Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-10-04


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.. CurtisY" 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"
II suspected as much" He did not
press her for further revelations.
"Sprouse should be here by this time.
/ must go out there and see if he re-
quires any"
She clutched his arm frantically.
"You shall do nothing Of the kind. You
shall not"
"Sh! What do you take me for,
Miss Cameron? He may be sorely in
need Of help. Do you think that l
would leave him to God knows what
sort of fate2"
'But he said positively that was to
go in case he did not return INN if
teen minutes" she begged. "He may
have been cut of 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. If you will come with
me now"
'But must know whether he Sc
cured the"
'9Then let me go. I will find out
whether he has succeeded"
He was rougher than he realized in
wrenchlng 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
where in a 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, half-dragging the girl
with him.
Snow for It'll 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.
'Hurryl Don't be afraid. / 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 a sound.
Presently he set her down. His
breath was gone, his strength ex-
hausted.
Can you-manage to-walk little
wayT he gasped, "Glve 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 shrill
blasts on a police whistle split the air,
On they stumbled, blindly. reckless
ly. He spared her many an injury by
taking it himself. More than once she
murmured sympathy when he crashed
into a tree or foundered over a log.
I 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 quaveringly:
ooh, I'll can go no fartherl Can't
we-is It not safe to stop for a mo-
ment7 Ny breath Is"
"God bless you, yes" he exclaimed
and came to an abrupt stop. She
leaned heavily against him, gasping
for breath. II haven't the faintesi
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 was the only thing to do, rough
as 1t was.
Il know, I understand. / am moi
complaining, Mr.. Barnes. You win ind
me ready and strong and"
"Let me think. ! must try to gel
nv bearings. Good Lord. Wisl
sprouse were here. He can see in the
| darir We ara or the Dath. fhafil