The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-22

take on LnaI point. II you are not
on your way by sun-up, you get a
hundred-from the knou.. You WON'T
be able to leave for some time after
that-but neither will you be able to
interfere with what doesn't concern
you. I'll give you a few in the dawn
just as sample to show what they're
like. Nor am l afraid of Bess killing
herself It's cold and dark here. but
it's colder and darker-there. She'll
stand a lot before she'll do that
That's definite?" Ned asked.
1.-THE truest words l ever spoke.
I've never gone back on a promise
yet"
And believe me. l won't go back
on mine. If that's all YOU have to
say
That's quite all. Think it over
you'll find it isn't so bad. And now
good night"
He bowed to them, in mock polite
ness. Then he turned back into his
cabin
For a moment his two prisoners
stood inert, utterly motionless IN the
wan light. Ned started to turn to
her. still held by his. own dark
thoughts, but at the first glance of
her white. set face he whirled in the
most breathless amazement. 1t was
in no way the stricken, terrified
countenance that he had seen few
moments before. The lips were firm,
the eyes deep and strange; even in
the half-hght ne could see her look
of memorable purpose.
Some great resolve had come to
her-some sweeping emotion that
might be akin to hope. Was she
planning suicide? Was that the
meaning of this new look of iron
resolution in her face? He could con-
ceive of no other explanation; in
self-infilicted death alone lay deliver
ance from Doomsdorf's lust He
dared not hope for any happier free
dom.
He reached cropping hands to hers.
You don't mean'-he gasped. hard
ly able to make his lips move in
sreech-''you don't intend-?"
ITO kill myself? Not yet, by a
long way" The girls hand slipped
cautiously out from the pocket of her
jacket, showing him what seemed to
bc a small, square box of ii But
the light was too dim for him to
make out the words on the paper
label 4 got this from the shelf
just as we left the cabin"
The hopeful tones in her voice was
the happiest sound Ned had heard
since he come to the island.
What is it?" he whispered.
Nothing very much-but yet-a
chance for freedom. Come into the
cabin where we can scratch a
1atch.
They moved into the newer hut of
logs, and there Bess showed him
the humble article in which lay her
hopes. 1t was merely a tin of fine
snuff from among Doomsdorf's per-
sonal supplies.
Talking in an undertone. not to be
heard through the log walls. Bess
and Ned made their hasty plans for
deliverance.
Here, in the cabin they occupied,
tie assault must be made. The rea-
son was simply that their plan was
defeated at the outset if they at
tempted to master Doomsdorf in the
squaw's presence.
The plan. ON perfection. was really
very simple. AS soon as Lenore came,
she would be sent back to the cabin
to bring Doomsdorf. She would need
no further excuse than that Bess had
asked to see him. Ned's knowledge
OF the brute's psychology told him
that.
Ned would be waiting in the newer
cabin when Lenore and Doomsdorf
returned. He would Immediately ex-
cuse himself and pass out the door,
at the same instant that Bess extend
ell a chair for Doomsdorf. And the
instant that he was seated Bess would
dash a handful OF the binding snuff
into his eyes.
Ned's axe leaned just without the
cabin door. Doomsdorf would notice
It as he went in; otherwise his suspi.
cions might be aroused And in his
first instant of agony and blindness
Ned would seize the weapon, dash
back through the door, and make
the assault.
They had scarcely perfected the
plan before Lenore appeared, on the
way to her cot. Just an instant she
halted, her face and golden head a
glory in the soft light, as she re-
garded their glittering eyes.
Ned moved toward her, reaching
L
into her lovely face. ''Bess wants
you to go--and tell Doomsdorf-to
come here" he told her. His voice
was wholly steady. every word clearly
enunciated; if anything, he spoke