Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-19

rlouS and com-
 "Nor can I make any pelIed respect
 adequate opology" rIa;hrra nas
 ded and threw away his cigar that he
 might give his whole attention to what
 Armitage might have to say.
 "A man does not like to have his sis
 ter forming the acquaintance of per-
 sons who are not properly vouched for
 Except for Singleton you know noth-
 ing of me, and Singleton knows very
 little of me indeed"
 1 Claiborne nodded. He felt the color
 creeping into his cheeks consciously as
 Armitage touched upon this matter. T speak to you as I do because it is your right to know who and what I am, for I am not on the King Edward by accident, but by intention, and am
 going to Washington because your sis.
 ter lives there.'
 Claiborne smiled in spite of himself.
 But, my dear sir, this is most e1-
 traordinary! Idon't know that care
 to hear any more. By listening I seem to be encouraging you to follow
 us. It's altogether too unusual. It's almost preposterous." And Dick Claiborne frowned severe ly, but Armitage still met his eyes gravely.
 Its only decent for a man to give his references when it's natural for them to be required. I was educated at Trinity college Toronto. I spent year at the Harvard law school And I am not beggar utterly. own ranch in Montana that actually pays and thousand acres of the best wheat land in Nebraska. At the Bronx Loan and Trust company in New York I have securities to considerable amount-I am perfectly willing that any one who is at all interested should inquire of the trust company officers as to my standing with them. If I were asked to state my occupation, should have to say that I am cattle herder-what you call a cowboy. can make my living in the practice of the business almost anywhere from New Mexico north to the Canadian line. fatter myself that I am pretty good at it," and John Armitage smiled and took a cigarette from a box on the table and lighted 1t.
 Dick Claiborne was greatly interested in what Armitage had said, and he struggled between an inclination to en- courage further confidence and a feel ing that he should, for Shirley's sake, make it clear to this young stranger that it was of no consequence to any member of the Claiborne family who he was or what might be the extent of his lands or the unimpeachable char acter of his investments. But it was not so easy to turn aside fellow who was so big of frame and apparently so sane and so steady of purpose as this Armitage. And there was, too, the further consideration that while Ar mitage was volunteering gratuitous in- formation and assuming an interest in his affairs by the Claibornes that was wholly unjustified, there was also the other side of the matter: that his ex- proceeded from motives of ! delicacy that were praiseworthy. Dick was puzzled and piqued besides to find l that his resources as a big protecting brother were 90 soon exhausted. What Armitage was asking was the right to seek his sistr Shirley's hand in marriage, and the thing was absurd Moreover, who was John Armitage?
 The question startled Claiborne into realization of the fact that Armitage had volunteered considerable informa. jon without at all answering this ques- ion Dick Claiborne was a human ,eing and curious.
 Pardon me-" he asked, a'but are you ln Englishmanr'
 T am not" answered Armitage. T ave been So iong tn America that [