THE WEST SHORE.
127
The door opened slowly, a shawled head was
thrust into the room and a voice whispered hurriedly,
"You've only got ten minutes." Then the ghostly
visitant was gone.
Glarissy felt Tom's hand tarn cold in hers.
" I'll never get away," he said, hopelessly, " the
bishop's got that devil, Dick Towner, up here to kill
me. It's you they want, Clariesy, they'll kill me
and" his voice broke, he was completely unmanned.
His wife had hurriedly put on her shawl and lighted
the lamp in the front room, so that whoever came
would not think the house was deserted. She did
not tremble or feel faint
" We'll go this minute," she said, and noiselessly
they stole out of the back door to the stable, where
the horses stood saddled awaiting this hour.
" We'll go down through the pasture," he whis
pered, as they mounted. " If we can get to Bellevue
in time for the train goin' north, we'll be all right; if
not Clarissy, promise me that if I'm killed you'll
keep right on an get away. No matter what hap
pens, go right on."
" We must both get away," replied Clarissy, and
they rode on in silence through the moonless night,
every nerve tense, every sense alert. Not a pebble
rolled under their horses' feet but they started. The
far-off sound of a galloping horse turned doubt into
certain pursuit. Tom urged his horse on, but Clar
issy checked him.
" The road forks right up here," she whispered,
" le's get oft an start the horses on tho Heber road,
while we go 'cross lots; it ain't far, an' hark! there
comes the train."
It was but a moment's work to send tho riderless
horses tiring down tho road, and then Clariny and
Tom ran down into tho Barrow valley and hurried
across to the little station. They heard tho beat of a
pursuing horso's feet, swiftly following on down tho
Heber road, and then every energy was bent to catch
the train, their only hope, of eacapv Tho passenger
trains mado but brief stops at theto small places, and
sometimes barely paused. A steep bank still rose
between them and tho track when tho shrill whittle
rang out Up, up, with feet that seemed weighted
with lead. Tom almstt lifted Clariny ot tho step
of tho last car, tho train moved out, and ho pulled
himself up on tho platform. Then, juit as Clarify
dared to let herself feel thankful, a furious rider
dashed down the track, and seeing Tom on tho light
ed platform, fired tho pistol ho held ready In his
murderous hand. Hut Clarlisy had und.ritx)d tho
danger. Her strong, young arms wero about Tom as
he staggered and fell, and sho drew him Inildo tho
car. Thank (11, it was only a lleah wound, a mere
scratch, and there was no more danger now, for tho
train, flying on over plain and through valley, hid
brought them safely " Out of Zion."
Ltri.MNU