"

"We do not admit it is a crime to hold you for the release of Salvo.
They cannot convict him of the robbery if you do not appear against
him. It is a sort of justice."

It was very vague justice to Cora, and she knew perfectly well the
argument would have little weight with her friends, should she ever
meet them again.

But she must meet them! She must induce this girl--for she really was
nothing more than a misinformed girl--she must induce her to escape!

If only she could get a letter to David!

If only Lena would take one for her!

My, how her heart beat! Helka was picking flowers, but Cora was
looking out on that roadway.

An automobile dashed by.

"Oh!" exclaimed Cora, clutching Helka's arm. "I cannot stand it! I
must call or go mad!"

The dead leaves tried to move! Something stirred them to unnatural
life. There was a shuffling of feet! A riot of fear! Chipmunks
scampered off! But the girl lay there!

"Cora! Cora, dear!" wailed Helka. "Try to live! I cannot lose you!
Oh, Cora, I must make you live!"

But the form on the dead grass was lifeless. The automobile had dashed
by. A cloud of dust was all that was left to mark its path.

"Cora! Cora!" almost screamed Helka. "Wake up! They are coming!"

The prostrate girl seemed to moan.

Then they did come.

Cora was apparently dead!

CHAPTER XXV

THE AWAKENING

"What did I do? Did I--did they--oh, tell me?"

Helka was leaning over Cora as the girl regained consciousness. It was
night, and the room was quite dark.

"You did nothing, dear, but faint. That was not your fault. Take
another sip of this milk. Do you feel better?"

"Yes, but I was so afraid that I screamed, and that they--those
dreadful men would punish you."

"Not afraid for yourself?"

"Not if I could not help it. But you had nothing to do with it. Oh,
Helka, I will die if I am not soon set free! I can't stand it."

She burst into hysterical tears. Cora Kimball was losing strength, and
with it her courage was failing.

"How could you escape?"

The words came slowly. Helka was thinking deeply.

"Could we get Lena to take a note to David? He would surely rescue us."

"But then--they might pour out vengeance upon him. I could not take
the risk of anything happening to David."

"You are too timid, Helka. Such straits as we are in demand risks."

"We might poison those horrible, savage dogs. Lena might do that
without her own knowle