Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-12-15
CHAPTER XIV

too steadily on her face. Miss Cor
ey," he said, 'this is tragic. This
is very, very tragic
The next thing, his hand was
clamped over her mouth and he was
holding her tight against his body
with his other hand and arm. She
could not move.
In the silence, she heard footballs
on the other path, and the sound of
mems voices. She identified them as
Pierre's and Steve's. They we're 60
ing to the garage.
She struggled. She tried to free
herself, but Mr.. Lanning was pre-
pared for it. He held her so tightly
that she could not move.
He held her until the sound came
of a car starting, then the soft low
whine of its gears. The crisp sound
of its exhaust retreated and faded.
Holding her securely, Mr.. Lanning
shook out folded handkerchief. 1t
was, she discovered later, a large
one. He forced the thick center part
into her mouth and tied the ends
tight behind her head, so that she
could not cry out.
He seemed to have recovered his
composure. He was, once again,
the calm, urbane gentleman she had
known on the Samoa" He was
meeting an emergency, a serious
crisis, as men of his sort always do,
with finesse and sureness.
I'm so sorry, Miss Corey" he
said. "But this is really necessary.
This is a very critical time, as
sure you, and you have stumbled
upon something that is very embar-
RAISING to me-"
He carried her along the path to
where it joined the other path. He
carried her into the garage. With
his tiashlight, he found some short
pieces of rope. He tied Zorie's feet
together, and he tied her hands Sc
curely behind her.
Il am really so sorry about this,
Miss Corey" he said. But l can't
leave you here. l assure you, you
are most embarrassing to me.
have to keep an appointment, and I
dare not leave you here"
He found some soft cushions and
placed them on the floor of sedan.
He arranged Zorie on these cush-
ions, and he was extremely gentle
about it,
He closed the door, then got into
the drivers seat, backed the car
out, and started. Zorie knew when
they were climbing the hill out of
the cove to the cliff, and she won
dered if he intended throwing her
off the cliff.
The car stopped presently and Mr..
Lanning got out and opened the rear
door. 1t was now raining hard.
He removed the gag from her
mouth, but he did not remove the
cord from her wrists or ankles.
Zorie's lips were numb and there
was bitter taste in her mouth. He
took off his coat and draped it
about her shoulders. He gathered
her into his arms and started at a
trot through the rain
In the light of his pocket torch,
which danced as he ran, she saw the
house-a large cabin painted a dull
green, now shining wet with rain.
Mr.. Lanning carried her up on a
porch, unlocked door and carried
her inside He directed his light
about the room.
1t was a cozy, nicely furnished
room-typlcally mans idea of
what a comfortable living-room in a
mountain cabin should be.
He carried her through this room
and into the one beyond, a smaller
room at the back of the house. 1t
was a combined study and break
fast room, and beyond it, through
an open door, she caught a glimpse
of the kitchen.
Mr.. Lanning gently set Zorie in a
chair beside a window. He closed
the living-room door and lighted
kerosene lamp on the table.
He sat down in chair facing her.
He looked her over with anxious So
hcitude. Her lovely sun-pleated star
sapphire gown was spattcred with
purple-l I'D mud.
AS she stared at him, all her
courage, the fortitude that had been
sustaining her, threatened to leave
hei. Die Hdu d quick appalling
glimpse of the girl she had once
been, the girl who had changed so
miraculously. She felt herself Slip
ping back irresistibly into that per-
petually meek. timid. frightened girl.
Then her wavering eyes returned
to Mr.. Lanning's flushed face and
steadied. Strength and courage
carHe back in food. She told her
self she would not revert to her old
self! She had won that fight! She
wasn't afraid! No matter what hap
pened, she would not let her old
meekness return!
Il am very sorry" Mr.. Lanning
said, ito have t. keep your hands