Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-10-26
CHAPTER xI-ContInueo.

She entered the last room. There
was no lock or bar upon the door. But
the room was large and dark, and 1t
was half full of bales of alfalfa hay
Probably 1t was the safest place in
the house; at least time would be nee
essary TO find any one hidden there.
She dropped her valuables In dark
corner and covered them with loose
hay. That done, she felt her way down
bales and presently crouched In Il
niche
With the necessity of action over for
the Immediate present. Madeline be-
came conscious that she was quiverlng
and almost breathless. Her skin felt
tight and cold. There was weight
on her chest her mouth was dry, and
she had n strange tendency to swallow
Dull sounds came from parts of the
house remote from her. In the inter
walls of silence between these sounds
She heard the squeaking and rusting
of mice in the hay. A mouse ran over
her hand
dread!ng to hear the Gathering ap-
rroach of her cowboys. There would
he flghting-blOod-m injured, per.
haps killed. Even the thought Of vio-
lence of any kind hurt her. But per-
haps the guerrillas would run In time
to avoid clash with her men. She
hoped for that, prayed for 1t. Through
her mind fitted what she knew of
Nels. Of Monty. of Nick Steele; and
she experienced Il sensation that left
her somewhat chilled and sick. Then
she thought of the dark-browed, fire.
eyed Stewart. She felt thrill drive
away the cold nausea. And her excite
ment augmented.
Waiting. listening increased all her
emotions. Nothing appeared to be
happening. Yet hours seemed to pass
while she crouched there. Had Flor
ence been overtaken7 Could any of
those lean horses ,outrun Majesty? :?
She doubted It; she knew 1t could not
. be true. Nevertheless, the strain of
uncertainty was tOrturng.
Suddenly the hang of the corridor
door pierced her through and through
with the dread Of uncertainty. Some
at the guerrillas Ind entered the east
wing of the house. She heard a babel
OF .jabbering voices, the shufilIng of
boots and clinking OF spurs, the slam.
ming Of doors and ransacking Of
rooms.
Madeline lost faith In her hiding
place. Moreover. she found II impos-
sihle to take the chance. The idea of
Icing caught In that dark room by
those rufllnns filed her with horror.
She must get out into the light. Swift.
iy she rose and went to the window.
1t was rather more of door than
window. being a large aperture closed
by two wooden doors on hinges. The
iron hook yielded readily to her grasp.
and one door stuck fast, while the
other opened a few inches. She looked
out upon II green slope covered with
flowers and punches Of sage and
bushes. Neither man nor horse showed
II. the narrow field Of her vision. She
believed she would be safer hidden
out there In the shrubbery than In
the house. The jump from the win
dow would be easy for her.
She pulled at tho door. 1t did not
budge. II had caught at the bottom.
Pulling with all her might proved to
be In vain. Pausing. with palms hot
md bruised, she heard a louder, closer
approach Of the Invaders OF her home,
Fear. wrath. and impotence contested
for supremacy over her and drove her
TO desperation. She was alone here,
and she must rely on herself. And us
she strained every muscle to move
that obstinate door and heard the
quick, hnrsh voices Of men and the
sounds Of hurried search she sud
denly felt sure that they were hunting
for her. She knew It. She did not
wonder al II. But she wondered "