Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-16

You afr q liar, sehl"
does not know you and never heard Of
you before, and that he has not been
looking for you in the mountains or
anywhere else"
As Shirley spoke these words very
slowly and distinctly she questioned
for the first time Chauvenet's position.
Perhaps. after iall. the mountaineer had
real cause Of grievance. 1t seemed
wholly unlikely, but while she listened
to the mans reply she weighed the
matter judicially. They were In an un-
frequented part of the mountains.
which cottagers and hotel guests rare
ly explored. The mounta1neer was
saying:
Mountain folks air slow, and we
don't know much, but stranger don't
ride through these hills more than once
for the scenery. The second time he's
got to tell why, and the third time
well, miss, you kin tell the little felia'
that there amt no third time"
| Chauvenet flushed. and he calculated
hotly:
II have never been here before in
my life"
The man dropped the rife into his
arm without taking his eyes from
Shauvenet. He said succinctly, but
still with his drawl:
you air a liar. seh!'
Chauyenet took step forward. look
ed again into the rife barrel and stop
ped short. Fanny, bored by the pro-
longed lnterview. sbent her neck and
nibbled at II weed.sS.
"This gentleman has been in America
only few weeks. You are certainly
mistaken. friend" said Shirley boldly
Then the color flashed into her face MS
IN explanation Of the mountaineer's In
terest in n stranger riding the hills oc-
cured to her.
"My friend" she said. II am Mrs
Claiborne. You may know my fathers
house down in the valley. We have
been comivg here us fur back as ! can
remember"
The mountaineer listened to her
gravely, and at her FAST words he I'M
consciously nodded his head. Shirley.
seeing that lie was interested. seized
her advantage.
Il have no reason for misleading
you. This gentleman Is not u revenue
man. He probably never heard Of a.
still. do you call it?lin his life" And
she smiled upon hlmssweetly. But TX
You Will let himrgoI promise to salts
fy you entirelytfM me natter
Chauvcnet started TO speak. but Shir-
ley arrested him with a gesture and
spoke again to the mountaincer In her
most engaging tone:
Eve are both mountaineers. you and
l. and We don't want any Of our peo-
pie to he carried OF to jail. Isn't that
SO? Now let this gentleman ride away.
and shall stay here until have quite
assured you that you are mistaken
about him."
She signaled Chauvenet to mount.
holding tho mysti6ed and reluctant
mountaineer with her eyes. Her heart
was humping fast. and her hand
shook little us she frightened her
grasp on the rein. She addressed Chau-
venet in English us mark OF good
faith to their captor.
"Ride on. monsieur. Do not wait for
me-"
"But 1t Is growing dark. cannot
leave you alone. mademoislle. You
have rendered me great service.
when 1t is who should have extricat.
cd YOU
pray do not mention it! 1t is q
mere chance that am able to help.
shall be perfectly safe with this gen
tleman."
The mountaineer took of his hat.
"Thank We, MISS he said. and then
to Chauvenet, "Get.out"
Don't trouble about me in the least,
NJ. Chauvenet," and Shirley affirmed
the last word with nod as Ohauvenet
jumped into his saddle and rode Oh.
When the swifngallop of his horse had
carried him O,rt Of sight and sound
down the road. Shirley faced the noun.
taineer.
"Whut is. your name?"
.Tom Selfridge."
"Whom did you take that'man to be-
Mr.. Selfrtige?" asked Shirley. and ia
her eagerness she l,entAdown above the
mountaineer's bared tnngle Of tow.
1.-The name you called him ain't it
It's queer name never heered tell
OH befo'-it's-it's ike 1.-THE Amy
SIS 1t Armitage?'; asked Shirley
quickly.
"Thats 1t, miss! Thepostmaater over
at Lamar told me to hook out fer i'm.
He's moved up hy'eh. and 1t amt fel
no good. The words out that city
mans looking for something or .some'
body in these hills. And the mans
stayin' ~
"Where?"
"At the huntin' club where folks
don't so no more. amt seem him
but tn words passed. He's a. city
imam and stmngesc and got . little
fella' that's been IA soldier into tn
army stayin' withf'im. thought. 20
fprriner was him. (rniss. honest to God
|5lIShc incident amused Shirley. and she
1adghed aloud. She had undoubtedly
gained Information thatC haNenet had
gone forth to seek: she had-and the
thing was funMy-servCd Chauvealet
well In explaining away ,his presence
i'm the mountains and getting him out
of the clutches OF the mountaineer,
while ut the same time.she was learn.
ding Tor herself the facttof ArmitAge's
whereabouts and lkeepingtit from Chau.
f'yenet 1t was n curitMB adventure