The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, June 14, 1917, Image 6
I *
Louis Joseph Vance
NOVEUTATION OF THE MOTIOr
NAME. PRODUCED FOR THE INTERI
UNDER "THE DIRECTION OF WHARTON,^
THE CAST.
MRS. VERNON CASTLE as
Patria Channing.
MILTON SILLS as Donald Parr.
< WARNER OLAND as Baron j
Hurokl.
DOROTHY GREEN as Fanny
Adair.
SYNOPSIS.
Huron Huroki, chief of the Japanese secret
service, conspiring to embroil the
United States with Mexico, and desiring
control of tlie Ki t at Chnntiitig munitions
plants owned by l'atrin last of the "h'tyiitins
t'hanninns"?schemes to cause the
death of the latter, and substitute in her
place Elaine, a notorious dancer ami i'atrla's
physical counterpart. As it f..li.s
out, it is Elaine who dies, Patria surviving
actepittl as 111,line by liurohi and las
confedera tv s.
SEVENTH EPISODE.
Red Dawn.
COUNTERPLOT.
In a hand tit once feminine ant! of
decided character, the envelope was
superscrihe.il;
OK SON T.KKTKAM. Ksq.,
CienetaJ Manager,
('banning. Inc.,
Introducing ST I'? roadway, New York.
Capt. 1 lonald Parr.
The addressee accepted It frwn the
hands of ('apt. Donald Parr with o
slightly hoivd itir which was swiftly
disslpaln.1 once he had scanned the
dozen or Mo Jiucs composing the body
of the note. ?...
"With a somewhat startled expression
Mr. Kert.ram peered over his desk
at this Captain Parr?a brief scrutiny
which Donald endured with composure
UfitJ! Mr. Bertram (with Hie manner of
one tdiMlli'jjgihg tin? Fes tiwioTiy of his
own Senses), returned undivided atAtDtiou
to a siNcoi'd ivjuling ot' the
note. Then ft t\\iuTje"T)f amusement
showed in Donald's eyes, he communicated
this emotion in a swift jinnee to
his companion, and again mashed it
with ti setnhlanee of iinpa>sivuy.
> ^Having verified his tirst impression
of the sense of the communication,
Mr. Bertrum clicked his tongue against
his teeth meditatively?"Teh 1 Tch !"
Outlining reposes a?pardon
me-*~surprlslng degree of eonihlence in
you, Captain Burr." he commented. ^
"I hope to prove worthy of her
trusty" Donahl declared with all due,
huuiini.^ "^smc?35aaBtt9m&, ,
J'i used the term surprising iri view
of tiie fact that it ha* hecn my misfortune
never t?? have heard of you |
as a friend id Miss Ohuuniug'.s."
X*S"Don't hpologl/te." said Donald calm- |
ly?irtui let it go at that.
"Of course." Mr. Bertram amended
hastily. "I am Miss Channing's servant.
Her will is my law. Bray advise
me in what way I may serve J
you/' iwritj "
"Permit me ti:<r," Donald suggested,
"to Introduce tnv friend. Mr. Kdward
\V. Ryley, late the I'nited States
Secret Service, now associated with
me in the private bureau of information
which I have organized for Mis*
Channtng at lier suggestion."
Mr. Bertram looked. If possible, more
than ever startled.
"I know mulling of that." he said,
mechanically shaking hands with Mr.
Kyley.
"It is Miss ('hanninit's desire that I
inform you concerning it. in strict
eonlidenci?nal u rally."
"Naturally," echoed Mr. Bertram,
and assumed a receptive attitude.
Rapidly <i?t:tii? I'arr sketched for
the hettclit of the general manager
tin outline of the existing situation between
I'atrla ('banning and himself,
on the one hand, and an the other
Baron Iluroki and his associates.
As he drew to his conclusion Mr.
Bertram betrayed boundless amazement.
"Kxtraordinar." !" he commented,
and rather neeiilessly mopped his brow.
"May I ask??"
