New Britain herald., 1923-10-20
NOW co ON WITH TIE STORY


 Then I'm 10 he her escort :" Rris. eev asked bitterly, He knew that he wss defeated.
 Hissins looked al him with a smile of wthfry derision.
 No: l guess we'll leave you out oi this. Doc. We can't afford 10 have no mistakes made. I'll 70 along with the little lady myself. Kind q had for my rheumafism to have to lay there Ia the road. when the car goes cn the bridge; but don't see no other way"
 Ths Superintendent strengthened up as to defy this show Of authority. For long minute he and Higgins faeed each other. Then. overtnrning chair as he went. he left the room.
 Al he flung out of the door. he col- iided with Morton who was crouching at The key-hole.
 With one hand he caught the house physician by the throat, choking of svsn . sound from him. With the ether hand, he closed the door behind him.
 CHAPTER xxvI.
 pushsd backward from the door. still with that eonstrainins clutch on his throat. Norton's popping eyes were Axed on Bristow's face His amaze mont wss even greater than hts fright.
 But there was quality in this sum- mary and violent capture which pre- vented him from following his primi- tive impulse to struggle and kick. The hand that choked him seemed also to hold him up. Bristow was pale and certainly determined but there was nothing of the hot anger that his action would indicate. On the contrary. he conveyed to Morton by some electric telepathy that his assault was necessary and entirely friendly.
 At the head of the stairs he re- leased his victim with low. Shn' his finger laid against his lips, and giving the house physician a moment to gain his breath. threw an arm about his shoulder, and led him, stumbling and still purple and gasp ing, down the steps to the office.
 Rristow stood on the hearth-rug. straightening out his cuffs, and sur yeyed Morton refectiyely.
 You needn't be afraid of me, Nor ton.' he said earnestly. I'm only | too grateful to you, too utterly grate- full"
 A shattered faith is not easily re- stored. Still, Morton remembered, Bristow had fought to save the girl, although his merit was counterbal- anced in his mind by Miss Copley's accusations.
 How much of the conversation up there did you overhear?" Bristow asked, without betraying too much interest.
 A--a good deal of it." Morton stammered. Enough to know that you were against them"
 Bristow rubbed his hands.
 Suppose" he said, before we go deeply into this matter, you tell me just what you were doing up there? listening, of course. But why?'
 Morton twiddles his thumbs, and looked confused.
 T have felt for some days that there was something wrong in the matter of this girl. IT read the papers. suspected"
 Bristow waved his hand, and smiled 
 Don't 90 on trying to invent. You're not adroit enough. You'd be helping that girl far more by telling me the facts now. Time Is flying, md"
 Morton jumped. , Time? That's it,' he said T . must go. Don't try to keep me bere, /. Doctor. must go before they" 7 He stopped, looking apprehensively tt the door. No need of haste" Bristow re- turned equably. 'Therell be nothing lone for two or three hours yet" He .aised hi seyes to indicate that he was 'eferring to the two on the floor ' lbove. You must have heard enough to eaiize that I stand with the person ! IT persons who are trying to rescue Hiss Ranger. Who are these people [ hat you were in conference with dur q ng the two hours that you were away s his noon?" [ Morton, scrunched up his chair, to Bristow's influence nd yet mindful Of his promise to Kelsey, shook his head \