The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-15
Captains Double
BY L1LLIAs CAMPBELL DAVIDSON
CHAPTER xxlIl.-(continued.)

CHAPTER <xliI.-(continued.)
The night was fine, with occasional
snatches of moon. Winstanley ex-
changed a "good night with an &C.
quaintance, who was palpably hurry
ing Admiralty Housewares, and as
cended the steps of Countess nka' S
abode. The house was in semi-dark-
ness; the electric light was only up
here and there. He was shown into
her morning room, where she sat amid
rose-shaded dimness and the scene OF
flowers, while fire of ship-wood burnt
in the CRATE.
This is good of you" She put out
an eager hand and greeted him. He
noticed that she was flushed and ner-
vous, and he pitied her embarrass-
ment. After all, a man if not very bad
on woman who has confessed she
likes him. He took the. chair close be-
side her that she motioned him to-,
and pushed it trife further back.
you have something to tell me?"
he asked. when the first rather con-
strained commonplaces had been ex-
changed. Something you think I will
be glad to know? 1t is very kind OF
you to trouble about it. I don't know
quite what you mean-but you are
very good to interest yourself. 1t is
true that there has been some little
mischief DONE"
Il was sure of it," Her eyes were
on the door. It was opened now, and
a servant came in noiselessly with
coffee. One would have said,s watch
ing her, that she hailed it's entrance
with relief. Winstanley was too deep
in his own affairs to see 1t. She took
her cup, but he waved aside the one
presented to him.
mo, thanks" Countess Ill1a started
forward almost eagerly. "Oh, but you
will, surely! You cannot refuse to
take food or drink under my roof, or I
shall think have forever offended
you. In my own land that is only what
declared enemies do.'
"Oh, very WE'LL" He smiled at her
fancy, but he took the dainty cup the
man presented again. Il had mine
just before I came out; but, if it is a
sign of amity, of course !: must drink
another cup"
She was not drinking hers; she was
watching him over it, with a strange,
furtive glance fixed upon his face.
When he put down the empty cup in
its saucer she drew long breath and
slid her own unepptied cup behind her
on the silken stand with tiny Shelf
"Now we can talk it all over" she
said, sweetly and smilingly. II am
sure there has been trouble between
you and dear, dear friend. I can put
it all right with a word to her-I want
to speak that word and make you hap
py. 1t is the least I can do"
"It's awfully good of you." He was
suddenly aware that her voice seemed
to come from far away. He reused
himself with jerk. What was this
strange rush of drowsiness, this long
ing for sleep, that was creeping over
him? The room was dark and over
heated, he felt his eyelids heavy, and
his head raised itself from the chair
back where it had Slowly descended
with jerk This was absurd-prepos-
ferrous. In another: minute he would
be asleep, if he did not rouse himself.
lawfully good of you. I don't know
why you should" The words
tailed off helplessly His head had
sunk down for the second time, and
now it, did not rise again. He drew a
long, signing breath and was STILL
Countess Ilka bent forward eagerly
but cautiously from her chair. Her
cheeks burnt with two bright spots of
excitement, and her eyes glowed. 1T
works, it answers" she whispered to
herself. "At last have been success
full in this, though I failed in the other.
Poor fool! How easily he came into
the nett" She watched anxiously for
another moment. Then softly, stealth
lily, she put out her hand and slipped it
inside his coat. First one of his waist
coat pockets, and then the other. He
lay as unheeding as log.
In the second she found what she
wanted-a bunch of keys. She un-
fastened them and rose to her feet.
for an instant she stood looking down
at him as he lay with relaxed limbs
and heavy breathing, the rose light on
his face "The- other woman will not
even look at you after tonight" she
said under her breath. "And I-I-if
had been able to make you love me, I
would only have loved you the more
for it. Heavens, how could have
cared for you! If I had known you
years and years ago might have been
a good woman still!'' She stood
looking down on him. Then, with a
ST dden, swift -stoop, she bent and laid
her lips to his forehead, tenderiy,z re.
grftfully, as mother might have
kissed her dead child. She stralghten-
ed herself with shake Of her shoul-
>der4 and. long. long sigh. Then she