The Mystery of Mary

rrived was late. It hurried away from the station, and was swallowed up in the black

licate pencilling of electric light flashed into outline against the city's deepening dusk, emphasizing the lateness of the hour. He ha

whole block nearer home, and a line of cabs was standing over at the corner just above the bridge. It was against the rules to walk beside the tracks-there was a large sig

im, as of soft, hurrying footsteps, caught his attenti

l you kindly let me walk beside you for a moment, till you can show me how to get out of this dreadful plac

or her to walk beside him, while he took the place next to the tracks. He was

for breath, but began a

dn't know what to do. I thought you w

, the young man caught his companion's arm and drew her forward to the embankment beyond

t they felt as if they were about to be drawn into the awful power of the rushing monster. Then it had passed, and a roar of silence followed, as if they were suddenly plunged into a vacuum. G

sped his companion's arm and started up the steep embankment, realizing as he did so that

for the convenience of railroad hands, were out of the question, for they were at a dizzy

ompanion was a young and beautiful woman, and that sh

er hand at her throat, looked backward with a shudder. She see

e young man raised his hand and hai

ddress and stepped in after her. Then, turning, he faced his companion, and was

e matter," he asked, "and w

from the long climb and the fright, a

sion of what he might be thinking about her-"but-there is nothing-that is-I have done nothing wr

decision, and then wondered

this city before. If you will kindly tell me how to get somewhere-suppose to a railroad station-and

she was a thief or an adventuress. It might be that he ought to let her get out of the odd situation she appeared to be in, as best she might. Yet even as t

ave been very kind to get me out of that dreadful place. If you will jus

own words startled him. He knew he ought to be more cautious with a stranger, but impetuously he threw caution t

her. "I am sorry to have involved you for a moment in this. Please let me out here. I am not frightened, now that I got away from that

ntly. "It would have been dangerous for you to enter that tunnel

at she was very white, and also that there were jewels flashing from the rings on her fingers. It w

get out. His dignified mother and his fastidious sister were probably not in, but if by any chance they should not have left the house,

, but it will take me only a few minutes. You are in no danger, and I will take you to some place of safety. I will try to think what to do while I am gone. On no account get out of the carriage. It would make the driver su

re was a glitter of tears

one in the city

udden resolve, and in a tone that would

gh in her fear and sudden distrust of all the world, she thought more than once of attempting to slip away. Yet w

rs. Dunham's residence.... No, ma'am, she is not at home.... No, ma'am, Miss Dunham is out also.... Mr. Dunham? Just wait a moment, please I think Mr.

ly it was not so late that she was looking him up. But perhaps something had happened, and she was calling off her dinner. What luck i

ed to get out of going to th

ning, Mrs

ave her. She has just 'phoned me, and I don't know what to do. Isn't Cornelia at home? Couldn't you persuade her to come and help me out? She would have been invited in Miss Mayo's place if she had not told me that she expecte

ve me out? You won't have any trouble then except to take two plates off the table"-he laughed pleasantly-"and you would have even couples. You see," he hastened to add, as he heard Mrs. Parker Bowman's preliminary dissent-"you see, Mrs. Bowman, I'm in somewhat of a predicament myself. My train was late, and as I left the station I happened to meet a young woman-a-a f

se is open to her. She won't mind. These girls who have travelled a great deal learn to step over the little formalities of calls and introductions. Tell her I'll call on her afterwards, if she'll only remain in town long enough, or I'll come and take dinner with her when I happen to be in her city. I suppose she's just returned from abroad-they all have-or else she's just going-and if she ha

with interest. "Judge Blackwel

ory, and I haven't time to talk. You ought to be on your way here now. Tell your friend I will bless her forever for helping me out, and I won't take no for an answer. You said sh

e 'phone, as he struggled with one hand to untie his necktie and unfasten his coll

erstand when I tell them she's just arrived-didn't you say?-from the other side, and we caught her on the wing. There's some one coming now. Do, for

his collar, and was about to hang up the rec

, and searched about in his mind for a name-any name-that might help him. The telephon

ington, Miss

eam over the phone. "Not Carolyn Rem

y; "no, not Carolyn. Why, I-a

young man tore up the steps to his room three at a bound. Dunham's mind was by no means at rest. He felt that he had done a tremendously daring thing, though, when he came to thin

servants, but what would the explanation be? He could not tell them the truth about her, and how would he explain the

his memory, it seemed quiet and refined. Perhaps that was all that was required for a woman who was travelling. There it was again! But he had not said she was travelling, nor that sh

ked at them with a sudden inspiration. Of course! Why had he not thought of that? He hurried into his sister's room to make a selection of a few necessities for the emergency-only to have his assurance desert him at the very threshold. The room was immaculate, with no feminine finery lying about. Cornelia Dunham's maid was well trained. The only article that seemed out of place was a hand-box on a chair near the door. It bore the name of a fashionab

a's. He closed the door hurriedly and went down to a large closet under the stairs, from which he presently emerged with his mother's new black rain-coat. He patted his coat-pocket to be sure he

hat the thought filled him with a sense of disappointment. He did not want her to be gone. He peered anxiously into the carriage, and was relieved to find her still there, huddled into the shadow, her eyes looking large and