Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-07-12
Captains Double
81 LILLIAs CAMPBELL DAVIDSON


she seemed in agitation and distress.
My memory is a particularly long
one. But nobody could forget that you
had honored them SO recently"
Il am almost afraid to say it--afraid
lest should vex you. | have had a
cruel knowledge Of men who were not
always SO kind as you"
He supposed the husband must have
been a brute: 1t is the vague impress
sion most men have about the depart
ed when a widow is lovely and hints
at an unsatisfied life. He looked his
sympathy, and hoped she would go on.
1t was evident that she meant to make
her confidence here, of whatever sort
1t was-and she might be lengthy. He
was anxious to get back to the ball
room and ask Ursula why she had
thrown him over SO unwarrantably.
"Oh, am sure you must not speak
as If were exceptional All the world
must be kind to you" Countess Ilka
shook her beautiful dark head mourn
fully, and cast look at him from I'M
der her long lashes, look that had
made many a man powerless
Not all--not even the most part.
But you are not like any one ever
met" The best OF men have no OBJ
lection to be told they are an inch
above their fellows. Winstanley
laughed, little embarrassed, but he
was not displeased.
Il dare to say this thing to you, and
you will not be angry, l know. Tell
me, are you true friend enough to help
a helpless woman who has few friends,
though she has enough false ones and
to spare?"
II should be glad to do anything for
you that was in my power. hope
you do not need to be assured of that"
Poor little woman-no doubt she was
alone in the world, and lonely, and had
no one to advise her. Would she be
quick and tell him, and get it done?
We'll, then, | hardly know how to
begin it. You will not be vexed, you
promise me that?" Her look of dis
tress, OF anxiety, might have moved u
heart of granite. Winstanley's was
soft heart.
i can promise with security to be
angry at nothing you could say"
Thank you-ah, thank you'll" For
a moment her small gloved hand
touched his with a grateful pressure,
as 1t lay on the table between them.
Then hers was hastily withdrawn.
could make 1t a long, long story"
Even in his sympathy he hoped she
would not do that. But this is not
the time nor place for it. Let me just
tell you the briefest facts of the case.
i can tell you all at another time, if
you will do what / ask now. am very
lonely In the world--you must have
seen that; am an exile from my cid
home, my country: have no relatives
hardly one true friend but your self.
But the thing that is dearest to me in
all the world is a young brother, my
husbands brother--a mere boy--the
last of a noble family. He is very poor;
the estates have passed from him: he
must work for his very bread. He is
clever-oh, so clever; he might make
a name in science If he had but TIE
money and the chance to carry out his
experiments.
He Is devoted to chemistry, and for
one SO young he has done some won
.ders in 1t already, helped by books
written by a grandfather OF his, who
was a great scientist and experiment
talist, too. In one of these old books
he has discovered the secret of a
strange explosive" Countess Ilka's
furtive look was fixed unswervinglys
on Winstanley under her black eye
lashes. He is convinced that it is OF
such Importance as to be able to make
the fortune of the inventor, but now
a dreadfully disquieting rumor has
reached his ears before he has been
able to perfect the thing sufficiently to
offer 1t to the English government as
he had hoped. He is told that the com
mandant here has discovered a sim
liar explosive -.Winstanley was list
ening intently and, if that is. SO. of
course It will destroy all his hopes Of
fame and success. ! have thought it
all over-I must find out somehow il
this is the truth, and you are surely
the one to help me. You will be able
to tell me IL this Is so.
She was leaning far over the table
In her anxiety to bring her low words
close to Winstanley's ear. Her hands
were clasped before her; the softened
light fell tenderly on her round white
arms and the cleaning lustre of her
Jewels and her erock. Her dark eyes.
with q strange magnetism in them.
were fixed upon his own. She leant q
little farther forward, and breathed
lower, In q tone that thrilled like a
chord Of music. ss'You must
know you will help me to set my poor
brothers. fears at rest. = .
n Winstanley's whole face seemed to
change anu freeze He had been
listening. II with eyers 80 great anxiety
for her speech to be over and he him,
Iself set free, still with interest and
wonder as to what appeal she was
making to him. but now he seemed
suddenly % be on his guard. He sat
erect sharply from the confidential
attitude he had tnstinctively copied