Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-17
4 Ride by Night

WHILE they were in the diner. Cleo
W asked Carey what time they would
arrive at their destination.
III was quite dark now and Cleo kont
her eyes turned resolutely away from
the window. She did not want to
look out into the blackness through
which they were flying because she wHs
desperately afraid that terror would
swamp her so utterly that Carey would
see her fear and rejoice in 1t. 1t was
Tor that same reason that she had forced
herself to eat. She was vaguely glad
that he had had so little to say during
the meal. 1t would have been such
an effort to keep up the part she was
trying so hard to play.
carey consulted his watch and then
smiled across the table at her. That
smile Of his was no more than flash :
ing of his teeth and sudden lift of
his features. for his eyes were cold and
brilliant, and his tone as he spoke to
her was mocking.
I'VE reach Wayne's Glen at 10
O'clock he vouchsafed. "and then we
have two-hour ride after that Are
you getting impatient. Cleo? Will it
mean so much to you to be alone with
me|'
They were virtually alone in the diner
for they had eaten late. and Carey
suddenly reached across the table and
caught her wrist between his fingers.
At his words her heart had leaped in
her breast. and as he touched her the
violence OF its beating seemed to shake
her whole body. But she did not real =
ize his intention until a smile of tri :
umph lit up his face. As he released
her and sat back in his chair, he said
deliberately.
III I'm not mistaken, you still love
me, Cleo. In spite of yourself, your
heart belongs to inc. What other ex =
planation have you Of the fact that il
leaps at my touch? Did you thlnl,
you could hide your love from me
under mask of Indifference"
She realized then what he had done.
His fingers had closed for a minute
on her wrist and he had felt that tell
tale leap of her blood. How cruel he
was and how utterly without mercy.
And she had trusted herself to this
man. In few short hours she would
be utterly alone with him A LITTLE
shudder ran through her at the though,
and all her pride rose up in arms. II
wasn't true that she loved him. III
exerted power of some kind over her
but certainly she no longer loved him
re ndu hilIcu het "i'hiI''' hO h"'
| laughed and made light of everything
tender and sacred and holy. Love wa
dead in her heart. and this emotion
that had set her heart to beating wildl!
was fear Of him, only she must not lie
him suspect the truth.
She forced smile to her face ant
shrugged her shoulders lightly. Thel
as though his words had not been o
enough Importance TO notice. she salt
evenly: "Shall we 60 back to tn
other car? It's more comfortable
| there ,
Two hours later. Cleo stood on th
platform Of the deserted little station
and watched the long train whiz ava!
into the darkness like sky-rocket
Then Carey was helping her into
rickety old car. and they were of a
seemingly impossible speed for sucl
nm old rattle box, into the blacknes
of the night. The car rocked from
side 70 side. as they tore along. ant
II seemed that eventually something
must happen. Cleo found herself acc
rualiy praying that something , woul,
happen, but the car stuck amaZihsl.
TO the road, as they jounced on AM
Einolly with swerve OF the ca
thev turned off the road and into
,rood Cleo could see the head.hght
on tho brown tree trunks, and thel
"a "a they finally emerged from the WOOD
into n clearing, Carey at her slde' sud
denly gave a sharp exclamation