The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-08-28


most deserted at that hour, and there
was delightful sense OF solitude and
a sweet scent Of new mown hay from
the freshly cut lawns. She found an
empty bench, we'll shaded by an over
spreading tree, and sat down, CRATE
full for the rest and quiet.
She wondered what Jefferson thought
of her action in coming to his fathers
house practically In disguise and I'M
der an assumed name. She must see
him at once, for In him lay her hope Of
obtaining possession OF the letters.
Certainly she felt no delicacy or COM
junction in asking Jefferson to do her
this service. The letters belonged to
her father, and they were being wrong
fully withheld with the deliberate pur-
pose of doing him an injury. She had
a moral IL not legal right to recover
the letters in any way that she could.
She was so deeply engrossed in her
thoughts that she had not noticed a
hanson cab which suddenly drew up
with a jerk at the curb opposite her
bench. A man jumped out 1t was JEFF
ferson.
"Hello, Shirley" he cried gayly.
"Who would have expected to find you
rusticating on a bench here? pictured
you grinding away at home doing lit
erary stunts for the governor" He
grinned and then added: Come for a
drive. want to talk to you"
Shirley demurred. No; she could not
spare the time. Yet, she thought to
herself, why was not this a good op-
portunity to explain to Jefferson how
he came to find her In his fathers IL
brary masqueradlng under another
name and also to ask him to secure the
letters for herr While she pondered
Jefferson insisted, and few minutes
later she found herself sitting beside
him in the cab. They started off at a
brisk pace, Shirley sitting with her
head back, enjoying the strong breeze
caused by the rapid motion.
"Now tell me-" he said, what does
ing you in the library the other day
that almost betrayed you. How did
you come to call on fatherT
Briefly Shirley explained everything.
She told him how Mr.. Ryder had writ
ten to her asking her to call and see
him and how she had eagerly seized at
this last straw in the hope OF helping
her father. She told him about the let
tiers, explaining how necessary they
were for her fathers defense and how
she had discovered them. Mr.. Ryder,
she said, had seemed to take a fancy
to her and had asked her to remain in
the house as his guest while she was
compiling his biography, and she had
accepted the offer not so much for the
amount Of money involved as for the
splendid opportunity it afforded her to
gain possession Of the letters.
80 that is the mysterious work you
spoke of, to get those letters7" said
jefferson.
YES; that is my mission. 1t was
secret 1 couldn't tell you. 1 couldn't
tell any one. Only Judge Stott knows.
He is aware / have found them and is
hourly expecting to receive them from
me. And now" she said, 81 want your
help"
His only answer was to grasp tighter
the hand she had laid in his. She
knew that she would not have to ex-
plain the nature of the service she
wanted. He understood.
where are the letters?' he demand
ed.
"In the left hand drawer of your IA
theirs desk" she answered.
He was silent for a few moments,
and then he said simply:
II will get them"
The cab by this time had got as far
as Claremont, and from the hill sum-
NIT they had a splendid view Of the
broad sweep of the majestic Hudson
and the towering walls Of the blue
palisades. The day was so beautiful
and the air so invigorating that Jeffer-
son suggested a ramble along the
banks Of the river. They could leave
the cab at Claremont and drive back
to the city later. Shirley was too
grateful to him for his promise Of Co
operation to make any further opposi-
ton, and soon they were far away
from beaten highways, down on the
banks OF the historic stream, picking
flowers and laughing merrily like two
truant children bent on a self made
holiday. The place they had reached
was just outside the northern bound
aries Of Harlem, a sylvan spot still un-
spoiled by the rude invasion Of the fat
house builder. The land, thickly wood
ed, sloped down sharply to the wa
ter, and the perfect quiet was broken
only by the washing Of the tiny surf
against the river bank and the shrill
notes of the birds In the trees.
Although 1t was late In October, the
day was warm, and Shirley soon tired
Of climbing over bramble entangled
verdure. The rich grass underfoot
looked cool and inviting, and the nat
ural slope OF the ground affording an
ideal resting place she sat there, with
Jefferson stretched out at her feet, both
watching idly the dancing waters Of
the broad Hudson, spangled with
CLEANS Of light, as they swept swiftly
nv IN their tOrrnev m tho son