Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-08-22
By
Douglas Newton

started again and at the next stor
saw TO it that the cards neve Wen
into the mail.
Farrant knew this because he
watched the man. Preach went alone
the platform until he was out OF
Lois sight and then tossed a handful
of scraps on TO the line. Farrant res
cued them and. OF course, found them
to be the girls cards torn into four
Preach did not want Lois people &
know where she was.
With his rage deepened F'arrant put
the scraps into his coat pocket and
continued 10 shadow the crook. Again
the fellow went into the telegraph Of
fce II this time a telegram, which
had been sent to await him, was
handed cross From the look of I'M
holy pleasure on the brute's face as
he read it Farrant knew thai some
thing satisfactory to himself, and
therefore dangerous 10 Lois, was in
that wire.
Proof OF this came no later than the
next halt, at a small town called Sam
mergall. Preach met q man there.
a confederate and a crook as brutal
as himself. If the fellows face stood
for anything. No doubt the telegram
had arranged that meeting. for both
men lost nc time in getting to busi-
ness. Indeed, the stranger at once
drew Preach to a railway map on a
wall and began pointing out stations.
This was far too crude for a crafts
man like Preach. who cursed the fell
low and looked sharply round to see
if they were watched. Satisfied they
were nOt-Farrant had learned, in a
dAoAlx cphnnl hnu moi RI he enn,,
both men walked to the far end of the
platform and down the steps of an
exit there. In the empty passage be-
meath the railway lines they found
another map which they consulted and
discussed.
Farrant not only managed to see
without being seen, but his wits told
him what they were planning. The
newcomer, with a better knowledge Of
the country, was instructing Preach
how TO hide his trail. Instead of GO
ing straight through to the Balkans,
Preach was going to leave the train
at OF the next stations and dodge
and double across country until all
traces Of his movements were lost.
And he would take Lois with him!
He would carry Lois into an oblivion
where the law could not find her, where
there would be no hope of saving
her!
Farrant saw by the way Preach con-
suited his watch that this devils con-
ference would go on until the last
possible second. On that knowledge
Farrant acted. His cool glance had
already noted the possibilities Of this
exit stair. 1t had been constructed
with Teutonic thOroughnesS. Not only
were the steps fenced off from the plat
form but a stout wire net rooted them
in. Once the gate was shut there
would be no getting on to the platform
by anybody on the wrong ide of that
gate-and the gate locked itself with
a spring lock!
Farrant smiled quietly, walked up
the steps. shut the gate softly, made
sure it could not be opened and went
back to the train. The train pulled
out without Preach!
Thank goodness, Lois was of the
calm, nonhysterical type. She was
anxious but she kept herself splendid
ly in hand when she came into his
tell him that her husband had been
accidentally" left behind at Sammer-
galz, and to crave the help of the only
Englishman she knew in a strange
land. He adored her courage.
How CHASTITY for YOU" he cried,
feigning innocence. Il will do all I
can, of course, Miss Norbert
Mrs. Harter," she said with a blush.
Preach was endless in his aliases, it
seemed. Il didn't know you knew me,
Major Farrant."
know you, by Jove, I've always
He Redeemed, this was a trifle too fer
vent for, brides. That is, I've seer
you at quite a number of places"
"Yes-how queer-I, too" she also
Redeemed, and Farrant bridged the en-
barrassing moment by saying, Makes
us sort of friends, doesn't it? And
don't worry. There's sure to be a mes
sage from your husband at the next
station-Mettfels."
He was sure Of that, and it was his
worry.
The message was at Mettfels all
right. When the train stopped over
two hours later, an official came along
the train asking for Frau Harter.
THAT e you." said Farrant, his
meant nothing to Lois for the message
was in German. 1t was to the effect
that Preach had t%elephoned from Sam
mergalz to bid his wife alight and
await his coming at Mettfels, where he
hoped to rejoin her in about three
hours time.
Farrant, turning that message over
in his mind. said briskly: Quick, we
have to get out here" He said no
more and the hustle of getting their
traps and Preach's out of the train
and of his persuading Lois that break
ing his own journey here meant
nothing to him covered up the fact
that he had not given her husbands
actual message. Really he withheld
it because he wanted time to think.
The matter was delicate.
However, by the time their traps
were on the platform and the train
drawing out he had found a way. He
said coolly to Lois, Now to find a
car" and as she looked bewildered,
20, sorry, I'm an ass, I forgot you
don't understand German-Your hus-
band wants you to take a car and go
back to him at Sammergalz.
ut scenes he met a friend there"
The shot scored.
Eyes, 1 saw that from the train
window" she said. will you help me
- <1ok - No to- IT. ooto ry~. iz1u