The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

dercurrent or either menace or dell
ance In his voice.
She glanced into Rothes' face. He
sat very stiff and very erect on his
horse. his face turned towards the
other man. Bluebell had never-not
even that night of the Marltzburg ball
seen SO stern and cold a look upon
his face as that which froze 1t at this
moment.
The expression startled her still
more now. Was it possible these two
men knew each other?"
Il leave the matter entirely in Miss
Leslie's hands, he said gravely. IF
she thinks ! have come far enough, |
am quite prepared to return to Lady
smith.
Moore looked at Blue5ell.
You had better come with mo, Miss
Leslie. and allow DR.. Rothes TO re-
turn home,' he said; then added in a
lower tone: Your father is not quite
himself today. Perhaps you would not
care to have a stranger at New kelso
under the circumstances"
Not quite himself That decided
Bluebe.l. Not for worlds would she
have Adair Rothes. whose good opin-
ion she felt so strangely reluctant to
lose. see her own father in a half
intoxicated condition. ard that was
evidently what Moore's words implied.
Adam Leslie had always been a lit
tie apt to exceed, but it was only of
late-within the last six months-that
his daughter had noticed 1t. And it
seemed TO her, since the coming of
Gerald Moore that her father had
yielded still more to his unfortunate
weakness.
Perhaps you had better not come
any further, Doctor Rothes," she said,
in a low voice. 'If Mr.. Moore is going
to New Kelso. of course he may as
well ride with me; but | would just as
soon go by myself. | am not a bit
afraid"
Rothes took off his hat and held out
his hand. For one minute, only one,
their horses were close together, and
Moore's was so far apart as to render
him out of earshot at least of a whis-
per.
"Good-by.' said Rothes, hurriedly
and a little hoarsely. Il don't know
when | may see you again. God only
knows | pray that He may guard and
keep you from danger," He bent a
little nearer. and added in a whisper:
LAS you value your safety and happl-
ness, beware of that man. | entreat
of you to do so. He is a dangerous
man. | cannot say more. Good-by-
good-by."
The clasp of his fingers on her hand
was TO remain there for many days.
He rode off. raising his hat. and a
strange sense of desolation and lone
illness fell upon Bluebell.
She turned Rover's head and rode
on, not glancing at Moore. Adair's
words still rang in her ears.
so that is Doctor Rothes?" said
Moore. giving his horse a little cut of
the whip that sent him springing ON
beside Bluebell.
Yes" she said. looking straight into
his face. do you know him."
Il had the pleasure of meeting him
once in Maritzburg." said the million
ARE dryly; but. Miss Leslie. | wish to
talk of something else just now. Your
father has given me leave to do SO.
What do you think has kept ne all this
time lingering about this district"
Bluebell shook her rudy brown
head. A feeling of vague discomfort
and uneasiness shot through her at the
question; but not in her widest guess
es could she have arrived within a mile
of the truth.
Gerald Moore went on slowly:
1.-THE country will soon be in a fer
ment; existence in it win be danger
Gus, unsafe. For men this does not
matter so much; for women. especially
those"-he paused and added impress
sively-'whom We love, 1t is terrible
not TO be thought Of. Your father
wishes you to go out of the country
while yet there is time"
(To be continued.)