"Anything, Mr. Bertram. It is not
tally my duty, 1 am only too happy to
tell you everything."
"Why?since these Japanese and
Mexlcun conspirators have so openly
shown their hands??"
"1 won't indorse openly," Donald interrupted
with a smile. "They have
been very shrewd and cunning. It has
O...U n... ~ I * ? Ill
uiiw mi urru uui ^uuu nu ; unr >> 111
the assistance of Mr. Ityley here?tc
penetrate their intrigues and mat*
their every move."
"Hut surely you have ample cxeusi
for swearing out warrants for theii
arrest!"
"If we do that," Donald explalnec
patiently, "we merely exchunge ai
enemy we know for one we do no
know. Japanese conspiracy will no
die out in this country if we expos
und punLsli Ha ron Huroki; a not he
will take his place; and warned b
Iluroki's fate, will work even mor
surreptitiously. Hut as long as Karo
Iinroki is suffered io remuiu head an
forefront of the intrigue, we kno^
whom to watch and, through our ej
perlence with his methods, how be^
Ui forestall bis machinations."
, -
[he Great Romance
oj- Preparedness
H PICTURE: PLAY OF THC SAME)
1ATIONAL FILM ^FRVICET. IMC...
'MC. COPYRIGHT. 5 TAR COMPANY
| "But why?in the name of sanity?
permit Miss Channing to expose herself
to needless danger by continuing
to masquerade to Baron lluroki as
this creature, Elaine, whom he tried
to put in Miss Channiug's placeV"
"It is not my wish, but Miss Channiug's
will. She herself conceived the
notion of playing Elaine to lluroki,
ami she insists on going through with
it."
"Hut why?"
"As huij; as lluroki believes Iter his
tool masquerading as Klaine, lie will
have few secrets from hor?an<l couM-quenily?from
us."
"Bui if ho discovers his mistake?!"
"I am doing all 1 can to provide
against any serious upshot."
"Miss Charming is a very brave
young woman."
"1 would a poor Ameriean were
I not heart and soul and lu.ml with
MNs < 'ha n n i.?.ir in this work!" lie oxvlaiuied.
"Tell nte how I may help!"
I'otiald eoiisulted his waleh.
"iii i- train is due at (brand Central
now." he anuounei <1. "I'nloes lluroki
ha^ changed h?s plans, they will ead
m you at lotir or thereabouts. 1 wish
i?i ho present at the interview."
"Won't that he i.angcro-.'s jo your
p I a: i > V liow am 1 to exeu>e your presence
V"
"i'y this." And with a lew words
of eicpi: na'ioti JJoiiaid stthia!;l? <1 to
.be co'isideration of Mr. lk-rimm a
loyal noon meat whose nature eompie?.?
d the process of si upel act ion inaugurated
by ti * letter of introduction.
Alter a time he nodded. "1 undcr.
:< ;;/l. Win! else
' i sv;,mt you to go down t Powder
(; ioobflit?as snoti as y<>n ran
. .i\e 11; i j>>?< iq:cr\ic v with lluroki
i. :?? taVo ? ?;n vi'qpijojj jlpre iu
iu*"t
. Ihttiam's tone wr.; edged with
. "\\ h: t situation tie ft
"A you ignorant ? !' the tart that
there is :i c? ri: u amount of disaffection
among yui.r employees, in spite
of m.nii; iuii>-eont raot wages, short
hours. and g?ueral prosperity?"
"I give you my word. I know nothing
of any such state of affairs!"
"It la tin* the less exists."
"How do you know V"
''Through the activities of Mr. ltyley's
assistants, who have been iu
I'owder Town in one or another ostensible
capacity?some even working
in the Channing mills?ever since we
.learned, through Putriu?Miss Chuuulng,
I mean?-that lluroki was planning
a demonstration there to compel
Cha.nning's accynt^n^e of the Mexican
munitiniVs contracts." "
"You astound me!"
- ... jg&> f
"Will you g0?._ sx^
"Wlllnait fusing a moment's time!"
