Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-26
Continued from Yesterdays starr

For answer Afford picked her up
bodily in his arms and plunged for
ward, but the shouts were gaining
and the crash of branches showed
that they were being closely followed.
Then a shot rang out, another-and
the girl felt Affords body CULVER
while The hold of his arms relaxed
and she slipped gently to the ground.
oh You're wounded" She could
scarcely utter the words.
Not badly 1t was the merest
grooming whisper and he staggered
to a stout cluster of willow trunks,
then fell. Janet crawled after and,
sohhlng. lifted his head. You must
so on alone. Miss Janet. Get to your
father some way and tell him."
Il won't leave YOU" she cried,
fercelv. You could have escaped If
YOU hadn't stopped for me, You risked
YOUR life in coming
"Thev caught me, too. and brought
me here" ne interrupted. Mats
free though. and faithful! He'll
bring helpGshow your watch"
But theyn kill you!" The crash
IF feet was nearer and Janet could
feel a warm dampness penetrating
her skirt across her knees. You're
bleeding, dying"
With a convulsive motion he flung
his upper body from her lap to the
moist ground. -,
For your fathers sake--in his
ran,e-cO" he commanded with
ring of strength in his tones. That's
the only way YOU can help me now.
THEY'LL keep me alive, never tear!
They need me-go'
In swift fash she realized the
wisdom Of his words That was the
onIv way she could help, With a
little sob she laid her hand for an
instant on his head, then turned ana
nlunged off hlindly away from the
brook and through brambies that
clutched at her cape and tore the
hands that screened her tace' n
A anal shout and then silence
showed that her pursuers had found
Afford. and abruptly the bramhles
ended at the shore OF small put
seemingly deep pool, for the rehectlon
of the stars was given back as from
3llimitahle depths, and an inspiration
came to the girl.
She had dropped her shoes long
since and now she unfastened her
cane and let it slip from her shoui'
ders on the edge of the water, then
stepped warily into it. The bank
was shelving and the lclly COLO ieel-
= were deep enough in the center
If only she could proceed along the
edre Of the pond far enough TO nnd
on omen Snace leading away from II
where her footprints would not snow,
they might think that she. had trleo
to swim across and drowned IN the
effort, A low ledge of rocks Ioomeo
ahead. seeming to stretch tar pach,
its gray shape outlined against tne
lesser darkness with no trees masseu
behind. If only she could reach II;
She had waded carefully, out an
of once she stepped off into nothing
ness, plunging downward untn ne Sdr
icv waters closed over her head: for
a moment her senses reeled. but she
struck out instinctively, her nat noat-
ing off as she came gasplng 10 the
surface. The ledge of rocks was
much nearer! 49,
Janet could only swim Few
strokes for her experience had peeH
gained in a brief vacation at con-
vent of the same order by the sed'
hut slight as it was it aided her now.
Irnimpeded by cape or shoes, she ufew
ierkily but surely closer 10 the ieuse
and finally grasped its edge and GREW
tarsoIf nm exhausted, to it's slippery
top. r.. aoo,,
Pausing only to draw few deep
hreaths' she crawled on her hands
and knees up the slope, conscious that
the starlight would reveal her 10
searching eyes if flashlights did not
seek her out. The ledge ended in
broken heap Of rocks and behind the
biggest of these she crouched, snlV-
ering as the night breeze struck
through her drenched garments, ana
waited, but not for long. Darting
fingers of light appeared from the d.
rection from which she had come
and a harsh cry denoted the discov-
erv of her cape. Silence and dark
ness ensued, and then once more the
lights plaved fitfully about as her
nfrsuers separated and searched.
One of them came so near ner ma.
ing.place from the landward side tnat
Janet could plainly hear his footsteps
on soft ground and the whistle OF
his hoarse breathing, but she re.
mained undiscovered and after what
seemed like hours, lights and foot
stems vanished and silence reigned.
Sheer exhaustion brought sleep 70