The Red Cloud chief., 1906-11-16

mel.
SO he assumed the settled purpose
he was far from feeling and sum-
moned a kindly smile to his aid.
Surely we have discussed our diff
culties sufficiently tonight he said.
"In the morning, Constance. | will
meet Mr.. Trail. He is a gentleman
and "a man Of the world. l think, too,
that his nephew will be resourceful
and wise in counsel beyond his years.
Now we are all going to obtain some
much needed rest. Neither you nor
/ will yield to sleepless hours of brood
ing. Neither of you knows that not
forty-eight hours ago | made myself
n thief i'm the determination to save
your lives and mine. 1t was a need
less burglary. l persuaded myself that
il was necessary I'm the interests of
the Trinity Brethren, those grave gen
tlemen in velvet cloaks, Enid. who
would be Mortified by the mere sug-
g%estion. I refuse to place myself on
the moral rack another time. In the
old days when I was a boy the drama
was wont to be followed by n more
lively scene. | forbid further discus
sion. Come, kiss me. both of you. l
think that a stiff glass of hot punch
will not do me any harm, o you. In
less you imbibed freely of that cham
payne | saw nesting in the ice pail"
They rose Obediently. Although they
knew he was acting a part on their
account, they were sensible that he
was adopting a san ours
Enid tried to contribute to the new
note. She bobbed in the approved style
Of the country domestic.
"Please, Sir Stephen she said,
"wOuld you like .some lemon in the
tOddy?"
Constance placed a little copper ket-
tie on the fire. Their gloom had given
way to a not wholly forced cheerful
ness-fOr in that pleasant cottage sor-
row was an unwelcome guest-when
they were surprised to hear a sharp
knock on the outer door.
At another time the incident, though
unusual at a late hour, would not have
disturbed them. But the emotions of
the night were too recent, their SUBJ
sidence too artifcially achieved, that
they should not dread the possibilities
which lay beyond that imperative sum-
mons.
Mrs. Sheppard and the servant had
retired to rest, worn out with the
anxious uncertainties of events re-
ported from the lighthouse.
So Brand went TO the door and the
girls listened in nervous foreboding.
They heard their father say:
"Hello, jenkins, what is the matter
now|"
jenkins was a sergeant of police
whom they knew.
''Sorry to trouble you, Mr.. Brand, but
an odd thing has happened. A lady, a
stranger, met me ten minute ago ana
asked me to direct her to your house.
l did SO. She appeared to be In great
trouble, so l strolled slowly after her.
/ was surprised to see her looking In
through the window of your sitting
room. As far as / could make out she
was crying fit to break her heart, and /
imagined she meant to knock at the
door, but was afraid"
NncIe 10 She! Nudt nus DecoIIe Vi
her?'
Brand stepped out into the moon
light. The girls, white and trembling,
followed.
| "Well, she ran off down the garden
path and tumbled in a dead faint near
the gate. I was too late to save her.
/ picked her up and placed her on a
seat. She is there now. I thought 1t
best before carrying her hereto tell
! you
Before Brand moved Constance ran
out, followed by Enid. In a whirl Of
pain the lighthouse keeper strobe after
them. He saw Constance STOPPING
on the garden seat. To those strong
young arms the slight, graceful form
offered an easy task.
Brand heard Ends whisper:
ooh, Connie, 1t is she!'
But the daughter, clasping her moth
err to her breast, said quietly:
dad, she has come home, and she
may be dying. We must take her in"
He made no direct answer. What
cOulu ne say Inc Slrls learlesS
words admitted of neither Eyes" nor
mo"
He turned to the policeman.
~ am much obliged to you, Jenkins"
he said. 1--WE know the lady. Unless
unless there are serious consequences
will you oblige me by saying nothing
about her? But stay. When you pass
the Mounts Bay hotel please call and
say that Mrs. Vansittart has been
seized with sudden illness and is being
cared for at my house."