The Arizona copper camp., 1920-03-06

seen me very often" he reminded her.
Let me see-is it twenty or twenty
nve days since we first saw each
V1nerF He laughed and started to
food. =
with a quick movement her hand
nasned out and seized his. She glanced
swiftly around.
Don't open it till you're sure no.
Dody's looking"
de was not slow to surmise that a
nle or some such instrument was con-
eealed in the basket, and though he
could scarcely repress a smile at the
unnecessity, he replaced the napkin
and said quite soberly: "All right. I'll
take care"
when do you expect to escape?
she asked, speaking in a cautious
: whisper.
Tonight, If it's dark"
sand you'll come to me? You'll let
me hide your She searched his face
eagerly.
He did not answer at once. During
the long, wakeful hours last night,
when he had renewed his glorious
castle building, this woman had not
figured in the dreams. AS she noted
his hesitation the unreasoning jeal-
ousy which she had been striving to
keep In check the past five minutes
broke forth in a furiously blind tor
rent.
"Never mindI" she blazed. 'Don't
comet know you care nothing for
me. You ungrateful-"
"Waitl Let me explain"
Don't speak to mel / hate you.
/ shouldn't have come. I hate you'll"
Her voice had risen louder and
louder as her jealousy-infamed pas
sion mastered her prudence.
"Will you be quiet?" demanded Fitz-
hugh, his own voice none too gentle.
"Of course I'm coming to you. Where
elso should / go? was only wonder
Ing how soon it would be-"
"Why did you smile at that girl"
she rushed on, needless of his prom
ise. "Why did she shield you in court?
what is she to you2"
He wondered what this woman
would be were her jealousy given Sc
rious provoeation, and shook his head
hopelessly.
"She's nothing to me-" he said,
willing to do anything for the sake
Of peace. 1T don't know why she tes-
tilted that way. Don't ask me. You're
still living in the same place, aren't
you, Esther? If you are-and nothing
goes wrongful be there tomorrow
morning before breakfast"
The earnestness and sincerity with
which he said this seemed to reassure
her. Besides she was beginning to
regret her outburst and was glad to
be quieted. When after a while she
left him there was in her heart only
q trace Of doubt and a deep humilia-
ton. She was burning with shame for
having barred her most unlovely side
to the eyes Of the man she loved.
In secluded corner Fitzhugh opened
the lunch and beneath the chicken
sandwiches and chocolate cake he
found heavy file and a coil of rope.
He managed to conceal them in his
coat without detection.
When he retired it bade fair to be
a clear night, but before one o'clock
the moon was obscured by clouds, and
the muttering Of distant thunder her.
aided a storm. Although he had not
slept for the last forty hours he had
successfully battled the temptation to
close his eyes and was therefore
awake when the first shadow crossed
the moon. He bustled into his clothes,
stuck the file into a pocket, buttoned
the rope under his coat and felt his
way through the inky blackness to a
western window. He slipped his legs
over the sill, gripped it with both
hands and lowered himself into the
black pit yawning ominously below.
He landed safely, and guided by the
forked streaks of lightning and ac-
companied by the rumble and crash of
giant thunder chords, he struck off
across the prairie through the driving
rain, made a detour and turned his
face toward Chicago.