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 she struck the animal in the side with her heels and urged it into a gallop.

The hoofbeats could barely be heard. Lida smiled at the fact. It was a ten-minute ride to the Gorton house. As she neared the house a hound challenged and raced to the gate. Lida dismounted and soon made friends with the dog. This accomplished she led her horse to the yard fronting the house, hitched him to the trellis and then started for the rear.

Bennet had been unable to sleep and was sitting at his window watching in the direction of the Lauriston house, hence, when he heard the hound he was all alertness. When the horse came to the yard and he heard the creaking trellis, he was all attentiveness. He waited for a rapping at the door and when none came started to peer from his window. Until someone rapped he would not disturb the family. He was still waiting when he heard faint footfalls coming around the corner of the house. In the darkness they recognized each other. Lida's tension relaxed as her heart filled with joy that she had been in time. Joy forced tears to her eyes.

"Truman—Truman—Truman," she whispered, a great tenderness enveloping her. "Is that you?"

"Lida, Heart, what are you doing here at this time? You ought to be home," he cautioned.

"Sh-h-h-" was her warning. "You're in danger. They've planned to kill you.—Oh, God, how can men be such brutes?" she agonized.

Bennet climbed through the window and leaped lightly to the ground.