The Lamar register., 1900-08-08

cred her lids.
Because" he said boldly, "it will
be my only chance of seeing you
again"
There was little silence and then
the girl spoke. But II 1t should
prove dangerous 20 you l should never
forgive myself
Then Alan laughed good. frank
laugh. The one thing that will be
dangerous to me is you" he said. "and
l am going to court that danger"
She laughed. too. Alan looked so
brave and bonny that any woman
would have loved to have been courted
by him. VERY we'll" she said. Mr..
Mackenzie. you have been warned.
and so have l.
Tell me your name" he said
MY name? 1t is common enough
one here-it is Veronica"
1T Is a very beautiful one" he
said. And then he took on his cap
and bade her good night; and his
dreams that night were full of moon
light and a dark-eyed, slim girl. and
all the sort of thing that a young man
dreams about when for the first time
he enters upon the realms of ro-
nance
He remembered the financial crisis
only the next morning. when he saw
Hutchinson again. He told Dempster
Of his interview: but here he found
himself in difficulty. II was difficult
to talk to his chief of the man he mis-
trusted. and yet to know that he was
lt,a III /, ha H,rt,, 81
its secrets. He could not tell Demp-
ster that what he suspected was that
Hutchinson had secret dealings with
the government. and that he mostly
knew OF events before they became
public property. and SO could buy and
sell to greater advantage, using the
capital of the firm for his own pur-
pose. for that was what Alan sus-
pccted.
Richard Dcmpster saw that the
young man was keeping something
back. although of course he could not
guess what II was
Look here. Mackenzie" he said. 81
don't want to force your confidence.
mind but can trust your fathers
son sufficiently to know that II II
ought to be brought to my notice you
would not hesitate TO do So
.'The fact is, SIR said Alan. that
have as yet nothing tangible To lay be-
fore you. but that, not having any
proor at all. IL Is rather difficult to
come 10 you and to say. DO you trust
this man or that man
Quite right" said Dempster. And
then they began talking OF something
else. and had good long consuita-
ton on the present state OF affairs. 1t
was only when he was leaving that
his chief said to him: by the way.
did you have any difficulty In finding
Hutchinsons little cottage. He tells
me that IL Is some way out; he pre-
fers the country"
Alan looked at Dempster To see II
he were speaking testingly; but no.
his words were evidently uttered In
perfect good faith. He believed In
Hutehinsonfs cottage Il had no diff
aeulty. sir" he replied. ANY one could
tell you il is not a cottage, but a fine,
large place.
oh. said Dempster. laughing,
then that is Hutehinsons modesty.
is It. ! must chan him about IT."
Il hope you won't, SIR" said Alan
quickly. Please say nothing about
it,
Dempster looked ut the young man
curiously. Il will say nothing IL you
do not wish It; but | own that your
manner makes me strangely uneasy"
Il want 1t to do that" said Alan,
and left him
Matters. however. grew very dis
turbed, and Dempster had reason TO
believe that the government was very
unstable. Alan Mackenzie was sent
backwards and forwards TO La Paz. 1t
began to be very exciting. for every
day be seemed TO see more clearly
that Hutchinson was playing a double
game He had Dempster's conf
dence. Alan knew that, among other
things the firm was importing, there
were firearms. and he felt almost sure
that Hutchinson was in league with
some maIcontents. and that these
arms were meant for them. Life
grew very interesting, and every day
seemed big with chances; and every
evening that he made his way to La
Paz he found Veronica awaiting him
First Of all she came to warn him,
than she came because she feared him