Dorothy was not likely to scream—not just at the moment she was thrust into the old shack by her two vigorous

captors. For the black-haired woman clapped her dirty palm right over the girl’s mouth, hissing into her ear

meanwhile:

“Let a squawk out o’ ye, me foine lady, and I’ll choke it back inter yer throat like a cork-stopper. Understand

me, now?”

Dorothy nodded. Although she was greatly startled, she was not so frightened that she could not think clearly. What

would these women make by trying to hold her captive here, so near a public street? Surely they would not really

injure her if she obeyed them.

“Easy, dear,” urged the light-haired woman, who confessed to the name of Jane Daggett. “We won’t hurt a hair of

her head—but that hat——”

She tore the pretty hat Dorothy wore from her head. Then off came the girl’s jacket. Jane Daggett spied the watch

Dorothy carried.

218 “The jewelry’s too much for the likes of her,” she said, grinning. “And there’s her ring.”

The black-haired woman tore the ring from Dorothy’s finger. “That’s my share, Jane,” she said. “Don’t you be a

pig, my dear.”

“Sure we’ll share an’ share alike,” replied Jane Daggett, grimly. “Take off your dress, my dear,” she

commanded Dorothy. “It’s too good for ye. I’ll give ye one o’ me own. It may be a mite too big for ye; but

ye’ll grow to it,” and she chuckled at her own witticism.

“Oh, please!” gasped Dorothy, now freed from the bigger woman’s hand.

“Hush up!” ordered the black-haired virago.

“She’s got a pretty purse, too,” laughed Jane Daggett, dragging the article from the coat pocket.

Dorothy could not help crying a little. She dared not make a loud noise, for she saw that the rougher woman would

instantly strangle her if she did so. But she would not unbutton her dress.

“You’d better mind!” hissed the black-haired woman, in a low voice. “You’d better——”

The unuttered threat made Dorothy tremble violently. She felt as though she would faint. Things began to turn black

around her. The hideous, grinning faces of her two captors swam before her gaze——

Suddenly there came a pounding on the wall of the shack. “Hush!” cried Jane Daggett.

219 “What’s that?” whispered the other woman.

“My Poke. What’s th’ matter, Poke?”

“Cheese it! Here’s some fellers——”

The drawling voice of the young man who had got the letter at the post-office ceased. The next instant Dorothy heard

the cheerful voice of Ned White, her big cousin:

“Hullo, you! Didn’t a pretty girl just go past here—a girl with red in her hat and a tan coat?”

“Don’t know nothin’ erbout no gal,” drawled Poke Daggett.

Now, Poke was naturally a coward. His lantern features likely showed that he was telling a falsehood, too. Bob Niles

’ voice interposed:

“You’ve got good eyes, young fellow. You saw Miss Dale all right. Which way did she go?”

“Ain’t seen no gal,” drawled Poke.

Jane Daggett had Dorothy by one arm. Her lean fingers were bruising the tender flesh warningly. On the other side

stood the black-haired woman with a piece of plank held threateningly to strike. Dorothy could see nails in that

plank—if the woman used it, her face would be lacerated!

“Hul-lo!” exclaimed Ned’s voice, suddenly.

“Handkerchief, by Jove!” cried Bob.

“It’s Dorothy’s, too! This rascal——”

There was a sudden spurning of the gravel. Poke, lazy as he was, had begun to run. With a shout Bob leaped away

after him.

220 But Ned turned toward the closed cabin door. The wadded-up handkerchief had dropped from the cuff of Dorothy’s

coat just as she was being pushed inside. It was off the sidewalk, and Ned’s brain worked quickly.

“Come back here, Bob!” he yelled. “He’s only putting us off the scent. Here she is!”

In a moment Ned burst into the shack. Jane Daggett dodged and ran out. The black-haired virago aimed a blow at Ned’

s head with the plank, but missed him by a hair’s breadth.

“Look out! Look out!” cried Dorothy, sinking into a corner, out of the way.

“Oh, I’d give a dollar if you were a man for a minute!” exclaimed Ned, stepping around the woman to dodge her

blows, but having to stand her coarse vituperations.

Bob came ............