Page:The Star in the Window.pdf/259

Rh five minutes of close crouching beneath some alder-bushes she sought the road again, as an escape from the frightening weirdness of her hiding-place.

She hurried fast after that, almost running, falling down once or twice as her foot caught in a root, or on the edge of a protruding stone, all the while biting her under-lip hard to keep her teeth from chattering. She might have lost control of herself long before she reached the state-road, but for the steadying effect of the second automobile that passed her. There was plenty of time to conceal herself this time, and she was well hidden behind a screen of grapevines as it overtook her. When she comprehended the reason of the car's low speed, her teeth stopped chattering instantly, as if she had been plunged into icy water, or in some equally effective manner shocked out of her gathering hysteria. It was Chadwick Booth's car! He was hunting for her, slowly searching the road on either side!

She hadn't considered until now the effect of her flight upon Chadwick Booth. She had been too intent on getting away from him. But of course he would hunt for her, when she failed to return. She must have been gone now, she figured (it was too dark to read the time upon her wrist), nearly an hour. He had, she concluded, found her coat missing from the automobile, and drawn his conclusions. The realization that she had successfully evaded him, made her forget for a while vaguer dangers, and she pursued her way, with more confidence.

It was, however, with a very long deep sigh of relief when Reba finally broke out upon the state-road. Here there was at least an even road-bed, with reassuring white fences gleaming dimly now and then, and