The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-06


ct foresee what's coming" he said.
bitterly. "Buckhurst and SDeyer are
going to nag US and irritate us until
we do something for which they can
denounce us. Buckhurst fears us be-
cause We know his record. Speyer wants
to get into this house, because it's the
ideal headquarters for a spy. They are
both working for the same end
Il think, said Hardwood, Tightening
his clasp about his knee, that Speyer
is the center of the whole spy system in
Paris. Shall 1 tell you why? Listen,
Cecil. When he came to find out
whether we had unpayed the court.
and incidentally to discover whatever
he could to our detriment-I, luckily,
mad just finished prying up the flag-
stones and piliEg them against the
wall. He was in uniform-the uniform
OF Belleville staff captain. He SPOKE
10 he. and looked me in the eye, as
though he had never before seen me.
And all the time l was cycling the mark
my riding whip left across his face. He
came into the house, dared not strike
him: his uniform, you kcow-and that
would nave been fatal-fata TO US all.
It was not until he went that he said
anything important; bit. as he left by
the same steps down which l had
knocked him a few nights ago, he
stopped and said: Take my advice, and
get out OF this house before you are
kicked out "
Bourke's face crimsoned. He stood
stock still in the middle of the floor.
L replied" continued Hardwood
tibet in the event of a frost in hell I
would leave. and not before. l also
pointed out that. uniform or no uni
form, I'd twist his head off his Shout
ders if he ever came back"
Hardwood had risen while speaking,
and row he also began to pace the
floor.
You see, Cecil he continued, that
I've committed us all. But 1 meant it.
We can't stay here with these Belle
vile ruffians free to enter the house
when the whim strikes them--free to
billet their fellow cutthroats here-per-
haps S0eyer, perhaps Buckhurst him
self. And 1 tell you if any man, soldier
or civilian, offers a word-a look at
Hilde-I'll fling him through the win
dow
"Of course said Bourke, .soberiy.
Hardwood, nervous and flushed, sat
down on the bed again.
Il fear it's coming" he said. 81 fear
we shall all be obliged to leave. They
have the whip hand. If they denounce
Hide and Yoiette for aiding the en-
press--if they denounce them on a more
dreadful Charge-Who is to help them?
Not you-2ot I. Trochu will listen to
his soldier-police-no to US. Think of
the horrible shock to those poor young
girls-think of their helDlessness. Sup
pose SDeyer should swear to the lies
he threatens them with. He is a staff
captain; he once lodged here; he has
a lying witness in Stauffer. Would it
help matters if 1 should shoot Soeyer
down in the street, in the house-on the
witness stand itself? This thing is like
nightmare to me- Cecil"
DO you mean to say burst out
Bourke, that they would not listen to
you-that they would not believe you
you who can swear that Hide is the
sweetest, purest woman on earth-the
woman-Jim-the woman you love?'
Harewood's lips whitened. He tried
to answer. His cheeks were smitten
with a deadly pallor.
THE woman-the woman 1 love-" he.
repeated
DO you not love her?" demanded
Bourke, violently
Still Harewood's white face was turn
ed to his in silence.
Answer me- said Bourke, step
ping nearer.
AS he spoke vision of Yolette fash
ed before him. He saw her blue eyes
fixed on his own; he saw her hair. the
troubled curve of her lips, the quiet,
pure brow. And suddenly he under
stood that it was Yolette-it was for
Yolette he spoke-and it was for him
self, too-for he loved her. The sudden
Illumination, his own heart laid bare
before him, the surprise, the emotion,
the flashing revelation of a. secret I'M
suspected-the undreamt-of secret of
his own heart-staggered him.
HARDWOOD, gazing blankly at him, i
saw nothing but parting of his COM
rade's lips, a dilation Of his eyes. a
brusSue movement of chest and head.
After a moment, Bourke said Il
thought you loved Hide. I only asked
because hoped you did" His voice was
wonderfully gentle He spoke slowly
as though, between his own words. he
was listening to another voice, the
voice that whispers, whispers always in
the ears of those who love.
He. went on slowly: you and she are
safest and best thing for her if you
took it lightly-not that 1 think you
Jin-you won't believe
that But sometimes / have thought
I think a great deal about you, Jim
1 sometimes fancy that Hide cares for |
you a great deal. 1t might be less cruel
for both-both you and Hilde-if We
went away-unless- unless-''
He stopped abruptly. his face touched !
with q tender light, the voice again |
sounding softly in his ears.
WHAT" motioaed Hardwood, with |
dry lips.
Bourke smiled at him and touched |
his forehead with his hand, dreamily.
What was 1 saying?" he asked.
Nothing" said Hardwood, vacantly. !
(To Be Continued Next Monday)
Beats the Klondike.