"Then," said Donald, rising, "there
Is nothing more for us to arrange until
we have had our talk with Huroki. I
will be look tit half-after three."
*******
i
j. Punctual to the minute of his np?
pointiuer.l, he anticipated the appeurance
of l'atria and her dupes by less
than a quarter-hour.
As he dropped into a chair by tbe
side of Pert ram's desk that gentleman
answered ilw mutllcd signal of
bis private telephone, and after giving
it an instant of attention, handed tbe
instrument to Donald, accompanying
the action with a gesture of surprise,
"Channing. New Jersey." lie said
giving "Powder Town" its proper titie,
according to the United Sii.h-s postal
authorities, "is calling (.'apt. Donah
Parr."
Putting receiver to ear. lie called
hv MM .: . t? "
j r>. i 11i i $ ? ;i | m ii 4 ii i aii.
"Bancs, sir," came tin* fesponst
over ili" wires?"speaking from I'mv
der Town."
"Soniet hing important. Barnes?"
"Tilings look pretty nasty, sir. Tie
air's thi?l; with suspicious circimi
stances. Strike ami violetiee are la
ing publicly prem In <i. I.nt no on
seems to i.vmw just when anythin
lelinite will happen. Ami I notice
lot of .laps in the streets; they pr<
; ml t<? he engaged in petty hu.slne^srimiiing
restaurants ami that sort <
tiling?hut it's a safe het they're i
close touch with lluroki and his ou
lit. I've been spotted already, l'i
afraid."
"\\ hat makes you think so?" Pa
asked as the other ceased abruptly I
talk.
For all answer he heard a deadem
5 hang at the other end of the wire?
1 sound closely resembling that made 1
} slamming open the foldlng-donr of i
5 alleged "sound-proof" booth.
"lleiio?" he called Impatient]
* "Hello? Barnes! What the deuc
r Hello?"
^ No answer.
Al HUM juncture uitr ?i'v:h;uh,v
Mr. Bertram announced Miss (Mia
* nlng with Baron Iluroki ami Sen
* do Lima.
0
Once more Patria commanded I>c
r
aid's unstinted wonder and admiratl
,V hy her consummate histrionic abilit
0
from the instant she entered the rot
tlie girl played to perfection the r<
v for which she had cast herself.
* "Oh, Mr. Bertram?)?ow do you d<:
Patria olTered that gentleman a <
sigucdly awkward hand. "So glad
i'
1
?ee yon looking bo well. Permit ??.v
to Introduce my friends, Huron lluroki
and St*itor do Lima."
With his usual admirable address,
lluroki rooovorod lToin ins disgust on
recognizing Purr, and acknowledging
the luttor's presence with a slight. cool
nod, turned to exhibit marked cordiulit.v
toward the general manager of
(.'banning, Inc.
Then, the secretary placing chairs
for the party, they diseased themselves
to the business of the hour.
Ignoring Donald completely?turning
toward him a cold shoulder which
served its muster ill since it provided
Donald with an opportunity to place
i'utria's chair near his own?the Japanese
buttered his selected victim with
his very host grade of urbanity.
"It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance
of one with whoiu I am to
transact so much business," he averred
?"to our great mutual protit, I trust."
4Tm sure I hope so," Bertram agreed
pleasantly. "But may I inquire the
nature of the business?"
"Miss ('banning has not yet advised
you??"
Bertram responded to Huroki's artful
look of surprise with one of blank
non-comprehension.
"Then?permit me?perhaps these
papers will best explain,"
Bertram accepted a bundle of leguleap
documents and letiued back in his
chair to examine them.
"Agreement between Channing, Inc.,
and Senor Juan de Lima,'' he read
aloud the indorsement on the uppermost?"re
machine guns and munitions
for the do facto government of
Mexico."
He managed n moment of embarrassment.
"I am sorry, gentlemen, but
the strictly dotined policy of Outlining,
Inc.. does not permit us to accept these
coat racts."
