The Irish standard., 1902-05-03

and asking each other what that note
could possibly have contained to set
the Colonel off at such tangent.
A favorable moment presenting
itself, Guy drew Pedro into the par
lor on the second floor.
"Those two Sisters of Charity are
staying in this hotel, aren't they, Mr..
Smith," asked the young man.
YES" replied Pedro.
"Where did they come from? Do
you llnow?"
81 don't know thing about them.
They haven't spoken half a dozen
words to me-"
"Have you made any guess as to
what they are here for?"
"Some charity or other, 1 suppose"
"Please ask them to come to this
parlor. Tell them that q gentleman
who is charitably disposed would like
a short interview with them"
Pedro's eyes opened wide as he went
away to carry out Guys request.
Presently there was a rustic of gar
ments along the hall and the two Ia
dies, still deeply veiled, entered the
parlor. Guy bowed. They acknowl
edged the greeting with slight
courtesy. Pedro was standing in the
| door.
81 will join you in the office in
| few moments, Mr.. Smith," said Guy
significantly. and Pedro went away
disappointedly.
The young man waited until he
| heard the proprietor's footsteps de-
scend the length of the stairs and
then advanced to one of the ladies and
| handed her the chain which he had
found short time before.
"You must have the clasp repaired,
| Miss Vlandingham," he said, in low
tone.
Both ladies started back Instructive
ly: and then low laugh came from
Miss Betty as she switched her veil
aside and revealed her smiling face.
"You are very kind, Mr.. Herbert"
said she, taking the bracelet. She
turned to her companion. "Lois, this
is the gentleman of whom | was tell
ing you. We are discovered. you see,
in spite of all our precautions, and
that proves that the best laid plans
of mice aud maids gang aft agey. Mr..
Herbert. Miss Pin1incy."
Miss pinlincy was reassured by her
companions confident manner and
likewise dropped her veil. She was a
darkly beautiful girl and. although
she seemed a trifle frightened, her
gaze was steady and her lips were
rigillly firm. She bowed formally.
"Miss Pinkney." resumed Miss Ret
ty, sis a very dear friend of mine,
and quite as determined to assist in
winning the county seat as am"
"You have both been very reckless" f"
said Guy, grnvcly. "1'hc citizens of
Concord are exceedingly wrought up
over the events of the morning. and
7 tremblc to think of your position if
you CHANGED to be discovered"
"Wc shall not be discovered," an
swerpd Miss Betty, pertly. "That is,
not unless you see fit to reveal our
identity"
"You know | would not do that"
retorted Guy, Indignantly.
"But we are here in the interests of
Harmony, you know"
81 have no doubt of that"
at would be to your interest to have
us ap2rehended and-and made pris.
oncrS."
Miss Lois palcd and flashed star.
tied glance at her companion.
81 would rather have Concord lose
the county seat" said Guy.
Miss Betty fixed her melting blue
eyes upon him for a space.
Concord will be ruined when Har.
mony gets the county seat.' she went
on. 81 suppose, however, that you are
very wealthy and would consider as a
mere bagatclle the depreciation in
value of thousand or more lots"
Guy started to tell her that he hac
hardly n dollar he could call his own
outside of the town, but he bit his
lip and kept the words back.
Miss Nlandingham," he said, in
stead, 'you and Miss Pinllney must
return at once to Harmony. l will
get a conveyance and drive you back.
"Not for worlds would 7 allow you
to do that! If the Concord people ever
found out what you had done they
would turn against you.'
"l'll chance it,"
"Pcrhaps you would, but we WON'T
Miss Betty tossed her head.
Guy was desperate.
"Rcally. Miss Vlandingham," he said
earnestly, 81 must insist that you lei
me drive you back to Harmony"
"Really!" exclaimed Miss Betty
laughing at him with her eyes. "Well
sir, we insist on staying here until we
accomplish the work that brought us
You will not deport us against oul
will?"
"You are a pair of madcaps!'
averred Guy hclplessly. eff you came
over here to assist Col. Dingle-"
eve did not come for that" she in
tcrruptcd. hastily. 'T am sorry yol
have such n poor opinion of us as to
think we would bear hand in such ;
matter. Had been Informed of Col
Dinglc's purpose he would never have
come here this morning."
"Yet l found your bracelet close tt
the room from which Col. Dinglc es
capped"
ITO BE Continued
Still Held tile Dluc Ribbon.
Not so many years ago there was ;