The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-24

 to Black Rock had meant to her. And even in her physical discomfort and mental anguish she found herself hoping against hope that something would yet happen to balk the sinister plans of Hawk Kennedy, whatever they were. She could not believe that happiness such as hers had been could come to such a dreadful end sd soon. But what was Hawk Ken nedy's mission now? Where had he gone unless to Black Rock again? And what would he be doing there? Was revenge his motive now, strong CT since her revelation of her parent age? And was it Peter that he was going to %? Her cry was muffled in the bandage. He had gone back to Black Rock to lie Il wait for Peter-to kill him perhaps. SobbinS anew she struggled again with her bonds until at last she lay back re- faxed and exhausted, and prayed with all her might to the God that had always been her guide.
 And after a while she grew calm again. refreshed and strengthen by her faith. No harm would befall Peter. No further harm would come to her Evil such as Hawks was powerless against her prayers. AL ready he had done her great injury. The God of her faith would keep her T loved, came to save her. She was as sure of this now as though she could see him coming. vengeance in his hand, with long strides through the forest to her hiding place. And so after a while, exhausted from her ef- forts, she fell into a ydoze.
 When she awoke from troubled dreams it was with sense of suffo- cation. She had stirred in her sleep and the thongs had cut more deeply into the flesh at her knees, causing her pain. Below the knees she was numb from the constant pressure, but she moved her toes up and down and her limbs tingled painfully as the constricted blood flowed into her ex- tremities. How long she had lain there she did not know, but the in- terior of the shed seemed to have grown quite dark. as though a storm were rising outside. The wind was still blowing, and above the moan ing of the pines she could hear the continuous rustic of the leaves and the creaking of moving branches. She managed with an effort to turn her head toward the window, where through te dark leaves of the over shadowing trees she could catch glimpses of the sky, which seemed to have turned to a pinkish purple, like the afterglow of a sunset. Was ir
 
 long?
 In the turning of her head it seem ed that the bandage over her mouth had become 1oosened. and as she tried the experiment again, the handker- chief slipped down around her neck. In a moment she had gotten rid of the wad of linen in her mouth. At least she could breathe freely now and moisten her parching lips. This boon seemed almost in answer to her prayers. And if one bandage could come loose by Gods help, why not another?
 And so cheerfu1ly and with a per sistence which took no thought of the pain she was inflfcting upon herself she began working her hands to and fro behind her until she fancied that the pressure on her wrists was not so great as before. With an effort she managed to wriggle over against the wall and so to straighten into a 1 sitting posture.
 It was then that she suddenly rais- ed her head and sniffed at the air from the small window above her through which slender wisp of smoke came curling. Smokei The l smell of burning brush, familiar to l her, and yet back here in the woods l unless from a well-tended campfire, l fraught with perilous meaning. She E again. The purple had grown red der, dull crimson shot with streaks | of blue-smoke everywhere. endless | streamers and tortuous pillows | sweeping down on the wings of the wind.
 Fire in the woodsi She knew the | meaning of that And the reddish | purple was Aot the sunset but the | glow of mighty flames near by. | crown fire in the pines, From the | volume of smoke, increasing with ev- cry moment. 1t seemed that the old | tool house in which she was impris- oned must be directly in the path of l the flames Now thoroughly aware | of her possible fate if she could not ! release herself she strained her ears, listening. and now hard distinctly | above the sounds nearer at hand a distant cracking roar and the thud | of heavy branches falling. The in- terior of the cabin had now grown even dimmer-to a dark rednesS-and | the smoke came bilIowing in at the window. almost stifling her with it's acrfd fumes. Outside the window when she struggled for freedom. she caught glimpse of sparks, flying like meteorS past the dim rectangle of her vision. small ones, larger ones. and then flaming brands which must set fire to whatsoever they touched.
 She was nalt mad now with terror She tried to think calmly, because she knew that unless a miracle happened she would die alone here-the most horrible of all deaths. And then her eye canght the gleam of something upon the tool chest in the shadow beyond-the teeth of the cross-cut saw!
 1f she could reach !t! She fell over purposely on the sacking and with 11-rfo cd l ward it. inch by inch. Could she reach it with her wrists? With an effort she squirmed to the chest and strengthened, her back against it. $ she had done against the wall and ! then turning. in spite of the increased | pressure of her thongs. managed in some way to get to her knees. feeling