Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-10-07

1mpertinence to thrust my a6aIrs upon
you, but if you will listen should like
to tell you-it will take but a moment
why and WHAT
please do not! AS told you, l
have no curiosity in the matter. can't
allow you to tell me. really don't
want to know"
81 am willing that every one should
know-tomorrow- the day after
not later
She lifted her head, as though with
the earnestness of some new thought.
".rhe day after may be too late.
Whatever it is that you have done.
81 hive done nothing to be ashamed
of. swear | have notv'
"Whatever it is. and l don't care
what it is she said deliberately, at
is something quite serious. Mr.. Armi-
tage, My brother
She hesitated for a moment, then
spoke rapidly.
My brother has been detailed to
help in the search for you. He is at
Storm Springs now"
But he doesn't UNDERESTIMATE
''My brother is IL soldier. and 1t is
not necessary for him to understand"
'"And you have done this-you have
come to warn me-
ut does look pretty bad" she said.
changing her tone and laughing lit
tie. "But my brother and I've al
ways had very different ideas about
you, Mr.. Arrnitage. We hold briefs
for different sides of the case"
"Oh. I'm a case, am I?' And he
caught gladly at the suggestion Of
lightness i'll her tone. But I'd really
like to know what he has to do with
my affairs"
'sThen you will have TO ask him."
"To be sure. But the government
can hardly have assigned Captain Clal
borne to special duty ut Nj. Chauve
nets request. swearto you that I'm
as much in the dark as you are"
| I'm quite sure an officer of the line
would not be taken from his duties
and sent into the country on any friv-
olous Grand. But perhaps an ambas.
sador from II great power made the re-
| Quest-perhaps. for example, 1t was
Baron Won Marriott"
"Good Lord!'
Arlnitage laughed aloud.
II beg your pardon! I really beg
| your pardon! But is the ambassador
looking for meg"
81 don't know, Mr.. Armitage. You
forget that I'm only traitor and not
a spy"
"You are the noblest woman in the
world" he said boldly, and his heart
leaped in him, and he spoke on with a
fierce haste. "You have made sacrl.
nces for me that no woman ever made
before for man-for Il man she did
not know. And my life, whatever 1t is
worth, every hour and second of 1t,
lay down before You. and 1t is yours
to keep or throw away. followed
you halfway round the world, and
shall follow YOU again and as long as
live. And tomorrow or the day after
l shall justify these great kindncsses
this generous confidence, but tonight
have a work to do"
As they stood on the verge of the fla
me ny tile bridge that swung out rrol1
the cliff like fairy structure they
heard far and faint the whistle and
low rumble of the night train south
Il bound from Washington, and to bott
Of them the sound urged the very rea
and practical world from which for q
little time they had stolen away.
II must go back" said Shirley and
turned TO the bridge and put her hand
on its slight iron frame, but he seized
her wristiSlnd held them tight.
"You have risked much for me, bu
you shall not risk your life again IL
my cause. You cannot venture across
that bridge again.
She yielded without further parley
and he dropped her wrists at once.
"Please say no more. You must no
make me sorry came. must go.
should have gone back instantly"
But not across that SPIDERS web
You must go by the long road vii
give you a horse and ride with yor
into the valley"
ut is much nearer by the bridge. and
have my horse over there"
1--WE shall get the horse without trou
ble," he said; and she walked besid,
him through the starlighted wood. A,
they crossed the open tract she said:
''This is the Port of Missing Men"
Eyes, here the lost legion made 1T
last stand. There lie the graves O
some Of them. It's pretty story.
hope some day to know more of ]
from some such authority as yourself
II used to ride here on my pom!
when l was a little girl and dream
about the gray soldiers who would no
surrender. 1t was as beautiful as nj
old ballad I'll wait here. Fetch thu
horse" she said, ''and hurry, please"
"If there are explanations to Make
he began, looking at her gravely.
II am not person who makes eX
plantations, Mr.. Armitage. You ma.
meet me at the gate"
AS he ran toward the house he me
Oscar, who had become alarmed at hi
absence and was setting forth ii
search of him.
Come; saddle both the horses, Os
car" Armitage commanded.
Il 4ASS went toSclueI W luc UlIu dut
quickly brought out the horses.
"You are not to come with me, Os
car"
"a captain does not go alone.
should be the sergeant who is sent
yes?"
at is not an affair of war, Oscar
but quite another matter There is
saddled horse hitched to The other sid
Of our abandoned bridge. Get 1t an,
ride it to Judge Claiborne's stable
and ask and answer no questions"
A moment later he was riding to
ward the gate, the led horse following
He flung himself down, adjusting til
stirrups, and gave her n hand into til
saddle. They turned silently into tn
mountain road.
"The bridge would have been simple
and quicker" said Shirley. "As it is.
shall be LATE to the ball"
81 am contrite enough, but you don
make explanations"
HNo. 7 don,t oynIoip ond Won oro 4