The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-23

ter hours. may as we'll say here that
an elderly lady who got off the train
when L dId-you passed her at the gate
took all the notes n cash with her
to the other side Of the Ohio river. Per-
haps 1 ought to tell o I'm armed"
She answered with a flash of def
ance. Get out you revolver, then,
I'm going to call this soldier, and"
mo you're not. Here" He moved
his right hand deftly under the lap
robe, and Miss D'Arc felt the lit e pis-
tol on her knee. Just as q fly she
slipped her right hand under the T be
and touched the smooth metal to make
sure, trembling lest their hands might
touch.
Now will you trust me?" he chal-
ienSed.
By his time the solder man was
passing Kitty's neck. Miss D'Arc
nodded to him. and he passed IN with
d friendly salute. But Miss Dare was
all the time gripping the handle of that
revolver
Tell me how you got that letter"
she sternly demanded. signalling Kitty
through the reins TO move faster.
Her fugitive turned and smiled at
her before answering. His thoughts
seemed TO be occupied with his actual
pleasant circumstances rather than
with recent history. Il beg your par
don? Oh. that letter. You see. we hit
il off together very nicely in the
smoker this morning, your Aunt's ne
phew and 1. Just before we got to
C~ovington. he made up his mind TO go
on to Cincinnati. so. inste"d of wiring
to your Aunt. and expressing the val
Use. I persuaded him to let me take
charge o. the whole thing for him. He
, gave me our name in case either of
you came to meet him. I'm glad it
was you and not your Aunt.
IT daresay you are" Miss D'Arc re-
marked grimly.
Haven't 1 done the commission fair
ly well?"
He would have given me his card,
but. as 1 had arranged that his case
should be lying at the bottom of ar
embankment when he wanted 1t, he
gave me an dc envelope instead. That
disgracefully inefficient detective
thought there was a letter inside. but
there wasn't"
They drove on In silence, she still
stroking the handle of the revolver I'M
der the lap robe. driving with n hand
Miss Dare" he said presently.
Yes"
Just to complete the picture-the
peep into decent life, you know-it may
do me good in the long run-will you
tell me VINO CoSSle Isl
My brother, Cosmo."
"Ah, l see. Thank you. Cossie
rather tripped me up. And Ellsworth
C'-what is the second manner"
Il don't see what right you ave to
ask"
None. 1 presume on your kindness.
It's only a sentimental whim."
It's Carroll, my Aunt's maiden
name. That's Curtley House."
He looked and saw a neat white
country house cleaning through the
! sullen frs and yellowing elms on the
left and he sighed. That's the end,
then. Please tell Ellsworth Carroll Boyd
how much 1 envy him his welcome
and everything. The valise is under the
seat. Please keep that nickel plated
toy as Il mOmento of your grateful
slave. If you ever meet a burglar pro-
fessional occupied. don't draw your pis-
toll until you introduce yourself as a
benefactress OF English Fitz. If that
doesn't make him apologize and retire,
shoot him"
She pulled up just before reaching a
low iron gate in the stone wall Of the
fir plantation. English Fitz alighted
| and raised his hat: Miss Dare stared
at him in u%nbending silence. He went
and patted his thanks to Kitty's nose,
then. as he turned to reconnoitre the
rail fence on the opposite side Of the
road, he raised his hat again, and this
time Miss Dare bowed.
Then Miss Dare pulled the lever
which opened the gate. and drove in at
full speed.