Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-01-09

made an exhaustive study
| Il did not mean to be impertinent,"
he said. Il did not know that was
rude"
''You were not" she conceded. cit
was more that l was-well, let's say
observant"
| 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. Il did not know
that time was passing so. We are al
most in New. York.
Il wish we We're headed the other
way" he said regretfully. May l call
before you go?'
II sail in the morning." she said. 81
am sorry that l 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 I cannot explain"
MAY I write?" he asked eagerly. 81
do not want to have you slip right out
Of my life"
Il think it would be BETTER" she said
slowly. Il wish you would even forget
! my name. IL cannot explain"
I'LL think Of you as Mile. Alias" he
said promptly. Your double had so
many names that 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 We're just leaving their slips as
he passed through the gate, and she
was lost.
For weeks Clayton puzzled over that
| speech. He knew very we'll that she
was not the swindler, yet why did she
choose to create that doubt? The more
he reasoned the more puzzled he be-
came. Only one fact stood unchanged.
He loved her. That was certain.
Business called him to London, and
there, away from his friends, he came
to his decision. When his business af-
fairs were Strengthened 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
figure ascending the gangway that
caused his heart to beat faster.
1t 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, wan little
figure was helped out on deck and es-
tablished in a steamer chair. Clayton
hurried toward her.
II have been looking for you for two
days." he said when greetings had been
exchanged. "Where have you conceal
ed yourself"
I'm my BERTH she explained. 81
have been most miserably seasick.
Why did you search for me?"
| II wanted to ask you to become my
wife," he said directly.
"Not knowing whether l am a con-
idence 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 test" she said. HAD you not
believed in me you would have lost
interest, and wanted to see''-
Are 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. 1--WE shall add Clayton to your
aliases" he smiled. THAT will be the
last"