Year: 1874

/ presence at his side. In low and loving
/ tones the happy twain conversed, until
/ the approaching steps of the jailer an
/ nounced the termination of the inter
view.


Good bye, Ethel"


Good bye, Robert"


And then he was again alOne-alone to
solitude and meditation, but with happy
memory reigning in his mind of the person
who SO fondly and devotedly loved him.


She had told him Of her fathers strong
1 doubt as to his guilt f; of Edwin Amory' .
influence over the entire community III
| general, and her own father in particular,
| of his sly hints and insInuations, and Of
/ his determined efforts to convict him.
And then she had bade him hope, for with
tn strong will of a woman who loved, she
! was resolved to secure for hin his lib
| erty.
| So he resumed his posture of partial re-
pose, and as the evening came he fell into
a slumber.
| 1t was not late in the evening when he
awoke, or rather was awakened from a
deep sleep by the sound Of noise at the
door of his prison. On looking up he saw
/ to his surprise that a man was at the
/ heavy iron door, and was unlocking it-a
man who was not jailer, and who had a
mask over his face. The door was opened,
the man peered in and then said
" You are there.
Yes"


Robert Parton


Yes"
Come"


Where.


with me. have come to Eberate
you


Robert Parton drew back.
cannot go


Why"


q Because | consider myself a prisoner
and criminal until | am proven inno-
cent.


The man laughed "a harsh discord
laugh, laugh which was familiar to the
young mechanic, but he could not
place its author just then.


You will wait long time in this age
of the selfish world, ard in the expectancy
Of favor from prejudiced public.


Then ! will suffer"


The masked stranger made an impatient
movement.


"One word, Robert Parton, he said


q | have not only drugged the jailer but
have run risk to rescue you. Come with
me.


The young mechanic followed him along
the corridor, and was soon out i'll the open
air, all the doors being open, and the Jailer
lying in stupor on the bench in the little
JaII-otfice where he usually sat. The men
vent on, not word being spoken until
they had reached the outer limits of the
town. Then the masked stranger turned
t. Robert Parton.


- 1t will never be well known to the
public how | came to get the jailer drugged,
and rescued you."


said he Ii will not even be known
who rescued you. have done it, and you
are here. assume to lead you, will you
follow :


" Where


Where lead Setting aside all your
tine notions Of honor and principle, you
will find that it is twice as easy to prove a
mans innocence at liberty than when he
is in jail Do you know that ?"


Il Yes.


Il Then act upon it. | as ali unknown
friend to you, rescue you from your
prison. | will not stop here, for one hour
after you escape is discovered the country
will be secured by detectives, and that hu-
man sleuth- hound Edwin Amory will be
upon your track. have provided for your
security from arrest. propose to lead
you to spot where you can make all your
plans for proving your innocence. You
will not return until you have tested my
sincerity IN all this III


" No


Z" And you Will follow me n


" Where 2"


'' Where direct.


Yes"


They moved on slowly, for the stranger
had led the way off from the mountain
road to a ravine- path, which traversed
side Of the mountain. On, on, for many a
weary mile, until before an old hut, away
down in a sequestered mountaiR valley the
stranger stopped.


=" 1t is here, he said, pushing open the
door, and going in advance Of his friend
Come in" He lighted candle on tn.
table as he spoke, and Robert Parton
looked curiously around him.


1t was snug but rude little cabin, col
tanning bed, table and chairs. The win
dows were closed up, so that no ray Of
light could penetrate to the outside, and
the door had been barred by the masled
stranger


Having finished his survey Of the csbin
Robert Parton looked curiously at hisun-
known and new friend who had rescued
him. The stranger had torn the mask from
his face, and stood fully revealed il the
candle light-stood revealed q well Known
form to Robert Parton.


The young mechanic sprang to his feet
as he recognized the man. The kindness
of the past was bearing fruit for mis- rescuer
and friend was-James Mayhem