Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-05-15
By Fred m. Uaite
CHAPTER yrI.-tcontinued.,

IA AEh a
.sYou wanted to see me. sir? VIII you
be SO good as to state your business?"
David turned with d start. He saw
before him a slight, graceful figure and
a lovely. refined face in a frame of the
most beautiful hair he had ever seen.
The gray eyes were demure. with just
q suggestion of mirth in them: the lips
were made for laughter. II was as IL
some dainty little actress were mas
%querading In Salvation garb, only the
dress was all priceless lace that touched
David's artistic perception. He could
imagine the girl as deeply in earnest as
going through fire and water fo- her
convictions. Also, he could Imagine
her as Puck or Ariel-thers was Iip-
ping laughter in every note OF that
voice OF hers.
.I-I,eh. yes" Steel stammered. You
see, I-if / only knew whom I had the
pleasure Of addressing? ''
II am Miss Ruth Gates. at FOUR SER
vice. Still, you asked for me by name"
David made no reply for a moment.
He was tripping over surprises again.
What a fool he had been not to look out
the name OF the occupant OF 219I IN the
directory. 1t was pretty evident that
Gilead Gates had a house In Brighton,
as well as one I'm town. Not only had
that telephone messsg e emanated from
the millionaire's residence, but 1t had
brought Steel to the philanthropist's
abode in Brighton. If Mr.. Gates HIM
self had strobe into the room singing a
comic song David would nave ex-
pressed no emotion.
Daughter of the famous Gilead
Gates7" David asked, feebly.
"No; niece and housekeeper. This is
mot my uncle's own house.. He has
merely taken It for a time. But. Mr..
Steel"
Mr.. David Stesl--is my name famil-
Ear TO your"
David asked the question somewhat
eagerly. AS yet ne was only feeling his
way and keenly on the lookout for any
thing In the way IF a clue. He saw the
face Of the girl grow white as the table,
cover, he saw the lurking laugter die in
her eyes. and the purple-black terror
d,iating the pupils.
IL know you quite we'll by reputa-
fton," the girl gaspad. Her little hands
were pressed to her left side as If to
cheek some deadly pain there. In
deed, 7 may say I nave read most OF
YOU stories. IL hope hat there Is
nothing wrong"
I Her self-possession and courage were
coming back to her now. But the
Epasm Of fear that had shaken her to
che soul was not lost upon Steel.
81 trust not" he said. gravely. "Did
you know hat I was here two nights
ago7"
"Here7' the girl cried. Impossible!
In the house2 The night before last7
Why. we were all In bed long before
midnighti'
81 am not aware that I said anything
about midnight" responded David,
coldiy.
An angry flush came sweeping ver
the face of the girl, annoyance at her
own folly. David thought. She added.
quickly, that she and her uncle had
enly been down in Brighton for thee
DAYS. sa
Nevertheless. I was In this room two
nights ago. DaviI replied. IF you
know all about 1t. pray give me certain
information of vital importance to me;
tf not. 7 shall he comrel led to keep my
extraordinary story TO myself. for. 9TH
erwise. You would never believe 1t. DO
ycn or do you not know OF my visit
hs-e?"
The gfrl bent her head till Steel could
zee nothing but the glorious amber OF
her hair. He could see, too. that the
fine old lace round her throat was toss
ing like a cork In a stream.
II can tell you nothing" she said.
sNothing, nothing. nothing
It was the voice OF one who would
have spoken had she dared. With any
body else Steel would have been furi-
ousiy angry. In the present case he
could only admire the deep, almost pa
thetic, loyalty to somebody who stood
behind.
Are you sure you were in this
house2' the girl asked. at length.
"Certaini" David exclaimed. "The
walls, the pictures. the furniture-all
the same. i could swear to the place
prove that I was here at the time I
name it Is likely to go very hard with
me-
you mean that g certain incon-
venierce-"
OF murder. or manslaughter at best, I'm
convenient nave you not seen the
local papers? Don't you know that
two nights ago.. during my absence
from home. a strange man was prac-
tically lone TO death In my conserva-
tory7 And during the time OF the out
rage, as sure as Heaven Is above us. ]
was in this room!"
81 am sorry. but I am sure that you
were not"
..Ah. you are going Go disappoint me?
And yet you know something. Yon
might have been the guiltiest OF crea-
lures yourself when 1 disclosed my
identity. Ne prisoner detected In some
shameful crime ever looked more guilty
than you"
The girl stood there. saying nothing.
Had she rang the bel. and ordered the
footman to put him out OF the house.
Steel would have had no cause OF COM
plant. But she did nothing OF the
kind. She stood there. torn by con-
ficting emotions.
II can give you nc information she
- Vy..A ---4.g.~