"1 am sorry t i seem rude," 15aron
Iluroki said suavely; "hut if yen will
he good enough to extimiue the signatures
you will find that the president
of Outlining. Inc., has seen lit to reverse
your policy."
i Hastily unfolding the document in
hand, Hertram .scrutinized the loot of
its last page.
"Channing, Inc.. by Pntria Channing,
President." he read, and hesitated, and
i looked dubiously at I'alria. "This is
year signature. Miss Outlining?"
The girl, avoiding his gaze, murmured
an afiiinialive.
"Von can hardly question its genuineness."
Iluroki commented with it
superciliously lifted eyebrow. "You
surely do not moan to Imply that the
signature could he a forgery!"
"No," Hertram admitted mildly?
"no. J'?ut 1 am surprised?yes, much
f
Oil I j ?i "lUit
why?"
"Because?you know, of course, this
contract is dated yesterday; whereas
I hold here"?Bertram exposed the
paper Donald had given hint at their
earlier interview ?"an absolute jpower
' of attorney given C'apt. Donald Parr
h.v Miss Patria ('banning ten days ago.
by which it appears that any and all
contracts signed by lur and lacking
his counter-signa I tire become automatically
invalid."
Even the racial serenity of Baron
Hurokl was hardly proof against this
' M<>\v Ho took a rather long moment
.to recover.
"None tlte less." he said at length,
turning toward Donald, "Captain Parr
will hardly withhold his signature
when Miss ('banning requests him to
a Ills it."
' "I am sorry/' Dotydil said quietly.
"Even should MiSs ('banning command,
I 'must refuse."
"Captain Parr!" This was Patria's
contribution, an excellently simulated
erv of indignation.
"I am sorry." Donald repented firmly.
"But so long as this power of attorney
rests with me, and so long as
Japan conspires to embroil the United
States with Mexico, by way of preparing
''or the allied Japanese-Mexican invasion
of the Pacific Coast states?s<
long, indeed, as Japan maintains a
| naval base at Magdalena hay?Just s<
i long will Channings refuse to sell arno
and athmtinilion to any Mexican far
, > i - . ??
I T!?>n wiiii t soever j
HBI ' " t
[lc? j
H, A Message
#? '* ??? ? - - ~V- .ftu,^
"Alio power of.attorney 1?, of cotirw, tl
r? vocable," riotruiu suggested mull- tl
ciously. 1 b
"If Miss Clumuing wishes to revoke el
it. that can doubtless be attended to n
without delay," Donald agreed. "Do n
you wish Mr. Bertram to eall in a v
stenographer and a notary, Miss Chan- fi
nlng?" ir
Now, as Elaine, l'atria could not
make a creditable forgery of the signa- ti
ture of l'jitrin t'hauuiug; the extraor- p
dinarily skillful ferneries appended to u
the contracts in Bertram's hands were w
the work of lluroki's able compa- >
triots. As Elaine, she dared not at- .
tempt to sign the name of l'atria in t<
the presence of witnesses. I]
"No, no," she s:iid hastily rising? v
"not now, not today. 1 shall, of
< our.se, revoke the power?tomorrow, p
This afternoon 1 haven't time. I'm tl
already Into for an appointment with tl
my dressmaker." 11
"Then I shall expect a call from you <>
tomorrow?" Bertram inquired amiably. 1;
"At about what hour??" a
"I'll telephone," l'atria evaded. "If n
you please?Baron lluroki?Senor de si
Lima?"
When he had courteously shut the jr
door upon the bneks of th?? iliv<???in
... % ...... W... ^
lilted conspirators. Bertram turned t?> w
I'arr with a grin of unnll'ected delight, \\
"(!ood work!" he chuckled. 0
r.nt Bonald did not respond. Ife y
\v;ts studying with a look of exasperation
a small slip of paper which lie p
had just unfolded.
