Part 49 (1/2)

On the floor, distant a couple of yards, lay the shawl that Virginia had let fall from her nerveless arm when Rutley entered the room. He wriggled the chair toward it, and by extending his foot drew the shawl to his grasp.

It was a summer shawl, of generous proportions. The fabric was silk-wool mixture, of fine network weave, and consequently light and strong. Twisting it into a rope he bound her arms and limbs, meantime saying in a low, guarded voice, and with the utmost sauvity and coolness:

”I'll not be ruder or rougher than is necessary, my beauty. There! Now you are secure. I could even kiss those red, ripe cherry lips without fear of protest, but I'll not contaminate them by contact with those of a blackguard. No, no! Don't thank me for that, honey dear, for I'm content to witness your mute appreciation of my motive.”

After he had bound her, he drew back a pace or two and critically surveyed his work.

”You must pardon me, dear heart, for deeming it prudent to make that gag a little more secure,” and taking a handkerchief from his pocket he bound it over her mouth, knotting the ends at the back of her head.

”Rest a.s.sured, brave little girl,” he resumed, in that same low, hissing voice, ”I'm not a sneak thief, a burglar or a rake, though I do aspire to members.h.i.+p in that proud and great American order 'The Honorable Grafter'.”

Having completed gagging her, he stood off a pace and chuckled.

”There, I think that will do!”

In the silence that followed Rutley was startled to hear a low, cautious voice on the lawn below say: ”He is either in the house or up there in the timber.”

”They've tracked me here,” Rutley viciously hissed, his manner changed to intense alertness. He grasped the revolver and went on, ”While I have been dallying with you, precious time was lost, d.a.m.n you! I'll see that you don't stand between me and liberty again!”

Virginia was again terrified and helpless at a moment when aid of the most determined and daring character was within call.

Then a second voice said: ”The officers do be kapin' a lookout down be the river, and if he's in the water, sure they'll nab him. D'yees think he'd likely be up on the hill top in the brush?”

”I cannot say,” replied the first voice, ”but it looks to me as though he could not have crossed that open s.p.a.ce unseen.”

Both of the men had spoken in low and serious tones and were recognized by the intent listeners in the room above as Sam and Smith.

They were evidently baffled and in a quandary as to the direction Rutley had taken after escape from the officer, and approached the house to warn the servants of Rutley's escape.

”Maybees,” resumed Smith in the same low, cautious voice, ”he whint up the hill be way ave the ravine, over beyant there.”

Sam made no reply. He had caught sight of the profile of Virginia's face. Her eyes, terrified and tensely drawn, were askance and looking in his direction. The handkerchief over her mouth he first mistook as an evidence of physical suffering. He stepped back a pace, thinking to obtain a better view. He was disappointed.

What he had seen was a reflection of her face in the ”dresser mirror,”

that by some strange chance had been adjusted at an angle which deflected objects downward.

He had aimlessly halted at a point directly in line of the reflection cast by the mirror over the cas.e.m.e.nt, and upon looking up saw through the screened window the reflection.

Those terrified eyes he had seen, suddenly set him in a ferment.

”Probably--by G.o.d!” he muttered under his breath.

”Phwat be yees lookin' at? Sure, I can say nothin',” exclaimed Smith.

”I'll just step in the house and 'phone for a sheriff's posse to search the timber, and prevent his escape from the hill. You wait near-by for me.”

Sam had spoken loud as a ruse to deceive Rutley, for he felt morally certain that the cause of that frightened look in Virginia's eyes was the presence of the man he was after.

”Sure, I will that, and kape me eyes on the ravine, too.”

As Sam started for the front door, Smith stalked about, with a stick in his hand, warily glancing from side to side and ready to fight on the instant.

Rutley prepared for a struggle, for he believed that Sam would ramble through the house. ”Virginia must be concealed, but where?” He could not carry her to the attic, for Sam might meet him with her in his arms. ”Ah, the closet!”