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

a Maroon cut. ~ tha ra,,ov
and he smiled with the thought of her,
for soon-perhaps in few hours-he
would be free to go to her, his work
done, and no mystery or dangerous
task would henceforth lie between
them. He walked quite to the brink
of the chasm and laid his hand upon
the iron cable from which swung the
bridge.
81 shall soon be free" he said, with
deep sigh, and looked across the star
lighted hills.
Then the cable under his hand vi
brated Slightly. At first lie thought 1t
the night wind stealing through the
vale and swaying the bridge above the
sheer depth. But still he felt the
tingle of the iron rope in his clasp, and
his hold frightened and he bent forward
to listen. The whole bridge now audi
bly, shook with the pulsation Of step
"a soft, furtive step. as of one cautious
ly CROPPING Il way over the unsubstan-
tial flooring. Then through the star.
Light he distinguished woman's fig.
ure and drew back. a loose plank in the
bridge floor ratified, and as she passed
it freed itself, and lie heard it strike
the rocks family far below, but the
figure stole swiftly on, and he bent
forward, with Il cry of warning on his
lips, and snatched away the light bar
ricade that had been nailed across the
opening. :.
When he looked up his words of re
buke, that had waited only for the
woman's security, died on his lips.
"Shirley!' he cried and put fortl
both hands and lifted her to firm
ground.
A little sigh OF relief broke from her
The bridge still swayed from he
weight, and the cables hummcd Xix,
the wires of harp. Near ut hani
the waterfall tumbled down through
the mystical starlight.
II did not know that dreams reall.
came true" he said, with an awe ii
his voice that the passing fear had lief
behind.
She began abruptly. not needing hi
| words.
you must go away at once. cam
to tell you that you cannot stay here.
"But 1t is unfair to accept any warn
ing from you. You are too generous
too kind" lie began.
ut is not generosity or kindness, blu
this danger that follows you. 1t is III
evil thing, and it must not find 70,
here. 1t is impossible that such
thing can be in America. But yol
must so. You must seek the law
aid"
"How do you know dare?"
II don't know that you dare!'
II know that you have great hear
and that love YOU" lie said.
She turned quickly toward the bridg
us though to retrace her steps.
81 can't be paid for slight. n yer,
slight. service by fair words. Mr.. Arm
iage. If you knew why came
"If dare think or believe or hope"-
you will dare nothing of the kint
MFR. Armitage!" she replied "But
will tell you that came out of OIL
linary Christian humanity. The ide
Of friends. of even slight acquaint
ances, being assassinated in these Vii
ginia hills does not please me-"
"How do you classify me, please
with friends or acquaintance?
Hc laughed; then the gravity of wha
she was doing changed his tone.
IL am John Armitage. That is al
you know, and vet yon hazards you
life to warn me that ]. am in danger?
IF you called yourself John Smitl
l should do exactly the same thing. /
makes not the slightest difference t.
mo who or what you are
You are explicit" he laughed. :.
don't hesitate to tell you that valu
your life much higher than you do"
"That is quite unnecessary. 1t ma
amuse you to know that, rs am
person of little curiosity, am not til
least concerned in the solution of-of-
what might be called the Armitag
riddle"
ooh. I'm riddle. am II"
''Not to me. assure you! You az
only the object of some ones enmity