"What now 7" Bertram asked. p
"Head that!" ]>ouald told him
wrathl'ully. "Vou didn't notice?none
af the otlu rs did- Imt I'atria dropped \
her handkerchief and I picked it up. ;;
This message was iu its folds. I j?
palmed it and? Oh, read the d?d
thing!" t,
11c paced furiously to and fro while j,
Bertram deciphered the message. *|
Written in pencil, hastily, it ran with- r,
out date or salutation <>r signature:
"Huroki insists 1 must marry L>e Lima s]
tonight at eight at the Little Church (
Around the Corner. I dare not refuse.
What am 1 to do?
POWDER TOWN. ''
As that long summer twilight ebbed
Into dark of night, me softly glowing
u
windows of the t'lmrch of the TransI
I
figuration signified to u largely inditi'creut
metropolis that a private wedding
was being very quietly cclc- ,
heated. 1
S
Within, in tin* radiance that bathed
the altar, Fntriu ('banning stood on ^
the left of Juan de Lima. < hi either j,
side waited the lust man and matron
ot honor, respectively Baron Huroki '
and -Mrs. Fanny Adair.
* o
1'atrhi waited in a state of nervous .
tension in no way perceptible.
She di<l not doubt her l>onaid; she .
. . ... i1
i.new that lie would nnd some way to
prevent the consuiutnation of this iin,
possible affair; she was not afraid.
The organ fell silent. Its sonorous "
cadences were replaced by the accents
I otile clergyman intoning tlie mar- a
1 riage service.
If any man can show just cause why
they may not lawfully be joined toi
gether . . . let him now speak, or
else hereafter forever hold his peace!
There was a little pause, abruptly 1
broken bv a scurry and scuffle of feet
c
confused with a frou-frou of skirts.
Out of the shadows that cloaked the
remoter portions of the church darted
?with surprising agility, considering 1
lmr bulk?a woman of substantial ma- *
turlty, a plump, dark creature of dis- ^
tinctly Spanish type. .
Half a dozen feet from the altar
she uttered one piercing cry:
"Juan, niy 'ushand! At last. I 'ave
found you! Monster of ingratitude
and Infidelity, why did you desert me:"
She thrust hi fro: . her at arm'slength,
shook liini mercilessly, then
overcome by a tidal wave of (pienchless
afTection, clasped hitn. struggling
v
vainly, once more to her bosom.
Half-suffocated with exasperation,
Huroki went to his confederate's as
sistance. Hut even while disentangling
> the unfortunate, he bethought him of
i the bride-elect, and looked around for
> her. '
; She was no more there. Nor?lmr
ried search developed?was she any- !
where within the eluireh. Ittvestitra
MVwr
wOKDb
Was tn Its Folds.
... |
.? ? ? *r t
on nt the <loors elicited the Inform#*
on, from innocent and disinterested
ystunders, that a young woman
lotlied beautifully in white laid run
ittdly from the church, met a young
tan at the gate, and with him had
anishcd iti a taxical) whose chaufL'ltr
unquestionably placed little value
l his license. . . ,
At twenty minutes past eight that
ixlcah, having eluded all attempts nt
ursuit (If any sin-It there were) drew
p before the apartment house in
hlch Captain I'arr innlntaiiied his
lew York home.
A moment later the door of his quarts
closed upon Pallia Channing and
lie lover of her choice. "1 thought you
I'ould never come!" she stammered.
"I had to work very quietly," he exlained.
"It was obvious from the tirst
tat this arrangement couldn't callItiue?you
couldn't go on hoodwinking
luroki and at the same time keep out
f marrying dc Lima. And when
luroki found out that you had made
fool of him. you would have to he
lighty safely hidden to escape reprlnl.
So I fixed things up for you here
-I've moved over to the Yniiderbilt ?
of hold of Anne, sent her to the ltltz
ith sin order for your belongings?she
lis 111? 1*4* within ton minutos of tho
mo you loft for tho ohuroh?brought
vcr\ I hi mi; of yours horo ami
s oli, horo wo aro !"
"I?111 how did you over find out do
imi:i hud m wife?"
