Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-09-24

H. Il f<.n
49, = - struck him
squarely in the face, and be tumbled
over the wall. and Shirley heard him
crash through the hedge of the neigh
boring estate. Then all was quie.
again
The game of hide and seek in the
garden and the scramble over the wall
had consumed only two or three min
utes. and Shirley now waited, her eyes
bent upon the darkly outlined pergola
for some manifestation from the re
naming intruder. A man now walked
rapidly toward the veranda. carrying n
cloak on his arm. She recognized Ar
mitage instantly. He dotted his hat
and bowed The lights of the house
lamps shone full upon him. and she
saw that he was laughing a little
breathlessly.
This is really fortunate. Miss Clai
borne. | owe your house an apology
will offer it to YOU
He threw the cloak over his sboulde,
and famed himself with his hat.
.You are most informal person
Mr.. Armitage." said Shirley coldly.
I'm afraid | am. The most amazine
i'll luck follows me. | had dropped il.
to enjoy the quiet and charm of your
garden. but the tranquil life is not fol
me- There was another gentleman
equally bent on enjoying the pergola
We engaged in pretty running match
and because | was deeter of foot he
grew ugly and tried to put me out OF
commission"
He was still laughing. but Shirley
felt that he was again trying to maxi
light of a serious situation, and a fur
ther.tie Of secrecy with Armitage was
not to her liking. AS he walked boldly
to the veranda steps she stepped back
from him.
ANo, no! This is impossible 1t will
not do at all. Mr.. Armitage 1t is not
kind of you to come here in this
strange fashion,
I'm this way forsooth! How could !
send in my card when was being
chased all over the estate? didn't
mean TO apologize for coming" and HI.
laughed again with a sincere mirth
that shook her resolution to deal harsh
~ with him. But" he went on. iii
was the flower pot He was mad be-
.ause | beat him in the foot race and
wanted TO shoot me from the wall.
and tossed him a potted geranium--
geraniums are splendid for the purpose
o.,H S.o In ho
have the knack of it. Once before
handed him a boiling pot"
ut must have hurt him." said Shir-
ley And he laughed at her tone that
was meant to be severe.
81 certainly hope so. | most devout-
~ hope he felt it. He was most ten
derry solicitous for my health, and If
he had really shot me there in the gar
den it would have had an ugly look.
Armitage, the false baron, would have
been identified as a daring burglar,
shot while trying to burglarize the
Claiborne mansion. But / wouldn't
take the Claiborne plate for anything
assure You"
81 suppose you didn't think Of us-all
Of us-and the unpleasant conse
quences TO my father and brother If
something disagreeable happened here
There was real anxiety in her tone
and he saw that he was going too fal
with his light treatment of the AFFAIR
His tone changed instantly.
PLEASE forgive me. would moi
cause embarrassment or annoyance to
any member of your family for king
doms. | didn't know | was being fol
lowed had come here to see you
That is the truth OF II"
You mustn't try to see me. You
mustn't come here at all unless yon
come with the knowledge Of my "a
Their. And the very fact that your life
Is sought so persistently-at most I'm
usual times and In impossible places
leaves very much to explain"
~