Evening star., 1928-08-01
Continued from Yesterdsvs star
INSTALIMENT XXI.

- MTTTEN again by panic, Esther
ran out into the icy darkness al
the ward She Slackened to 8
walk and then paused to draw a
decy1 breath. Overhead the sky
vas marShaling It's legion Of stars and
far down III the west a Sspia StTsaE
behind the SUBMITS Of the hills marked
the pshes Of the afterglow, She heSi-
tate6 a minute, her teeth chattering.
garage. family conforted and sustained
by tie calm dignity of the night,
Suddenly the underlined darkness OF
tl,e shed Jumped forward out Of the
b,ackneSs into sharp outline and
turning swiftly. she saw, far down the
lane. The approaching lights OF a car.
Above in the house window-paTe
snone yellow and the child's shadow
was outlined against it for an instant.
Esther sohhed and ran along the dim
carpet Of radiance that the headlights
spread upon the earth. Her feet
stumbled end slipped upon trost-hound.
uneven ruts, her breath came snort l,i snn
sn agony shot through her side Still
shs ran, frantic figure in the gradually
increasing SLOW.
The fow gftVmhlinS Of the engine
shead ceased suddenly and the lamps
became steady and stationary. Then
IN an instant she vas beside the car.
hair streaming. Saspins for breath, and
the heavy voice Of Walker was saying
In alarm: Esther. for Gods sake;
what's the natter"
she chung desperately to his arm as
he leaned toward her and uttered
short. half Srangled bursts Of speech.
Gradually. as her breath returned, the
man interrupted her with questions.
skeptical bewildered and finally excited.
At length he checked her and swung
ocen a car door.
Crazy. eh?" he commented. Get
IN here. Esther. I'll settle her"
she llung back, terrified anew.
No" she gssped. No, she'd hear
US. Wade. she's got Molly With her,
That's what irishlens ms so. She'd
kill-pleass leave the car here and
walk.
.'Kas she got gum" Walker pro-
pounded heavily.
YES. shs holds It in hsr hand all
the while. She's gone mad"
Hum" said the chief of police and
descended from the Ger. Maybe We
better walk
When they neared the house, shs
turned 20 him quickly.
I'll slip on ahead" she whispered,
"ani back the car out Of the garage
While I'm racing the engine. so into
ths kitchen and wait for me there
She won't be likely to hear you, If you
step softly
she backed out Els machine.
OPENED TIE throttle wide and waited
while the kitchen door swung open.
revealed the balk OF Walker against
the light and closed slowly The upper
window still shone and she saw Ana
Lyoff stand behind II a minute and look
out into the darkness through cupped
hands
Esther sonlers shut of the timult
Of machinery and climbed out Of the
car. An instant later, she swung the
kitchen door open again, pushed it
smut loudly behind her and turned
70 the uncertain police chief with a
finger on her lips He had unbut-
tened his overcoat and had one hand
thrust into the hip pocket Of his uni
form. His broad red face was trem-
uIous with uncertainty
Now Ehat2" he whispered.
Shs waited a minute. listening eau
tcnst2 to the mufied sound of move
N snt overhead and the excited voice Of
Nelly Then she turned 10 him.
We've got 70 set her away from
Noliy" she muttered Wade, listen.
b. the kitchen door Hide there. I'll
call her dovn.
Iss hesisa esd. niuttsTtnr nresoiuteiv
end then nodded with manifest reluc-
tance She crossed the room, and he
feilowed her on tiptoe As she went
through the hall to the foot OF the
stairway she heard the closet door creak
henind 1er. She fought to keep her
voice steady as she called
Ana. the car is ready"
Her knees we're trembling and faint
nausea nloistened her palms and fore
head as she returned 10 the kitchen and
made a noisy pretense Of occupation
e. the stove. After an interminable
wait ghe heard feet coming down the
stairs. She paused for an instant and
then collecting herself, ratified stove
liz loudly
T1s feet dragged on through the
hail Was IL suspicion or the weari-
ness IF sn oyertaxed body that de-