Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-09

briefly. This is almost the time he
usually sets forth for his depreda-
tons, isn't it,"
They agreed and finally set off,
walking in single file down the path
which led to the shore. Behind them
soft voice exclaimed aloud in be-
wilderment: The cave! But how
could the man have found it,"
The face which Fay had seen at
the window on the night of her ar
rival rose once more before her
that strange, leering, wild-eyed face.
in which there had been something
wierdly, hauntingly familiar. All at
once she stiffened and stood as rigid
asa statue. The next instant she
was off like flying shadow in the
wake of the manhunters.
To Captain Warren, trailing along
on his crutches at the rear of the
party, there came an odd sense that
someone was behind him, trailing
him in turn. He paused. Nothing
but shadows met his gaze. Cursing
himself for a nervous, weak in
competent, he toiled painfully after
the others.
He had never felt his infrmity as
poignantly before as on that night,
when there was excitement and adj
venture abroad.
1t Inundated him to have them
stop and wait for him, and he replied
almost surily to their inquiries as to
how he was standing the pace
That he vas not standing it well
was painfully evident to himself. The
prolonged, unaccustomed effort was
telling upon him. When at last
reached the boat-shared rock the
rest were far ahead.
He sank down uron the rock,
painting and racked with pain, and it
was then that that sensation of
someone near came to him once
more with overwhelming force. He
Strengthened himself to look about
when a small hand was laid timidly
upon his shoulder and a soft voice
spoke close to his ear.
"It's only /, captain "
Fay! Miss Tudor!' he gasped.
"What are you doing here?"
81 followed because | thought
could help" she replied. 81 was-I
was down by the garage when
heard you discussing your plans, and
/ could not avoid hearing. | think
know the place you are trying to
find, but Frank is leading you all
.astray. Only myself and one other
ever knew it, I think, until this man
unaccountably stumbled upon it in
his wanderings"
What is -it-some old deserted
shack?" The captain was rapidly
forgetting his pain and fatigue in
awakening interest.
1 Fay shook her head with a sad
little reminiscent smile.
/ There isn't even the remains Of a
1 human hahitation. along, the shore
lime here for miles, She spoke very
fsoftly. ut is cave. Captain War
llen;not really a cave, you know, but
just a natural fssurc in the rock,
upon which another has fallen,
/ forming a room. I dom suppose the
whole thing is more than three feet
wide and about six long. My brother
and | discovered it by chance one
day, and we swore we would never
tell anybody about it. [ can't imagine
how this poor man discovered it, but
it is the only shelter for miles"
And you think he IS there?"
Where else could he be, if it was
the remains of his fire which Frank
found?" she shrugged her shoulders
Il know short cut from this rock
straight to it, and we can be there
ages ahead of the rest if you feel
strong enough to start"
The captain clipped his clutches
beneath his armpits and pulled him
self up with alacrity.
''You lead the way, Miss Tudor
and I'll follow" ~
Continued in Our Next Issue.
Copyright, 1929