The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-11-23

Meeker."
How did Il turn out?" asked Mrs.
Knapp with lively interest. Did he
get back?"
decided promptly on a judicious
amount of truth.
Eyes, he got back boiling with
wrath and loaded 20 the guards with
threats-that is. | heard so from my
men. | didn't see him myself. or you
might have found the rest Of it in the
newspaper"
What did he do? Tell me about IT,"
Mrs. Knapp gave every evidence of abb
sorbed interest.
well. he laid a trap for me at Bor-
tons, put Terrill IN as advance guard
and raised blue murder about the
place And then | went on TO give a
carefully amended account Of my first
nights row at Bortons, and with an
occasional question Mrs. Knapp had
soon extorted from me fairly full
account OF my doings
IL Is dreadful for you to expose
yourself to such dangers"
was privately OF her opinion.
oh, that's nothing" said I airily.
A man may be killed any day by a
brick falling from a building. or by
slipping on an orange peel on the
crossing"
But is dreadful TO court death so.
Yet" she mused If were a man
could envy you your work. There is
romance and life in IL, as well as
danger. You are doing in the nine
teenth century and in the midst OF
civilization what Your forefathers may
have done in the days Of chiyalry"
IL is fine life," said dryly. But
q has its drawbacks
But while you live no one can
harm the child" she said. There was
inquiry in her tone, ! thought.
l suppressed q start of surprise. u
had avoided mention Of the boy. Hen
ry had trusted Mrs. Knapp further
than l had dreamed.
He shall never be given up by me-"
| replied with conviction.
THAT is spoken Ike a true, brave
man" said Mrs. Knapp with an ad-
miring look.
Thank YOU" said modestly.
Another life than yours depends
on your skill and courage. That must
give you strength" she said softly.
1T does indeed" | replied. was
thinking Of Doddridge Knapp's life.
But here come Luella and Mrs
Bowser," said Mrs. Knapp. Il see !
shall lose your company"
Ny heart gave a great bound. and
turned to see the queenly grace Of
Luella Knapp as she entered the room
In the train OF Mrs. Bowser.
Was It fancy. or had she grown
paler and thinner since had last seen
her? surely those dark hollows under
her eyes that told Of worry and lost
sleep were not there when her bright.
ness had chained my admiration.
'Luellal" called Mrs. Knapp.
fancied she gave low, musical laugh
as she spoke. yet. the glance showed
me that her face was calm and seri.
GUS 'Luella, here is some one you
will like to see"
Luella Knapp turned and advanced
What was the look that lighted up her
face and sparkled from her eye? Be
fore l could analyze the magnetic
thrill that came from II, II was gone
A flush passed over her face and died
away as she came.
You honor our poor house once
more?" she said;r dropping a mock
courtesy. L thought you had desert
ed u.s."
mot l." said ! stoutly. holding out
my hand. saw there was a little PLAY
TO be carried on for the benefit OF Mrs
Knapp. For some reason she had no,
;onhded in her mother. mot l. I
am always your humble knight"
saw that Mrs. Knapp was looking
at us curiously, and pressed my ad-
vantage. Lucia took my hand I'M
willingly. I was ready 70 dare a good
deal for the clasp Of her fingers, but
| scarcely felt the thrill OF their touch
before she had snatched them away.
There's nothing but pretty speech
es to be had from you-and quotations
at that" she said. There was malice
under the seeming innocence Of a pre-
tended pout.
There's nothing that could be SO
becoming in the circumstances"
Except common sense" frowned
Luella.
The most uncommon OF qualities.
my dear" laughed Mrs. Knapp. "Sit
down. children. I must see TO Mr..
Carter, who is lost by the portiere and
will never be discovered unless | res.
cue him."
Take him to dear Aunt julia" said
Luella as her mother left us.
Dear Aunt julia" / inferred. was
Mrs. Bowser.
Luella took a seat and I followed
her example. Then, with chin in hand
and allow on the arm OF her chair.
1 II -