"I didn't," l>on;ild oxplsiineo grave"Shu
wasn't his wile."
There csiiuo si knock sit tin* door.
That's Kyloy. Lot him in. plesiso,
line. I loft him to protect tho womn
in case either lluroki or do Lima
eesinie violent."
Tho grin of the detect ivo sis ho on*
rod wjis o\ idenet* of the fsiot thsit ho
sol experienced no prosit trouble,
hero hsid bo? n a hit of st rumpus, he
ported?-nothing to speak of.
Ilis stecounl wsis interrupted by tho
lirill, iniporsstivo olstmour of the telehone.
l>on:dd sinswered, and sobered
? sudden gravity as he csirriod on a
riot" roiiversjition with Bertram in
owder Tow n.
"Trouble sit ('banning." he ttnoutieed
sis ho hung up. "Botrsitn says 1
lit' msm Barnes wsis shot in si street
gilt t his afternoon by some loafer
ho interrupted him when he wsis
ihoning me. in addition the town
coins strike-mud sill of a sudden*?
gitators, oven now, are preaching
trike and destruction of property. |
iertrsim thinks we'd better run down
>..! I....I: tl... wit ....IS.,..
? H' -! I UUI Mill u > |-| I''l I I 11 1
elves, It may prove necessary to mil
n the governor for militin to protect
lie mills."
"l>omil(i?please! I am so afraid
i?r yoti !"
"I must ko, dear?I must. You
eed not worry on my account?we've
dozen men down there who will help
tylev take care of me. Not that I
ntieipate any serious trouble. The
abide have no excuse for rioting till'
he company refuses the strikers' dent
nds?and it can't do that till to- |
lorrow."
lie found a time-table, scanned it
apidly, snaiehed up his hat.
"With luck and a fast taxi-man we
an just make the next train, the last
oni^ht."
The door handed; incredibly, I'atria
vas alone?alone, that is, except for
Vnne.
She threw herself into a chair, when
he had suffered Anne to change her
iridal carnieiils for a ne^lijxee,
W omanlike, she was stubbornly bent
>n spending a sleepless, wretched
li^ht. In spite of herself, toward
leven o'clock, she nodded in her chair,
lien slept.
It was two when the telephone
troused her.
One of her force of private secret
service agents was calling from l'o\vh'f
Town for Captain Parr, in Ij^norince
of the fact that, according to the
iinc-tuhle, and providing lie had
alight his train, l>onald should have
>een there with Hyley for a matter of
hree hours.
In response to her catechism the
. < r.,i.? I I... I tl... C*t I >1 II t i ill, lit
I* | ? m i n j i 11?i i iii? 01 i iiiuiwu in
'hannings was one of imminent emergency.
A strike had been called at
midnight ; the employees of the po\vler
mills who had conn? olT shift at
hat hour had not heen replaced; rioting
was already in process; the general
store maintained by the company
liad been burned and looted; the mob
was threatening to march upon the
mills.
Instructing the man to seek Captain
I'arr at the mills, I'ntriu left the telephone
and stealthily entered the bedroom
which had been Donald's, which
now was hers.
From the adjoining chamber sounded
an unmistakable snore: Anne tinfinest
humbly slept.
With every precaution to avoid wakening
her, the girl found a sports-suit
and hurriedly dressed, interrupting
that process but once, and then to
telephone her garage to send her favorite
motor car, a high-powered rnct
..... ?...... .1 4 ik..
JUK lllill III III*. I I M J11 (1 M> lilt* tltllir.
It was waiting for her when at
length she crept quietly out of the
apartment house.
Dismissing the mechanic, she took
tlie wheel alone.
Constrained within the limits of New
York to go warily, once across the
Hudson she gave the motor Its head.
Patria knew that country well; she
made no miscalculation as to lies way;
for all that, she could not hope to
reach the neighborhood of Channings
before the dawn.
With madly throbbing heart, Patria
began to recognize landmarks of the
countryside that told her she was close
upon Powder Town.
