The Hunted Woman

little town. It was chiefly of canvas. Now and then a structure of logs added an appearance of solidity to the whole. The girl did n

cious that every one stared at them as they passed. She heard clearly the expressions of wonder and curiosity of two women and a girl who were spreading out blankets in fr

esting," she said. "I came expecting-everything. And I am

y. "You are the most beautifu

ing that was audacious in his manner or his look. She had asked for information, and he ha

tered so many curious people and have heard so many curious things during the past twenty-fo

ghts," he corrected. "I was

eg your par

the mountains and the sea. I am not accustomed to championing women. I allow them to pursue their own course without personal interference on my part. But-I suppose it will give you some satisfactio

hat was soft as velvet underfoot. On the farther side of this, sheltered

don't you think? You probably want to tell me so, but don't quite dare. And I should play up to my part, shouldn't I? But I cannot-not satisfactor

s companion stopped. Without knowi

o wrote 'Fair Play,' an

id, amusemen

your plays," she breathed, a mysterious t

vou

eath. Her hand dro

sun-capped peaks of the mountains. "You have flayed wom

em read my book

ooking straight into his face. "And I guess-in ma

turn to sho

elieve

e big, hidden thing under your work, the thing which you do not reveal

t y

a wo

n in his cheeks bu

ou were going to leave on the Tête Jaune train. I am going to take you t

g and steady-she lo

e made famous as the dreadfules

ed low. "Come. If I am not mis

elt for a moment the firm clasp of his fingers. The

ng a name for her-the woman in my new book. She is to be a tremendous surpris

e swift ebbing of the colour from her cheeks. He drew away his hand at the strange change in her.

ject,"

al." He noted, too, how quickly she had recovered herself. Her head was a little higher.

diminutizes it, you might say-gives it the touch of sentiment I want. You can imagine a lover saying 'De

, as if she had not heard him. "It's making me hu

utfitters." It was a large, square tent, with weather-faded red and blue stripes, and from it came the cheerful sound of a woman's laug

zly dogs in the Rockies." Another moment, and a woman had appeared in the door. "And that is Mrs. Jack Otto

aughter was still in her good-humoured face. Aldous looked at his companio

t the young woman was leaving on the Tête Jaune train. The goo

man some day," she cried. "You poor de

dinner in the Otto

as she went in with Mrs. Otto, and there was a new and strangely

, and stood for a m

, drawing back a curtain. "Make yourself at home,

behind her, John Aldous spok

, Mrs. Otto?" he asked. "It leaves at

side to touzle affectionately the trampish heads of the bear dogs. Then he turned away, whistling.

own hair that her hat and veil had hidden. Never had he looked upon such wonderful hair, crushed and crumpled back from her smooth forehead; nor such marvellous whiteness of skin and pure blue depths of eyes! In her he saw now everythi

good-bye," she said. "Won't you

. A moment he felt its warm, firm pressure in his own. The smile that

" he apologized. "Good-bye-a

ray looked back. He was whistling again. His careless, easy stride was filled with a freedom that seemed t