The Red Cloud chief., 1902-05-23
81 trust such is only the truth" shy.

WI 'l' 'lu ~" we " We wy W.
whom you have always entertained
feelings Of profound respect
1T shall be as you say. ! am sure
you have some motive In this action,
IL certainly have. Truth to tell,
believe | have seen this gentleman be-
fore. under other conditions. | shail
know to a certainty after | nave been
in his society "A while. At any rate
| there Is reason to hope for the best.
shall we 80 out ard meet IN
asked Airline.
Yes. indeed. The Fatcs have decid-
cd that Captain Brand and | shali
come together for a trial or strength
and IL might Just as well take place
now az later. I am ready
So they went out.
The cx-sailor quickly sighted them
and bore down with all sails set. as
he would have nautically expressed II.
Charlie played his part well.
lie met the captain in "A blum.
friendly manner. Just rs a young man
might wish to receive the father OF a
lovely girl he admired.
Plainly Captain Brand found no cs-
pCCtal reason FOR alarm.
He set out to bp even more jovial
and dehonair than usual, with the idea
of creating a good impression on
his daughters old friend. whom he
wished to study at close range.
when he set out to entertain, Cap
tain Brand of the Iespasia was a
bowling success, relating the most as
t,ptAhIn, In.tJpntu connected with his
long captivity in the desert. his perils
on the sea, and the deep fountain OF
love for wife and child that had gus
tanned him through all his trials.
Charlie was no mean actor himself.
thanks to the splendid control which
he was able to exercise over his facial
muscles.
Although he now had not the least
doubt as to the fellow being a fraud
of the first water, Charlie felt that he
owed IL to Arlinc's respect for flial af-
lection to prove this fact.
This was the task he cut out for
himself.
lie laid his little trap.
Captain Brand was SO much cnEag
ed with his flow of oratory and the
charming of this friend OF the family
that he did not notice the pit so dcftly
dug.
Thus. almost without an effort,
Charlie had him admit that he knew
considerable about Valparaiso. in
Chill, and had been there. In the
course of his wandorings. many years
ago.
In Charities mind this settled the
matter. lie was confident he knew
with whom he had to deal, and when
the time came he would be ready to
dare all in defying the adventurer.
While they sat thus. speaking of
the sights of Antwerp, there came a
messenger from the hotel Office inquir-
ing for Mr.. Charlie Stuart, whom a
gentleman outside desired to see.
As he went. directed by the clerk,
to the spot where he would find the
gentleman who had asked for an i'm
mediate interview on serious business,
) he was making up his mind to tell
! Pcterhoff the whole story and enlist
l his favorable consideration for Airline
' so that when the denoument came the
= doughty captain could be taken care
} of.
Judge Of his surprise, then, when
r upon coming upon the party whC
wished to see him, he found ii was ne
other than Artemus Barnaby, with his
honest face cloudcd with an air OF tn,
D darkest mystery.
Q II did not require much prophetic
skill on Charles part to tell that hi!
erratic friend had news OF some i'm,
portance for him.
g He pressed "A f%orefingcr on his lips
: to indicate dead silence, when he fOun(
@ that Charlie had recognized him.
Charlie stood there waiting Will,
!. the other crept on his tiptoes to TIT
Il corner. in the regular orthodox stag,
fashion, and looked this way and that
o to assure himself that there could b,
: no eavesdroppers near.
l Then he approached his friend, hi
warning finger still on his lips.
Reaching the other, he placed hi
n lips close to Charles ear. and solemn
: ly said:
q THE coast is clear"
/ 81 see il is said Charlie, aloud.
What ! am about to disclose u
-
II you, will give you a cruel shock, IN
:: boy"
Shock away then, only max
haste"
d Il am about to make a d~isclosur
Is that will. | regret to say, knock ava
the foundations of your belief in hu
mainly"
r. "Ah' that's a serious thing indeed
II Does this disclosure concern the worl,
e. at large or one individual specimen o
mankind?"
pr One shining light"
* Then fire away, and be hanged Il
you"
j. Artemus assumed a look OF extrem
I'd gravity, although Charlie was sure h
~ heard a chuckle.
I'd lyon have met the father of tn,