The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-01-11

abe said demurely. "You certainly
made an exhaustive study"
II did not mean to be impertinent. {"
he said. II did not know that I was
rude"
"You were not" she conceded. ."It
was more that I was-well, let's say
o~bservant."
Clayton flushed. Somehow the girl
had made an impression on him when
she first came into the car. 1t was
pleasant to think that she, too, had
been Interested. The thought gave
him courage, and almost before they
realized it the porter began to brush
the passengers down.
"Mercy!". she cried. II did not know
that time was passing so. We are al
most in New York"
II wish we were headed the other
way" he said regretfully. MAY l call
before you go?"
Il sail in the morning" she said. Il
Inn sorry that I cannot say yes. You
see, l don't know what plans have
been made for this evening. and it
might not look well to have you calling
when l cannot explain"
MAY l write? he asked eagerly. 81
do not want to have you slip right out
Of my life."
II think it would be BETTER" she said
slowly. II wish you would even forget
my name. II cannot explain"
"Ill think of you as Mile. Alias" he
said promptly. your double had SO
many names that l shall pretend that
you are She"
They had risen and were standing
on the platform of the Pullman. She
put her hand in his.
Perhaps l am" she said softly.
'"Thank you so much for your kind
ness, and goodby."
She had slipped down the steps and
was lost in the crowd before Clayton
had recovered from the audacity Of
that last speech. He knew that it
could not be true, yet for a moment the
suggestion shocked him. He hurried
down the platform after her, but the
boats were just leaving their slips as
he passed through the gate, and she
was lost.
For weeks Clayton puzzled over that
speech. He knew very well that she
was not the swfndler, yet why did she
choose to create that doubt? The more
he reasoned the more puzzled he be-
came. Only one fact stood unchanged.
IIe loved her. That was certain.
Business called him to London. and
there, away from his friends. he came
to his decision. When his business at
fairs were straightened out he would
go straight to Detroit and see If he
could locate the Ormondes.
But he did not have to wait that long.
He took the boat at Southampton. and
at Cherbourg the passengers from Par
Is came on board. Clayton. leaning
over the rail on the upper deck. saw a
figure ascending the gangway that
caused his heart to. beat faster.
It could be none other than Mile.
Alias. He hurried down to the lower
deck. but could not find her, and,
though the passenger list gave her
name, for two days he looked for her
In vain.
Then, late in the evening, Z a little
figure was helped out or deck and es-
tablished in a steamer chair. Clayton
hurried toward her.
''I have been looking for you for two
days." he said when greetings had been
exchanged. Where have you conceal
ed y~ourself?"
''In my BERTH" she explained. II
have been most miserably seasick.
Why did you search for mel"
81 wanted to ask you to become my
wife," he said directly.
mot knowing whether I am a con
fdence worker or not?' she demanded.
knowing in my heart that you are
not" he corrected, why did you seek
to raise such a doubt?"
"As Il test" she said. Had you not
believed i'll me you would have lost
interest. and l wanted to seq
care you content?" he asked as his
hand closed over hers. II have never
lost faith.''
She spoke no word. yet Clayton knew
that he had won, and he bent and kiss
ed her. I'VE shall add Clayton to your
aliases he smiled. ''That ,~ill be the
last"
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