Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-12-07
or, must needs entangle the button
If my coat-cuff In the delicate lace of

! for, l must needs entangle the button
of my coat-cuff In the delicate lace Of
lady's sleeve in passing.
1 The wearer Of the sleeve had her
back to me. and l saw the white shoul-
ders go up in Il little shrug of petulance
whilst l sought to disentagle the but
ton. Then she turned to face me and
the words of apology froZe on my lips.
Twas Mistress Margery, standing at
ease with--good heavens. with Rich
ard Jennfer and Colonel Banastre Tar
4 Teton for her company,
/ Here was q halter, with double
snafile al the end of it, was the thought
that flashed upon me- and l was gath
ering my wits to brazen it out in some
such manner as To leave .Iennifer un-
attainted, when my lady gave a little
start and {; Shrek.
La Mr.. Septiinus: how you startled
me- she cried. Then, with a tremor
of the Hip on a pause for breath taking,
she presented me: 'Golonei Tarlcton,
Mr.. Septimus Ireton. of Iretondene in
/ Vrsini;l" And next TO Dick. MIR.
\ Itichard. nay very good friend, Mr.. Ire
I sgnp
+ Twas done so ceverly and with such
an air th2l even Dick who had known
her from childhood, WAS struck dumb
with admiration. as his face sufficiently
advertised. and, indeed, had much
cent self-posscssioi, though l did make
shift TO bow stillly, and to say: II see
| should have brought the Iretondene
title deeGS with me to make you sure
that | am not my rebel cousin John,
Mistress Margery. Your servant. COL
onel Tarleton; and yours. Mr.. Rich
and"
Dicks bow was an elaborate hiding
of his tell-tale face, but the colonels
" "a 81 nf
feel the soe black eyes of him boring
into my very soul.
Had my ady given him but mo-
men's time make no doubt he would
have come instantly at the truth and
the little farce would have been turned
into a tragedy on the spot. But she
gave ln no time. The spinet in the
bah room alcove was tinkling out the
overture Ia u minuet, and she laid the
/ tips of her dainty fingers on the colo
nel'S arm.
This VIII be ours to walk through.
will ii not. Colonel Tarleton?" she said,
playing the sprighly mink TO the very
climax of perfection. Then she dipped
us a curtsg. AN revoir, gentlemen.
'ris Il thousand plies you had not
joined sooner. and so had the red coat
and small sword tc grace you here"
When they were gone Dick laughed
sardonically.
''s,aw you evcr such cool-blood lit
tie Jade in all your life? Twas with
me as it was with you. J. too, stumbled
upon them, and Gle colonel hustled me
and sct his heel on my Foot. | dare say
/ should have had myself IN mons in
another moment but for Madgc. She
Slipped in between and introduced us
as sweetly Us you please.
Nevertheless said l, the colonel
recognized us both"
No, Think you so?'
Ills certain enough to play upon.
What we do now must be done quickly
OF not at all. What have you over
hcard?"
He .swore softly. Never cursed
word; less than nothing of any inter-
est to Dan Morgan"
we must try again. Twill surely
be talked of here IL the army is about
to move. DO you take Il turn in the
ante room and meet me in a quarter
of an hour at the outer door"
Al the word Dick promptly lost
himself in The throng whilst | made u
slow circuit of the refrcshment table.
once | thought I had the clue when I,
girl hanging ON the arm OF an Infantry
lieutenant said: "Mili it be true that
you Will presently 50 cut to hunt The
rebels doWi. All. Thornicroft % but
the prudent lieutenant smiled and put
her Oft cieverly, leaving his laiY ques-
tioner--and me none the wiser.
Continued Next Week.)