The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-10-01

| kiuut fJaNuiuAfh tus aN"sN"HN
sharply. III is impossible" Then Z
Captain Claiborne. you must pardol
me II do not explain further. ] wlsl
TO find Armitage. II is OF the creates
Importance. II would not aid you II
told you why must see and talk witt
him"
And as though TO escape from tn
thing Of which his counsel had hinte'
Baron Won Marhof took bis departur'
at once.
Shirley met her brother on the We
randa. His arrival had been unher
aided, and she was frankly astonishet
to See him.
"Well, Captain Claiborne, you are
man OF mystery. You will undoubted
ly he court martlaled for deserving
and after long leave too"
Il am on duty. Don't forget that
you are the daughter Of diplomat"
"Humph! 1t doesn't follow necessari
ly that should be stupid"
"You couldn't be that. Shirley, dear
THANK you. captain"
They discussed family matters for a
few minutes: then she said. with elab
crate irrelevance:
"Well, we must hope that your sp'
pearance will cause no battles TO be
fought In our garden. There was
enough lighting about here In old
times"
Take heart, little sister. ] shall pro
tect you. oh, it's rather decent Of Ar
mitage to have kept away from you
Shirley, after all that fuss about th'
bogus baron"
which he wasn't
"Well, Sanderson says he couldn'
have been. and the rogues' gallery pic
lures don't resemble our friend at all.
ugh. don't speak Of it!'' And Shir
ey shrugged her shoulders. She SUI
fered her eyes to climb the slopes OF
the far hills Then she looked steadily
at her brother and laughed
what do you and father and Baron
Won Marhof want with Mr. John Armi
tageY she asked.
"Guess again!" exclaimed Dick hur
riedly. Has that been the undercur
rent Of your conversation? As | may
have said before In this connection
you disappoint me, Shirley. You seen
unable to forget that fellow"
He paused. grew very serious and
bent forward in his wicker chair.
Have you seen John Armitage since
saw himY
"Impertinentl How dare you"
But, Shirley, the question Is fair"
rs II, RichardY't
"And | want you to answer me-"
"Thats different"
He rose and took several steps to-
ward her. She stood against the rail-
ing, with her hands behind her back.
Shirley, you are the finest girl In
the world, but you wouldn't do this
This what, Dickf"
'.You know what mean. ] ask you
again have you or have you not seen
Armitage since you came to the
Springs?"
He spoke impatiently, his eyes upon
hers. A wave OF color swept her face
and then her anger passed, and she
was her usual good natured self.
"Baron Won Marhof is charming
old traptiamap Isn't hep
Hes a regular old brick" declared
Dick solemnly.
"Its a great privilege for young
man like you to know him. Dick, and
to have private talks with him and the
governor about subjects OF deep i'm
portance. The governor Is a good deal
OF man himself"
II am proud to be his son." declared
Dick, meeting Shlrley's eyes unfiinch-
ingly.
Shirley was silent for moment,
while Dick whlstled few bars from
the latest waltz.
"A captain-a mere captain OF the
line--ls not often plucked out OF his
post when In good health and stand
ing--after long leave for foreign
travel and sent away to visit his par
ents aud help entertain distinguished
ambassador"
Thanks for the mere captain dear
est You needn't rub II in"
Il wouldn't. But you are fair game
for your sister only. And you're bet
ter known than you were before that
little supper for the Spanish attache.
II rather directed attention to you,
didn't II, DIckY'
Dick colored
1T certainly did"
And If you should meet N. Chauve-
net, who caused the trouble
Il have every intention Of meeting
him"
"Ohr
"of course | shall meet him-some
time. somewhere. He's at the Springs,
isn't her'
Am a hotel register that ] should
knowf | haven't seen him for sew
erai days"
What should like 10 See" said
Dick. lis a meeting between Armltage
aud chauyenet That would really be
entertaining. No doubt Chauyenet
could whip your mysterious sultor."
He looked away, with an air Of un.
concern. al the deepening shadows on
the mountains.
Dear Dick, ] am quite sure that "
you have been chosen out Of all the
United States army 20 hnd Mr.. John
Armiiage you Will succeed without
any help from me-"
THAT doesn't answer my question
You don't know what you are doing
What II father knew that yod were
seeing this adyenturer'-
-oh. OF course. II you should tell IA
,ber. hageu't said that J had seen
Mr.. Arnitage. and you haven't exactly
told me that you have a warrant for
his arrest 80 We are quits, captain
You had better look in at the hotel
dance tonight There are girls there
and 10 spare"
when md Mr.. Armitsge''-
"Yoc seen scgs,El captain H MAJ