The Holly chieftain., 1898-12-02
chat nur.es 3 grudgc againzt me o. tae

mine. He has been carrying the stun
around with him, waiting for chance
to send it off-his letters and reports
and so and so onto his hackers in Lon
don. He sends them under cover to q
shyster lawyer in Spokane, who Il in
with him. say, is this the man my
daughter gives secret meetings to il
places where no young girl who valued
her good name would be seen, alone,
with a stranger. at twelve o'clock at
night?"
do you wish, me to think that you
believe this, fathcr?" asked Faith, with
the look Of the lamb when the wolf &C.
cused it of rolling the stream.
Think that believe It! Do you deny
that you were therein the tamaracks.
on Tuesday night. with Darcie, the man
I am speaking Off
Il was there-yes-to prevent muir
der. You know it Is in all the papers
TINT a man was shot here, in cold
blood. by our own men. for some of
fense against their miners union"
ave are not talking of what is In the
papers. Lam talking Of some ething that
WINS not in the papers, most fortunate
ly for us. What was this man doing
here. on my premises, without business
with me or with any Of my employees?
What was the occasion, the inducement.
that brought him five miles after dark
through the woods to a place where
there was nothing to see, or do, or
learn, except by secret appointment
with some other person? What was he
there for? Do you know"
Because somebody sent him false
message, believe"
'In whose name?"
''In my name. o father, please let me
tell you ALL"
You are telling me a good deal,
think. And why should message be
sent to this young man in your name
Was that the surest way to bring him"
Father. you must ask those who
sent the message. did not send it."
"You seem to know good deal about
it, considering that you did not send
it. How did you learn the hour and
the place of meeting so accurately?'
II cannot tell you how l learned it;
you will have to trust me for that"
ibid you happen to learn the words
of the message?"
Il did not, father-I mean-not at
first"
mot at first What am to under
stand by that2 Let me repeat the
words; perhaps you may recognize
them"
"Oh, don't repeat them! The whole
thing Is frightful. How can talk to
you at all when you begin by accus-
ing me of such things?"
ut is certainly not very pleasant for
me to pursue this kind of an investiga-
ton, but we may as well go through
with 1t; for your own sake the thing
must be cleared up. Abby tells me that
she took that message herself, pre-.
cisley in your language, because you
were unwilling to trust it on. paper
naming the place and the time of the
meeting; and in case there should be
doubt in the young mans mind that
the message WINS genuine, you added
these words: Tell him it comes from
her he tailed his Mountain Lily Faith,
l don't wonder that you cover your
facel"
Faith instantly raised her head. ~
deny that j sent that message or any
message" she uttered with white lips.
"If Abby says that did, you will have
to choose between the word of serv-
ant and the word OF your daughter"
Don't get excited" said Mr.. Bfng-
ham. II will have this thing decided on
no ones word but your own and his.
Do you deny that those words you.haye
just heard me repeat were the words
Of that message?"
Il do not; / deny that they were my
words, or that ever used them"
ut scarcely matters whose words
they are; but should like to know how
they came to be SO effectual for the
purpose. They certainly brought that
young man-where he got, not what he
came for, evidently, but what he richly
deserved. Whoever sent it, the mes
cage acted like charm. How do you
explain thnt?"
II am not bound to explain it; / am
rot responsible for his coming"
well, should like to know who this
Mountain Lily is that meets young
men in woods, alone. at dark hours of
the night"
Father. I will tell you all know"
said Faith, trembling and deadly white,
for now she could not donbt with what
nerciless constructions she mad to
deal.
He did call me by that name once.
father. 1t was when we abused his hos
pitality, and was left on his hands
alone-yes, in the. dark hours of the
night. 1t was then. when my father
failed me, when he was father and
friend and brother to me, that his heart
went out to me; his pity made him ten
der toward me, and he said those words.
How they got abroad to be turned to
this wicked and shameful use, can
not tell you, and do not care. But il
they had been the means of bringing
him to his death, he would have been
the last man-yes, as he is the first
to say such words to me-"
"And do you think that you know the
character of this MANI"
How should know his character?
Do / know my own? know what my
f;,ther processes to think am. and to
whom he goes for his information. A
stranger could hardly expect to fare
better than daughter. HIam-what
you say I am, need not be surprised
that he should turn out to be spy."
"Be careful, Faith. have given you,
in my own mind, the benefit Of last
doubt. awaiting your acknowledgment