West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-02-23
CHAPTER VII.

HOW DID THE SECRET LEAK OFT?
mace MP for my three nights lack
If sleep by not walking the next morn
ing till after 10. When went 10 sls. l
found unly the chef, and he told me the
party had gene for n ride Since could
not talk TO Madgc, / went 20 work at
my desk, fer l had Dcon rather neglect
/ ing my routine work. While / still
wTCte / heard horses hoofs, and, lcok-
ing NJ, saw tho Cullens returning
went out On the platform Co wish them
good morning. arriving just in time TO
see Lord Ealles help Miss Cullen ont of
/ her saddle, and the way hc did il, aud
the WAY he continued TO hold hcr hand
after she was down, while he said some
thing to her. made me grit my teeth
and look the other way. None of the
riders had seen me- sol slipped into my
car and went back To work Fred came
in presently TO see if / was mp yet and
TO ask me TO lunch. but felt so miser-
able and downhearted that / made an
excuse Of my late breakfast for not join.
ing them.
After luncheon the party in the other
| special all came out and walked up and
down the platform, the sound of their
voices and laughter only making me
feel the bluer Before long heard a rap
/ on one of my windows, and there was
: Miss Cullen peering in at me. The mo-
mert looked up she called:
] Won't you make one of as, Mr.. Mis-
anthrope?"
J 1 called myself all sorts of fool. but
out l went as eagerly rs if there had
been some hope Miss Cullen began 10
tease me over my sudden access of ener-
! gy, declaring that she was sure it was
pose for their benefit, or else due to a
guilty conscience over having slept so
late
81 hoped you would ride with u.s.
though perhaps il wouldn't have paid
you. Apparently there is nothing TO see
in Ash Forks {"
There Is something that may inter
Z yuu all, l said, pointing 10 a special
had been dropped off No. 2 that
.oI1irg..
"Y,Lat IS it?' asked Madge.
ITS a G. S. special, - said, land
II. Camp ard Mn. Baldwin and two
s.. officials cane in on it.
What do you think he'd give for
;hosc i,ttcu|' laughed IrCd.
~ tECy = Crc NcTth so much to YOU
1 suppose they can't lie worth any less
TO the G.. s., replied
Fortunately there is no way that
he can learn where they are, " said Mr.
| Cullen.
Don't lci's stand still, " cried Miss
Cullen. Mr.. GOrCCu, I'll run Won a
race TO the end of the platform. " She
said this only after getting big lead,
and she got there about eight inches
ahead Of me, which pleased her might
~. 1t takes men so long 10 get start
ed, was .he way she explained her vic
tory. Then she walked me beyond the
end OF the boarding TO explain tic work
ings of a switch 70 her. That it was
only pretczt she proved to me the mo
ment I had relocl1ed the bar by saying:
Mr.. Gordon, may I ask you a ques-
tion?"
Certainly, " assentcd.
ut is one 1 should ask papa or Fred,
bat 1 am afraid they might not tell me
the truth. You viii, won't you?" she
begged very earnestly.
Il viii, s" said 1.
'Supposing, she continued, "that il
became known that you have those let
j thought for q moment and then
shook my head. "No new proxies
could arrive here in time for the cleo
tion, - said, "and the ones have viii
not DO voted.
She still looked doubtful aud asked,
Then why did papa say just now,
Fortunately?
"He merely meant that it was safer
they shouldn't know"
"Then it is better to keep it a secret?''
she asked anxiOusly.
II suppose so, " 1 said, and then add
ed, why should you bc afraid of ask
ing your father"
because he miRht-weil, IL ho
knew, I'm sure he would sacrifice him
self, and / couldn't run the risk. "
81 am afraid i don't understand?" /
questioned
II would rather not explain, " she
said, and Of course that ended the sub
ject
Our exercise taken, we went back TO
the Cullens' car and Madge left as 10
| write sOmo letters. A moment later
Lord Rallies remembered he had not
I written homo recently, and he, too,
went forward 10 tie dining room. That
made me call mysclf-s0methirg. for
not having offered Miss Cullen the use
OF my desk in o. Owing 10 this the
two missed part Of the big game we
We're playing, for barely were they gone
when one Of the servants brought "a
card 20 Mr. Cullen, who looked at 70
and exclaimed, Mr. Campp' Then.
after "a speaking pause in which we all
exchanged glancos, he said, Bring
/ him in. ~
On Mr.. Camps entrance ne looked
as much surprised as we had all done a
moment before. Il bc0 your pardon for
/ intruding, Mr.. Cullen" he said. II
was told that this was Mr. Gordon q
] car and wish TO sec him.
~ ann Mr.. Gordon"
"Hou arc travelling with Mr. Cul-
/ lenT' he inquired, with a touch Of sus-
I picion IN his manner.
mo " answered my special is
the next car and was merely enjoy
/ ing "a cigar hore "