Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/17

 Yet she continued to run onward until she was exhausted. Her own conscience was as bad as any pursuer.

At last from sheer exhaustion she fell in a heap by the roadside. Her heart was pounding terrifically. It was painful for her to breathe. She suddenly felt very young and helpless. She longed to be home. She wanted to be held in the sheltering arms of her mother.

She buried her face in her arms and commenced to sob' It was the best way to relieve her pent-up feelings. She had escaped from nauseous captivity. But was she free? Might she not be recaptured before the night was over?

As the thought came to her, she rose to her feet. She must push on. But she no longer ran. She was too exhausted.

It was a moonlight night. The moon was at the full and it was almost as light as day as she walked along the white dry dirt road. On each side of the road the bushes and trees loomed up in grotesque forms like animals or uncanny monsters from fairy tales. She shuddered. If only she were not alone.

Then she was aware she was not alone. A man was walking beside her.

"Hello, sister," he said. "You certainly are choosing a late hour for walking."

His voice was cheerful and she was glad. After the first shock of his presence, she knew he was not one of the men from the roadhouse. His manner was much too easy and gentle. He gave no evidence of having been running, nor did he show the slightest trace of excitement.

"I've had a hideous experience," she told him frankly. "A man was attempting to abduct me, but I was able to make my escape."

"Where are you going now?"

"I don't know. To tell you the truth, I'm lost. I haven't the slightest idea where I am. All I know is that Eve been running and I am apparently not being followed."

The man smiled.

"My house is not far from here," he said. "Would you like to go there to rest?"

"Yes," she said slowly, "if it wouldn't be putting you to any bother. My mind is dreadfully upset."