Daily camera., 1901-08-07
CHAPTER NJ.

Mrs. McLane," Merriam was saying
at the moment, interrupting the plead
ing, weeping woman who was clinging
10 his arm, 1T is useless to talk OF it.
Had you let me know why you wished 70
see me, all the pain OF this meeting
could have been avoided. Every paper
had was given TO MIR. Parry, your law
yer, months ago. know less ahou; the
matter. probably, than you do; and
now, forgive me, but must go at once
Almost torcibly he drew her clasping
hands from his arm. and turning sharp
ly and without another word to the
cringinr woman, FASTENED on through
the narrow pathway that led between
Grafton's cottage and that to the east
ward, and presently emerged again into
the moonlight al the back of the house,
going straight to the captains stable.
For moment his late companion stood
there ut the trellis, staring after him in
mingled misery and incredulity. She
had planned il well. She had marked
his coming just is Grafton had said, had
hurried down 10 the shady aisle be-
tween the quarters and halted him
there-aStonished at her daring. He
would have walked dozen miles that
night rather tnar see her at all, but to
meet her this way, 10 feel that he was
trapped, made Merriam's blood boil
with wrath. His voice, though, was
stern and cold Us he bade her say why
-l., l,,,, I,,,h har I'M, nc
70 detain, to soften, TO charm and then
to plead, and she had dreadful, dread
full story 10 tell and none TO tell it to
but him. Even then she was baked, for
Merriam bluntly bade her omit the
story, as he knew all he needed to know,
and come to the point at once. What
could she want of him? Advice-sym-
pathy, she cried; and for advice he re-
ferred her TO her lawyer-for sympathy
she must not come to him. She must
have some purpose in calling on him
what was it? And then it proved to be
the packet with certain papers, given
him by the young miner in the Mes
calero. 1T was turned over to your
lawyer long ago." said Randy; and then
she burst into tears and said she was
undone, and walled: ooh. Randy, Ran
dy! what can What am to do?' And
he suggested gravely, courteously, but
positively, that the should ct once go
indoors, while he went en- his way.
His heart was bitter against her as he
strobe out beyond the fence line, and, aft
ercarefullyinspecting the doors of Graf
tons stable, he closed and locked the
gate. He wished now more than ever
to hurry on westward and enter his own
little home and surprise Florence.
With grateful eyes he had noted the
parlor lights and interpreted them as
indicating that She must be well over
the urreasoning stage OF this her first.
and, he prayed God, her last. jealous
trouble. He turned toward his own
gate, intending only to glance at the
other stables on the way and give the
sentry additional orders; but when he
got SO far toward the western end of the
row as to enable him to distinguish any
object as big as a man he found to his
vexation that there was no sentry there
at all, and that he must retrace his
steps and look fer him toward the. other
end. 1t was a backward tramp of over
300 yards, and he was irritated enough
to feel like scoring the sentry when
finally he came upon him.
"You shouldn't be here, sir" he be-
gan; after the customary challenge and