The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-07-03

! into a tree or floundered over a log.
Utterly at sea, he was now guessing at
the course they were taking. Whether
their frantic dash was leading them
! toward the Tavern, or whether they
were circling back to Green Fancy, he
knew not Painting, he forged onward.
At last she cried out, quaverlngly:
"Oh, II can go no farther! Can't
| we-is it not safe to stop for mo-
ment? Ny breath is"
"GOd bless you, yes" he exclaimed,
| and came to an abrupt stop. She
| leaned heavily against him, gasping
for breath. 81 haven't the faintest
idea where we are, but we must be
some distance from the house. We
will rest a few minutes and then take
1t easier, more cautiously. / am sorry,
but 1t was the only thing to do. rough
as II was.
81 know, l understand. / am not
complaining, Mr.. Barnes. You will find
me ready and strong and"
"Let me think I must try to get
my bearings. Good Lord, / wish
Sprouse were here. He can see In the
dark. We are Off the path, that's
sure"
"DO you think he escaped"
81 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 like going on? We must beat
them to the Tavern. They"
az am all right now" she said, and
they were off again. Barnes now picked
his way carefully and with the great
est caution. He could only pray that
he 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 he paused to
allow her to rest.
you are plucky," he once said to
her
IL am afraid l could not be so plucky
If you were not so strong" she sighed,
and he loved the tired, whimsical little
twist she put into her reply.
To his diSmay they came abruptly
upon region abounding in huge rocks.
This was new territory to him. His
heart sank.
"By Jove, II believe we are farther
away from the road than when we
started. We must have been going up
the slope instead Of down"
an 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 all 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 a fiat boul.
der, and there they seated themselves,
Il wonder where we are" she said.
81 am inclined to suspect that we
are above Green Fancy, but a long
way off to the right Of 1t. Admitting
that to be the case, am afraid to re-
trace our steps. The Lord only knows
what we might blunder into"
| 81 think the only sensible thing to
| do, Mr.. Barnes, is to make ourselves
as snug and comfortable as we can
and wait for the first signs Of day
break"
He scowled-and was glad that 1t
was too dark for her to see his face.
He wondered If she fully appreciated
what would happen to him IL the pur-
suers came upon him In this forbid
ding spot. He could almost picture his
own body lying there among the rocks
and rotting, while she-well, she
would merely go back to Green
Fancy.
81 fear you do not realize the ex-
treme gravity of the situation. We
must get out of these woods If have
to carry you in my arms"
81 shall try to keep going" she said
quickly. Forgive me If ! seemed to
| falter a little. liam ready to go
on when you say the word"
"You poor girl! Hang 1t all, per-
| maps you are rlSnt anu NOT l.. oil oliii
and / will reconnoiter n bit. If 1 can
find place where we can hide among
these rocks, Wen stay here till the sky
begins to tighten. Sit"
"No! shall not let you leave me
! for second. Where you go, CO."
She struggled TO her feet, suppressing
groan, and thrust determined arm
through his.
"That's worth remembering" said
he, and whether it was n muscular
necessity or an emotional exaction
that caused his arm to tighten or hers,
none save he would ever know.
| After few minutes prowling among
the rocks they came to the face OF
what subsequently proved to be a
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 cliff.
"Good Lord. that was close call, !"
he gasped. He explained in a few
| words and then, commanding her to