Richmond daily palladium., 1906-02-12
CHAPTER XIX.

rare and peculiar gift of Immediately
adapting himself to circumstances. To
lie now would be folly, worse than
useless. He had addressed this man
at his side by his military title. He
stood committed. He saw that he must
throw himself wholly on the colonel's
mercy and his sense of the humorous.
He pointed toward the stables and drew
the colonel after him; but the colonel
held back.
"That rose first; insist upon hav-
ing that rose till you have given me
a satisfactory account of yourself"
Warburton reluctantly surrendered
his treasure. Force of habit is a pecu-
liar one. The colonel had no real
authority to demand the rose; but
Warburton would no more have
thought of disobeying than of running
away.
"You will give It back to me?"
THAT remains to be seen. Go on;
am ready to follow you. And do not
want any dragging story, either" The
colonel spoke impatiently.
Warburton led him into his room
seated himself on the edge of the cot
and lighted fresh cigar.
well, sir, out with 1t. ! am wait
ing"
Warburton took several turns about
the room. 81 don't know how the deuce
to begin, Colonel. II began with q
Joke that turned out wrong"
Indeed" d?"-sarcastically. "Let me
hear about this joke"
M'sieu thames dallied no longer,
but plunged boldly into his narrative.
Sometimes the colonel stared at him as
II he beheld a species of lunatic abso-
lutely new to him, sometimes he
laughed silently, sometimes he frowned.
That's ALL" said Thames; and he
stood watching the colonel with dread
IN his eyes. ..es.
well, of all the damn fools!"
"Sir?"
"Of all the jackasses!" &c.
Warburton bit his lip angrily.
The colonel swung the rose to and
fro. "Yes, sir. a damn fool!"
IT dare say that am, sir. But I
have gone too far to back out now.
Will you give me back that rose, Colo
nel?"
What do you mean by her?"-
coldly.
Il love her with all my heart
my wife, my companion, my partner
in all l have to do. love her, and
! don't care a hang who knows It."
mot SO loud. my friend; not so
loud"
"Oh. don't care who hears, dis
couragedly.
"That beats the very devil! You've
got me all balled up. Is Betty Annes-
ley a girl of the kind we read about
in the papers as eloping with her
groom. What earthly chance had you
in this guise, should like to known"
II only wanted to be near her;
did not look ahead"
well. should say not! How long
were you behind that trellis?'
"A year. so 1t seemed to me-"
"Any lunatics among your ances-
tors?"
Warburton shook his head, smiling
wanly.
81 can't make 1t out" declared the
colonel. "A graduate of West Point
the fop of Troop A, the hero of hun
dred bathrooms, disguised as a hostler
and serving soup!"
Always keep the motive in mind
Colonel; you were young yourself
once" .-... ....
The colonel thought of the girls
mother. Yes he had been young once
but not quite SO young as this cub oil
his. ....... a....-
What chance do you suppose you
have against the handsome Russian
"She has rejected him."-thought-
lessly.
"Ha!"-frowning. $50 you were
eavesdropping?
"Wait moment, Colonel. You know
that | am very fond of music. was
listening 10 the music. 1t had ceased
and was waiting for IL to begin again
when heard voices"
"Why did you not leave them"
"And be observed? dared not!"
The colonel chewed the end of his
cigar in silence.
And now may l have that rose
sir ?"-quietly.
The colonel observed him warily H,
knew that quiet tone. 1t said that i
he refused to give up the rose he would
have to fight for it, and probably ge
licked into the bargain
1--WE notion you might attemp
to take 1t by force in case refused" :"
81 surrendered it peacefully enough
SIR
$50 you did. Here" The colone
tossed the flower ACROSS the room an,
Warburton caught IL
II should like to know. sir. II 20,