The Holly chieftain., 1923-02-22

4uiNtiy.
They had been following the edge
of the road, she along q path worn
in the turf, he on the edge of the road
Itself and nearer to the tracks of the
motors. Suddenly she cried out and
clutched at him. As they had stopped,
she had heard the sound of q motor
approaching them rapidly from be-
hind. Except that this car seemed
speeding faster than the others. she
had paid NO attention and had not
turned. lnstantaneously, as she had
cried and pulled upon him, she had
realized that this car was not pass
ing; 1t was directly behind and almost
upon him. She felt him spring to the
side as quickly as he could; but her
cry and pull upon him were almost too
late; as he leaped, the car struck. The
blow was giancing, not direct, and he
was of his feet and in motion when
the wheel struck; but the car hurled
him aside and rolled him over and
over.
As she rushed to Eaton. the two
men in the rear seat OF the car
turned their heads and looked back,
but without checking its speed or
swerying. the car dashed on and dis
appeared down the roadway.
She bent over Eaton and took hold
Of him. He struggled to his feet and,
dazed, tottered 30 that she support.
ed him. As she realized that he was
not greatly hurt, she stared with hor>
ror at the turn in the road where the
car had disappeared.
"Why, he tried to run you down
He meant tol He tried to hurt you!"
she cried.
NO" Eaton denied. ooh, no. ]
don't think SO. 1t must have been
an accident. He was-frightened
when he saw what he had DONE"
ut wasn't at all like an accident !"
she persisted. ut couldn't have been
| an accident there and coming up from
behind the way he did No; he meant
to do it! Did you see who was In the
| car-who was driving1"
He turned to her quickly. "Who?"
he demanded.
zone of the people who was on the
train! The morning Father was hurt.
Don't you remember-a little man.
nervous. but very strong; a man al
most like an aper
He shuddered and then controlled
himself. Yes. remember a fellow
the conductor tried to seat me oppo-
site"
This was the same mani"
Eaton shook his head. "That could
hardly be; think you must be mis-
taken"
~ am not mistaken; 1t was that
man"
"still, 1 think you must be-" he
again denied.
She stared, studying him. perhaps
l was" she agreed; but she knew she
had not been. Il am glad, whoever
1t was. he didn't injure you. You are
all right, aren't you?"
| "Quite." he assured. "Please don't
trouble about 1t, Miss Santolne."
They walked back rather silently,
she appreclating how passionately
she had expressed herself for him,
and he quiet because of this and
other thoughts too.
They found Donald Avery in front
Of the house looking for them as they
came up. Eaton succeeded in walk
ing without llmping; but he could not
conceal the marks on his clothes.
Harriet, I've Just come from your
father; he wants you to go to him
at once;" Avery directed. Good
morning Eaton. What's happened ~
"Carelessness," Eaton deprecated.
Got rather In the way of motor
and was knocked over for it,
Harriet did not correct this to
Avery. She went up to her father j;
she was still trembling, still sick
with horror at what she hud seem
an attempt to kill one walking at her
side. She stopped outside her IA
ther's door to compose herself; then
she went In.
The blind man was propped up on
his bed with pillows into almost a
| sitting position; the nurse was with
him.
"What did you want. Fathery' Har-
riet asked.
He had recognized her step and
had been about to speak to her; but
at the sound of her voice he stopped
the words on his lips and changed
them into direction for the nurse
to leave the room.
He waited until the nurse had left
and closed the door behind her. Har-
riet saw that, In his familiarity with
her tones and every infection of her
voice, he had sensed already mat
something unusual had occurred; she
repeated, however, her question as
to what he wanted.
"That does not matter now. Har.
riet. Where have you been?'
II have been walking with Mr
Eaton"
"What happenedf"
She hesltated. "Alr. Eaton was al.
most RIM down hy a