Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-05-23
CHAPTER XIV.

Al the table, however, she paused,
listening intently. Then, as If satisfied
that she was indeed, alone, passed on
into the music room.
In the dim light he could see her
moving to n fro.
She seemed searching for something.
Standing before a tall desk, she
passed her hands over It's surface, as
though seeking some secret hiding
place.
Once or twice he started forward, as
IL o TO speak to her, but forced the
impulse back.
Suddenly he heard a football in the
hall. Instinctively, he uttered a low
note OF warning.
She caught the sound, and looked ca
gerly about her, but saw nothing.
just then the library door was again
opened, n Allen Layton entered the
room. He walked boldly toward the
lights and turned them up.
The stranger concealed himself fur
Their behind the curtains.
Beatrice stood on the threshold be-
tween the w rooms, a look OF proud
defiance on her lovely face; but when
she recognized who was the intruder,
Ii vanished, and a smile tool its place.
She wore a long, loose wrapper, made
of some creamy, WOODEN stuff, and her
hair was loosely coiled low on the little
neck.
Aliens face flushed holly, as If her
beauty yer presented itself to him as
a new and growing revelation.
I'VE are mutually surprised" she
said, in a low voice.
IT could not sleep. and came down
stairs to find a book" he replied. II
was thinking Of you, Miss Markham.
Why did you leave as Immediately at.
ter dinner today"
you inquire into an insane girls
freak?" she asked.
ooh, hush-be SILENT" he pleaded.
Then, coming quickly forward, he
caught both her hands in his" / prom
Used you once to be your friend" he
said, in earnest, thrilling tones. In
stinctively, he OWNED the bitter mean
ing in the sentence she had just ad-
dressed to him. His doubts concern
ing her sanity fled. He felt that she
was in bitter trouble. whose nature he
could not comprehend, but whatever IL
might be, he longed only In some way
to tighten 1t. Have you forgotten that
promise?" he continued; cor will you
not ask me to redeem It? II I can serve
you in any way-in any way-let me do
it,
'You did not know that I was mad
when you offered to be my friend" she
answered.
II do not believe 1t now" ne said.
Perhaps not; yet 1 have read, even
in your eyes, the doubt. Why should
- so 1~I
Chester assert the fact? What motive
could he have for such a dastardly i'm
pltation, were II not true? Surely, you
do not doubt his honor! Better my
sanity than that"
And she laughed a little. low, mock
ing laugh that made Layton's blood
run cold I'm his veins.
Why did she talk like this? Why did
she seem so unlike the girl who had
told him she was homeless and alone
in the world? Yet he felt the same
longing to make her loneliness less
which then had thrilled him-thrilled
him now.
1T is you who doubt" he said, "not
T.. Tell me what you will: leave untold
all that you will, only say TO me. Il am
not mad, and need our help and l
will lay my very life at your service
The curtains moved. The mans face
behind them had grown white, and his
teeth were set.
Eyes, I doubt you," she replied. why
should you do this for me? Why
should you not prove Randolph Ches-
ter's emissary? He tells you I am
mad, and you believe him. Indeed,
why should o not? What am l in
your life that you should take passing
notice OF my fate?"
what are you In my hfe?" he re-
peated. after her--her GOODNESS tortur-
ing MIN into confession OF his own
madness. you are only what you nave
been from the first moment I lifted YOU
in my arms and looked down or the