The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-02-05

i
Down dat road, cried the
frightened black. pointing toward
the south where a. mighty wall of
roaring flames shut out the view.
Put these people in the other
car" shouted the stranger to Clay
ton. Il saw one as ! drove up
and get them out Of here by the
north road.
Leave my car here. If I find
Miss Porter we shall need it. If /
don't, no one will need it. Do as i
say as Clayton hesitated, and then
they saw the 1.-THE figure bound away
across the clearing toward the north
west where the forest still stood, un-
touched by fame
In each rose the unaccountable
feeling that great responsibility
had been raised from their shoulders;
a kind Of implicit confidence in the
power Of the stranger to save Jane
Porter If she could be saved
WHO was that?" asked Profes-
sor Porter.
II do not know" replied Clayton
HE called me by name and he knew
Jane. for he asked for her. And
he called Esmeralda by name
There was something most start
iingly familiar about him." exclaimed
Mr.. Philander, land yet. bless me. /
know I never saw him before
"Tut-tutp' cried Professor Por-
ter. Most remarkable, Who could
it have been, and why do 1 feel that
Jane is safe, now that he has set
out in search Of her?"
IT cant tell you, Professor" said
Clayton soberly, but I know I have
the same uncanny feeling"
But come" he cried, 1--WE must
get ont of here ourselves, or we
shall be shut off, and the party
Fastened toward Clayton's machine.
When Jane Porter turned to re-
trace her steps homeward she. was
alarmed to note how near the smoke
of the forest fire seemed, and as she
fastened onward, her alarm became
almost panic when she perceived
that the rushing flames were rapid
~ forcing their way between her.
self and the cottage.
A short run down the road
brought her to a Mortified stand, for
there before her was another wall
of flame. An arm Of the parent
conflagration had shot out half
mile south of its mate to embrace
this tiny strip of road in it's implac-
able clutches.
Now she realized that it would
be but matter Of minutes ere the
whole space between the enemy on
the north and the enemy on the
south would be a settling mass of
billowing flames.
Calmly the girl kneeled down in
the dust Of the roadway and prayed
to her Maker to give her strength to
meet her fate bravely, and to de-
liver her father and her friends from
death.
Suddenly she heard her name be-
ing called aloud through the forest:
Jane! Jane Porter 1t rang
strong and clear, but in a strange
voice
'Herep' she called in reply. Here!
In the roadway!
Then through the branches Of the
trees she saw a figure swinging
with the speed of a squirrel.
A veering Of the wind blew a
cloud of, smoke about them and she
coluld no longer see the man who
was speeding toward her, but sud
denly she fslt great arm about her.
| CD, R-1k
the rushing Of the wind and the
occasional brush Of a branch as she
was borne along.
She opened her eyes.
Far below her lay the under
growth and the hard earth.
About her was the waving foliage
of the forest.
From tree to tree swung the giant
| figure which bore her, and 1t seemed
to Jane Porter that she was living
over in a dream the experience that
had been hers in that far African
| jungle.
Oh, If it were but the same man
who had borne her SO swiftly
through the tangled 1erdure on that
other day; but that were impossible.
Yet who else in all the world was
there with the strength and agil-
ity<to do what this man was now do
ing?
She stole a sudden glance at the
face close to hers, and then she gave
a little frightened sgrasp-it was he!
My man!' she murmured. mo, it
is the delirium which precedes
death.
She must have spoken aloud, for
the eyes that bent occasionally to
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