Vernon Parish Democrat., 1920-09-09

yet these people could scarcely fail to
recognize that this had reference to
the Cavendish case. The thought of
personal danger never once entered
her mind. Timidity was not part Of
her nature and she gave this phase of
the matter no thought. But she must
communicate with Westcott, tell him
all that had occurred. She would send
him note the first thing in the morn
ing.
Somewhat reassured by this reason
ing, she was still seated there, staring
out into the night, when Enright and
Beaton returned. Stella heard the
tread of horses feet, before her eyes
| distinguished the party approaching,
and she drew back cautiously. In the
glow of the light she could perceive
four men in saddle halt in front of
the hotel. three of whom dismounted
and entered the building, the fourth
grasping the reins Of the riderless ami
mails and leading them up the street.
She heard the murmur Of voices be-
low and the heavy steps of the men as
they came slowly up the stairs. Then
a door opened creakingly and she
caught the sound Of a woman's voice,
''Is that you, Ned?"
"Sure; what are you doing up at
this hour2"
'Never mind that. Who have you
got with your"
''Enright and Lacy-why?"
oil To IN n
minute; don't make so much noise"
- voice or two grumbled, but feet
shuffled along the bare floor and the
door creaked again as it was carefully
closed behind them. Stella opened her
own door a crack and listened; the
hail, lighted only by a single oil-lamp
| at the head of the stairs, was desert
ed and silent. She stole cautiously for
ward, but the voices in Miss La Rue's
room were muffled and indistinct, not
an audible word reaching her ears.
The key was in the lock, shutting out
all view of the interior. Well, what
was the difference? She knew what
was occurring within-the stolen tele-
gram was being displayed, and dis
cussed. That would not delay them
long and it would never do for her to
be discovered in the hall.
| Convinced of the uselessness of re-
naming, she returned to her own
room, closing and boiling the door.
This time she removed some of her
clothing, and lay down on the bed,
conscious of being exceedingly tired
yet in no degree sleepy. She rested
| there, with wide-Open eyes, listening
until the distant door creaked again,
and she heard the footsteps of the
men in the hall. They had not re
mained in the chorus girls room long,
nor was anything said outside to
arouse her suspicious. Reassured,
Miss Donovan snuggled down into her
pillow, unable to distinguish where the
men went but satisfied they had
sought their rooms. They would at
tempt nothing more that night, and
she had better gain what rest she
could. It was not easy falling asleep,
in spite of the silence, but at last she
dropped off into doze.
Suddenly some unusual noise
aroused her, and she sat upright, un-
able for the moment to comprehend
what had occurred. Then something
tingled at the glass of her window,
sharply distinct, as though a pebble
had been tossed upward. Instantly
she was upon her feet, and had crossed
the room, her head thrust out. The
] iuI,k in ~ oSyffV1-
guished, and. the night was black, yet
she could make out dimly the figure of
a man close in against the side of the
house, mere hulking shadow. At
| the same instant he seemed to move
slightly, and some missile grazed her
face, and fell upon the floor, striking
| the rug with. a dull thud. She drew
back in alarm, yet Immediately
grasped the thought that this must be
some secret message. some communi-
cation from Westcott.
Drawing down the torn, curtain,
she touched a match to the lamp and
sought the intruding missile. It had
rolled beneath the bed-a small stone
with bit of paper securely attached.
The girl tore this open eagerly, her
eyes searching the few lines.
'AGust see you tonight. Have
learned things, and am going away,
Go down back stairs, and meet me at
big cottonwood behind hotel; don't
fail. J. w"
Her breath came fast as she read,
and crunched the paper into the palm
of her hand. She understood, and felt
no hesitancy Westcott had made dis
coveries so important he must com
municate them at once and there was
no other way. He dare not come to
her openly at that hour. Well, she
was not afraid-not of Jim Westcott.
She paused in her hasty dressing, won
dering at herself dimly aware that
new feeling partly actuated her desire
to meet the man again-a feeling thor
oughIy alien to the Cavendish mys-
terry. She glanced into the cracked
mirror and laughed, half ashamed at
her eagerness, yet utterly unable to