The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-01-24
DUKE OF
DEVIL
MAY-CARE
BY r DICKSON
Aathor 81
Ihs Back VOLTS Breed. &c.
CHApTER NVii-Continued.

CHAPTER NVii-Continued.
But Anita was watching him, he
knew it. he felt it-watching him not
50 much with her eyes as with her
very soul. tortured with doubts.
The girl bad long forgot her aunt
lying an In the red ward. forgot the
people around her. forgot Alice whose
head she was stroking-forgot every
thing except the one thing. the unfor-
gettable thing. Why was Noel In that
pris0nG Why did be not deny those
fearful accusations? It was SO unlike
him 10 be silent: they talked to him
as If he had been s thieving negro.
and he said nothtng.
Yes. yes, Noel had been Wild. she
knew that But Anita came Of wild
stock herself. Brothers, father, grand
fathers-as far back as there was n
record of them-the Camerons had
been hard-riding. hard-hghting hard
loving. hard-hating gentlemen. It was
In her blood. and Anita understood.
But when men impugned the Cam
eron honor, when men accused them
Of crimel Anita's full round eyes
rested upon Noel Duke, and wondered.
The subtle magnetism Of her gaze
drew the man INTERESTINGLY toward
her; whether against his win or no.
she could not tell.
Step by step he crossed the room,
touched her on the elbow. and she.
looking at him all the while. seemed
to Ons herself and be conscious that
Be stood beside her.
Il must see you at once-aione," he
bent down and whispered. May I
come this afternoon
cat three" she answered, and gave
the address on ST. Charles avenue
Alone; people must not see me"
be insisted.
Come to the side door, next the
conservatory: around the corner on
Bellevue street. number as" Anita
went on calmly strohing Alice's hair.
IS II she were quite accustomed to
making such appointments.
He moved away aimlessiy. absent
nlndedly. AS he passed the door she
saw him step into the hail and dis
appear.
After Duke went out Anita half
listened 20 the other three young men
who we're talking angrily; they
seemed 10 be just realizing The thin
ness OF the blur thai had been played
apon them.
WELL" Chaudron remarked, limo
sently; "its no wonder that poor
Baker could not get on the track Of
anything. with all those fellows pull
ing against him.
Joe could not help Il; he looked at
Chaudron. and laughed.
Poor Baker-po0r Baker knew
nor about II han anybody; he came
out here half a dozen times to see
how Mrs. Ashton was getting on"
Chaudron stared-the fullness OF
Bakers duplicity burst upon him.
where is Baker now?" he asked OF
Joe.
Hes out there in the street. came
IN the cab with me. / saw him walk
Ing up and down the sidewalk a few
minutes ago."
Chaudron snatohCd his hat from the
table and bolted out o. the door.
The detective prided himself upon
bis intuitions-and discretion
For 40 hour be had been hanging
10 tho iron fence In front OF the little
red house trying 20 catch a Whit
from the pot OF trouble that was stew.
Ing inside. Not 3 word could ne hear.
and II made him desperately uneasy.
The atmosphere began to feel sultry,
the barometer fell as 10 the bottom
had dropped out Hits g0in' 10
blow" thought Baker. and pulled hts
hat on tighter.
II that lawyer from Vlcksburg who
looked so bloomin' g~Uod-natured
could raise such a row. Baker shud-
dered to think what would happen
when Chaudron. the fiery Creole. ex-
ploded. And the more ne thought. the
less OF curiosity be had 10 witness A.
When Chaudron bounded through
the door he saw no hdgety little Eng
lishman pacing up and down the ban.
quette; there wa no cheekered suit
hanging over the fence. and none Of
the eabmen knew IA which direction
II had vanished
Or. Anderson accompanied Mrs
Chaudron aud The girls 70 their car
riage. gave Alice bis hnal assurances,
and they drove away Chaudron hur-
ried his mother on. jerking restlessly
az his tiny mnstache.
Come along. he caught Vance by
the arm Tets 30 hnd Baker"
"Ali right the other man laughed.
getting into the cab i've got 10 play
even on somebody
Then Joe began . look around foI
Duke.
The erstwhile prisoner had disap'
peared. as silent y and ehectually a.
Baker. he had walked out q the
front door. and seeing no one 20 hin.
der went his way unmolsted.
n think ~ went down that way
he cabman suggested. pointing 10 the
dlrefilon Of Canal street
11ss ienper was eeiiiug raw ~
elistictf tsinE irrliale5 him.