The Ely miner., 1921-02-04
Illustrated By
Ii.winMyei's
coPrr,snt 1920 by the Ao+he.s

ly yearning toward his lips and
remembered. Fear lanced that ecstasy
like pain. With a convulsive move
ment she wrenched away her lips and
struggled from his arms.
"Leonora!" he protested is
it?"
"Redw she gasped, staring wildly
'Leo-where, are theyT
How should I know? What are
those two to me-to us?"
Where are we?"
"In my rooms, as you see {.
well beyond the reach of those cut
throats 20
"But'-a dubious hand faItered TO
her cheek-'T came here to meet Red.
He sent for me. Inez brought me-"
''Then Inez led you amiss, dear
no: arighti" His arms again enfolded
her. "And thank God for that"
Confused, she fell into silence,
| misgivings benumbed by wonder.
Taste and means had transfgured the
commonplace into an abode of such
luxury as the girl had seldom dreamed
of-indeed, had never seen but in the
pages of illustrated magazines.
In this main room, dark hangings
disguised the walls, with framed
paintings like glowing windows open
on exotic landscapes, and shelves
heavy laden with volumes in rich
bindings. An antique Chinese rug of
exquisite artistry hid in part pol
ished dark floor Of parquetry. Upon
library table of old Spanish oak
books, manuscripts and objets dart
were lustrous in the warm light of a
lamp of wrought brass. Wide-armed
chairs of deep upholstery in leather
offered caressing invitation to weary
limbs. An atmosphere of studious re-
pose soothed excited sensibilities.
A bedchamber partly visible through
one open door offered a strong con-
trast of almost Spartan simplicity
with soberly tinted walls, narrow
day bed of mahogany and unpreten-
tious chairs and dressing table to
match this last
Through still another door a glimpse
porcelain and nickeled fittings proved
that a civilized bathroom had there
been installed, in a building whose
every other tenant was content with
such facilities for personal cleanliness
as were afforded by the common kitch-
en- sink.
The girl shook bewildered head.
"And you've lived here all along,
Mario-r'
Here have come to rest, LeonOra,
worn out with the weariness and dis
appointment of fruitIess searching for
you. How could you torture me so?
Where have you been?"
"Not far :. hiding"
''From the police?N Because of that
business at Ristori's? You were in
voIved in that? Carnehan, too, and all
those others, as well as Bielinsky ?''
She nodded to every question. 81
feared this Tell me what happened.
Why did you not come to me first of
all?"
Il was afraid"
afraid of the man who loves you,
whom you love? You do love me, Leo
nora?"
yes" she murmured-"yes, with all
of me, Mario
"Then why-?"
81 was afraid of Red He swore he'd
have you murdered if I ever spoke to
you again"
That, then, was the only reason
why you wouldn't communicate with
me, send me one word to say you still
lived, you were well, you thought of
me? Death itself were preferable to
such torments of doubt!"
81 know, Mario, I know. Wasn't l
suffering the same way? I wanted
you so much, 1 needed you, I thought
about you all the time, dear, day and
night -
There was an interlude
"If there'd been any chance" she re-
sumed when it was possible for her to
speak /. But if I'd written you, or
called up, or tried any way =. was
watched every minute. I didn't dare,
dear +. for your sake"
"And l thought you had deserted me
i. All, forgive mel"
Reds sure you train with the cops,
and he and Leo are desperate They've
had it all fixed for days to lay in a
safe place over in Jersey, but they
can't make a getaway; the bulls are
watching too close, they're all over"
But why Carnehan? The papers
said nothing of him in connection with
the affair, only the man Bielinsky."
''It was Red done up those two at
Ristori's. Leo wasn't even in the room.
Because Red killed 'em both, we all
beat it without anybody seeing US ex-
cept Ristori. He was in the hall, just
outside the door, and saw everything
Maybe he didn't tell anything, like the
papers say. Maybe he got the third
degree and spilled everything he knew
Then there's Harry. He's gone south
Il mean, disappeared-and if he once
gets where he thinks he's safe he'll
squeal sure as death. Likely he has
already. Only headquarters knows,
and it isn't saying. Sometimes, you
know, they have sense enough to work
that way, keep all they know under
their hats and pretend they're cunning
for somebody besides the bird they're
really after. So now it's maybe Red
they're laying for on the quiet. all the
while they're kicking up. this row
about Leo, making out they think he's
the only one Don't you See?'
"All but why 3ou had to hide =. >"
Because I was in the room wheE