The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1902-05-02

police Of Antwerp shall not stop me
In my rights of a British citizen travel
ing under the protection of his flag"
Airline impulsively held out her
hand.
81 thank you. God bless you, Mr..
Stuart" she said, in broken tones.
And Charlie, as he felt the little
hand culver and throb in his, found a
strong indignation arising within his
known parties who had so mercilessly
condemned so charming a young wom-
an to a cruel fate.
1t was Artemus who unlocked the
heavy door and ushered them into the
garish light of day, who gravely re-
Heved Charlie of his brass candlestick
and placed it, together with the rusty
keys, where they belonged.
Charlie saw that his companion
glanced hastily to the right and left
through her veil. Once he was almost
sure she gave a start, but by NO word
did she signify discovery.
Gould you get a cab for me?" she
asked with a p%erceptible tremor in her
voice.
Easily, no doubt. There are usual
ly vehicles waiting outside the Steen.
This way, please"
Before the vehicle started, Airline
Brand threw back the veil, and again
Charlie was given the privilege of
looking into those honest blue orbs,
rivaling the heavens in their hue.
81 will release you from your prom
Use if o regret making it, Mr.. Stu
art" she said, softly.
Thanks; but l am a singularly OBJ
stinate man, l fear. At eight tonight,
1 said. Besides, 1 confess to much curl
osity to hear what you promised to
tell"
Those wondrous eyes beamed upon
him; a little hand crept out to allow
of a parting pressure; then the We
hicle numbered away, leaving him
there in front of the historic Steen,
watching it's progress down the crook
ed t~horoughfare, and wondering at the
change that had broken into his quiet
life.
When Charlie Stuart reiterated his
rash promise with regard to seeing the
owner of those marvellous cerulean
orbs that same evening, he had but a
faint conception of the magnitude of
the task he had taken Upon himself.
He was dimly conscious of a figure
hanging from the real window of a
second old vehicle-a figure that made
all manner of pantomime gestures, and
in which he recognized his friend Arte-
mus.
Remembering the quaint methods
by which Artemus invoked the dra-
matte muse, he ended with a laugh.
"No harm done, I imagine" he said,
aloud. To his surprise some one
added:
THAT remains to be seen, young
sir"
Turning Indignantly to see who had
dared to thus address him without in
vitation, Charlie faced a middle-aged
gentleman of military aspect, who was
regarding him with much urbanity.
81 am quite ready to explain the
meaning of those words | uttered,
young sir, on condition that you favor
me with your name"
Charles first hasty inclination was
to refuse point-blank, but he had up to
this point Of his existence never
known the time when he found reason
to be ashamed of his name. 1t be-
longed to one of the best families in
Scotland, and his ancestry dated back
to the days of Bruce and Wallace.
''That is a condition easily complied
with, as 1 have yet refused it to
any man who felt enough interest in
me to ask. 1t is Charlie Stuart"
The other bowed.
Good! l see we shall get on to-
gether amazingly we'll. There need be
no trouble whatever, since we agree SO
charmingly," he said.
"Ah! about what, now?" asked Char
lie, once more keenly on his guard.
HIN! Say, the pretty fraulein."
But perhaps we do not agree on
that subject; in fact, our views may be
Numerically opposite. Tell me, why
do you waylay me? l am a complete
stranger; 1 never saw you before"
"Quite true, quite true, young sir"
chuckled the other; "but 1 have seen
you before. l know when you came to
Antwerp, and just how you have m
ployed your time since"
THE deuce you do! Then you must
have known my lame. Why did you
ask for it," with the light of suspicion
and unbelief in his eyes.
"To ascertain how far you would
have confidence in me. 1 see you are
incredulousy but, young man, it is my
especial business to know every
stranger who comes to Antwerp,
whether he be French, English, Rus
sian, American or Turkish; also to dis
cover as much with relation to his bus
mess here as is necessary to under
stand his status in society. Although
you have never met me before, 1 doubt
not you would recognize my name.
Permit me-"
A card was thrust into Charles
hand.
Mechanically he glanced at it.
The result was peculiarly unpleas-
ant.
It simply bore a name, but that