The sun was rising in crimson splendor
when Patrla, arriving 011 the crest
of a hill overlooking Powder Town,
I
brought the cnr to full pause, that
she might spy out the sit nut ion be* I
fore running 011 into possible peril. I
She had brought with iter, for just
such use. a pair of binoculars belonging
io l>onnUl. Now she unslung and
focusscd these.
OiT to the right, at the bottom of
the cup, stood the unlovely huddle
in i i I buildings. 1 ler glusses showed tlio^H
yard gates closed and guarded by
ttrtued sentries.
On her left the single-track railroad
spur issued from between hills and
sloped down across-country to the
mills. Oil this she diseovered a train
consisting of half a dozen cn"j^lnd u I
locomotive, all strangely inotitfuilcss?
strangely, since the cars were outward
hound, the locomotive hud steam
up, and no reasonable excuse was upparent,
for the stop in that particular^
The eireutnstunees made Putria
wonder dully if, possibly, the railroad
people had joined hands with her employees
and declared a sympathetic*
Dismissing this thought for the
nonce, she turned attention to the
This last lay in the middle '.jgiunee,
half concealed hy an Interven^jB rise
of wooded land. Put the smoke of its
burning buildings was billowing up in ifl
the still morning air.
A stentorian pulling called her intcr-^^|
est back to the train of freight cars.^^H
mw
lflBBEMBi
JRB fl
Slipped Out of the Church.
The locomotive was getting under way
with vast complaints because of the
strain of the 111i?1 <* pull. H
With a start I'atria discovered that H
tin* rear car hud been uncoupled ami, H
its brakes thrown off. As the train
moved uphill, it was moving downhill, fl
at first slowly under unassisted mo- I
mcntum, but moinentarily gathering J
way through the attraction of gravity.
It was tit most ti mile from the H
mills. By the time the ear had cov- C
ered half that distance on that steep
grade it would be careering downhill V
at express speed. When it struck the jriy
mill-yard gates it would cave them in H
like eggshells. <
Horror's frigid hand clutched at
1 *11 I I k I if I I* t II u lIiii mill I I I/ml I 11 11 k k I * i I_i !
thing had conic to puss through no ne- I
cldent but through dellheratu^ ami I
liemlish design. ^ I
That freight car was loaded to its I
eaves with high-explosive. When the W
crash came, the Clianning mills would jfl
be wiped olT the face of the earth.
Without conscious thought the glrl^^B
released the brakes and swiftly conxed^W
the motor to its utmost. fl
There was a bare chance that she
might stive tiie mills and the many
loyal men wiio guarded it including,
doubtless, her Donald. I
About an eighth of a mile from tho I
yard gates tiie road crossed the rail* fl
1 road tracks; if sin* could but forestall V
the freight car at that junction. . '<
She hud half a mile to go ; (lie (Wight I
car was moving at good speed before
, li*r racer was even started, it was I
j gambling with death, but Patrla could .
! not refuse the game because tho stsikes
I were high.
) Miraculously, as it seemed to her I
j when she was permitted time for
i retrospect, slie made it. J
The freight car was a hundred yards I
distant and bearing down like a jug
gernaut gone mad, when she stalled
tiie motor-car on tiie rails, jumped, I
and ran for dear life. 1
The ensuing explosion was like tlie
trumpet of Doom. Patria, lifted bodily fl
from her feet, was flung to earth again *1
with stunning force.
Wiien she CHine to her senses again B
there was neither freight not motor* 4
car to he seen?nothing but a ^*eat
gap in the tracks, a craterlike ln 1
the ground. I
But that was nothing: Donald Parr 1
was bending over her, lifting her In his I
arms; and he was whole ami un- I
harmed if pale with fright on her he- 1
' half. I
And she was quite unhurt. AVith n I
broken little laugh of happiness Patrlo 1
swung an arm around his neck*
, (KM) OF SEVENTH EPISODE.) 1
I - A
yl
'