Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-30
CHAPTER VII.

NhsfS Al
Claude led the way across the hall at
the back of the house, and. having Sc
cured a seat, sat down beside judy.
Il have been ILL.," he explained-'laid
by the heels since the nineteenth, and
all my letters and kilograms were kept
back, so that | knew nothing of yours
until this morning.
What has been the natter"
breakdown from anxiety and sus-
pense-nothing else" he replied,
grimly. They gave me your tele-
gram when | vas supposed TO be n
little better, and l came up ut once. l
was in such n nervous state when l
got to Fletcher's that | hardly knew
how to contain myself. He suggested
my coming here because | would not
let him send for you; he gay me his
card, described your dress, and vent
with me TO my club, where my North
void Hussars uniform happened 10 be.
Having helped me TO dress, he drove
me here. He told me you could not
have much of Importance TO tell me,
but | knew you would not send for lae
without reason. What is it, judy
Judith told him. He listened TO her
In a fever of nervous excitement, II
when, as if he could bear the mockery
OF wearing it no longer, he tore off his
mask. Judith saw what havoc the anX-
iety for the past few weeks had made
in his face.
you must have been very i'll,
Claude she said, gently. WAS it
wise to come up TO town.
1T dosn't matter, Judy" he an
swered. YEARLY; 1.-The best thing that
could happen to me would be to die.
Your sister would be free then, and
well provided for-I have takes care
of that. But why is Mrs. Fletcher so
bitterly disposed towards me? If you
had met Elsie that day, would you
have let her 20, knowing how much
her loss means to me-"
"Yo know | should not, Claude"
docs Fletcher know, do you thinkg'
Il feel sure he does not"
We'll, it was very good of you to
send for me, Judith, but l have no
hope that so slight a clue can be fol-
loed up. However, the hairdresser's
and Mrs. Fletcher's shall be well
watched, though | am beginning to
think that the slight affection l be-
lieved Elsie had for me must have died
outfit it ever existed
1T did EXIST am sure of IT,"
you told me that once before he
said, and his tone as as severe as his
glance; but / don't forget one thing
that before she knew me there was
someone else-someone whom she
would rather have had than me. il you
rcmember-a Captain Herbert
who told you that:' asked Judith,
quickly, after an almost imperceptible
hesitation.
II heard 1t myself. a day or W be
fore our wedding day; she made the
remark to you. Why was she unable
to marry him, Judith
He never asked her. / think Elsie
only said that because she was an
noyed at your jealousy fancy she
knew you were ut the door. AS to
Captain Herbert" she continued, un-
der his compelling gaze, Il think he is
a great flirt-not a marrying man"
You say that to pacify me-"
mo, no"-and, to ease his mind, to
exercise the demon jealousy If she
could-she added, with a half-amused
boldness and confusion that COM
pletely deceived him, You may guess
what sort of a man he is when | tell
you ~that-that he Is now wholly in
tent upon getting up a Irritation with
me-
She was glad to see the suspicion in
his eyes give place TO amusement
Flirting with you, is he? Then, If
he is intent only upon his own muse
ment-which / Doubt think he will
have caught a Tartar, ~Judy-but take
care of yourself, dear-there is always
some risk in even the most certain
looking game"
She smilingly signiied her intention
to do so, and a short silence followed.
Judith looked about her. Away in the
ball room the band was playing the
Mikado Quadrilles, and dancing was
evidently i'm full swing, yet here in the
r~efreshment room several groups were
enjoying themselves, some eating ices
or slipping champagne-cup, others in
couples absorbed wholly in each other,
for there were half a dozen palm-shel-
tered hooks, similar to that occupied
by Judith and her companion, which
were In much request.
As Judith smilingly surveyed the
scene, n group of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
Cleopatra, a French cook and a very
merry nun-moved away disclosing
the girl in the yellow-and-white bro
cade, whom Judith imagined to be
Miss Herbert, sitting at a little table
with Judith's late partner, the Musket-
eer.
Presently they, too, arose. with the
intention of returning to the ball room.
and were passing out, when the girl
turned her head in the direction Of
Judith and her silent companion. She
glanced at them casually at first, and
turned away, but suddenly she looked
back at them again and, having taken
In Judith's costume at one swift
glance, turned her gaze upon Claude's
pallid face, regarding him so fixedly
that Judith turned quickly to him.
You ought not to have taken on
your mask, Claude. That young lady
was staring at you so hard"