and strong and"
! LET me think / must try to &c
E my bearings. Good Lord / wis
t Sprouse were here. He can see in tn