Putnam patriot., 1908-12-25
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 Is Oscar closed the tioor Arrnstar rt crossed b the table. flung down b,, Eanhtiets and hat and turned to Clat borne. >zs-'.
 T didn't expect this of you. really didn't expect it Now that YOU have found ne. what dc you wantsr
 don't kR0w-I3l be hanged if hnoR! And Claiborne urinneal So fha, the gfotesqge lines of his sails,i conn. teaanee reused Armltage,S <.sui.erlns wrath.
 You'd better find out, This is my busy night and f you can't explain yourself I'm going to tie you hand and foot and drop you down the well tiR | finish my work. Speak up. What are You doing oa my grounds. in uiy house. aI this hour Of the night. prying into my affairs and rummaging in my trunks 2.
 T didn't come here. Afmitage. was breusht-with a potato sack over my head. There's the sack on the floor. and any Of it's dirt that isn't on my face must be permanently settled in my lungs
 What are you doing up here in the monntains2 Why are you not at your station? The potato sack story is pret- ty fiimsy. Do better than that and hurry apt-
 sArmitage"-as he spoke Claiborne walked to the table and rested his fin- ger tips on it-"Armitage, you and have made some mistakes during our short acquaintance. I will tell you frankly that have blown hot and cold about you as 1 never did before with another man in my life. On the ship coming over and when met you in Washington l thought well of you. Then your cigarette case shook my confidence in you there at the Army and Navy club that night, and now''-
 D my cigarette caser' beloved Armitage, elapping his hand 10 his pocket to make sure of 1t
 That's what | sayi But 1t was A disasreea ble situation. You must ad- init that
 "It was indeedr'
 Tt requires some nerve for q man to tell circnmstantial story like that to a tablefnl of gentlemen about one of the gentlement'
 No doubt of 1t whatever. Mir. Clai- borne"
 Armitage unbuttoned his coat and jerked back the lapels lmpatiently.
 
 Ghauvenet as l did about you or AS do about you"
 "What you know of him. Mir. Clai- borne. is of no consequence. And what you don't know about me would fill large volume How did you get here. and what do you propose doing now that you are here1 I am ia a hurry and have no time to waste If can't get anything satisfactory out Of you within two minutes I'm going to chuck you back into the sack"
 ''I came up here in the hills to look for you-you-yon. Do you under stand?r began Claiborne angrily. And us 1 was riding along the road about two niles from here 1 ran into three men on horseback When I stopped to pariey with them and find cut what they were doing they erept ep on me and grabbed my horse and put that sack esef tny head. They had mistak- en me for YOU and they brought me here, into your house. and pulled the sack of and were decidedly dsagreea- hle at finding they had made mis- take One of them had gone in to ran- sack y0ur effects. and when they pull. ed off the bag and disclosed the wrong hare he dropped his loot on the floor. and then I told them to go to the devil, and hope they've done it When you came in 1 was picking up your traps, and submit that the sword Is handsome enough to challenge any body's eye And there's all there is of the story. and don't care whether you believe 1t or not.
 Their eyes were fixed upon each oth- CT in a gaze of anger and resentment. Suddenly Armitage's tense figure re- faxed, the fierce light in his eyes gave way to gleam of humor, and he laughed long and loud
 Your face--your face, Claiborne. It's funny. It's too funny for any use When your teeth show, it's something ghastly For Gods sake. go in there and wash your faee.'
 He made light in his own room and piled Claiborne with towels. while he continued to break forth occasionally in fresh bursts of laughter. When they went into the hall both men were grave.
 "Claiborne''-
 Armitage put out his hand. and Ciai- borne took ii in vigorous clasp.
 You don't know who am or what am, and | haven't got time to tell you now. It's long story. and l have much to do. but l swear to you. Ciai- borne. that my hands are clean. that the game l am playing Is no affair or my own, but big thing that have pledged myself to carry through want you to ride down there in the valley and keep Marhof quiet for few hours. Tell him l know more of what's going on in Vienna than he does and that if he will only sit in . rock tnR chair and tell you fairy stories tiii morning we can all be happy. ls It barrain-or-must still hang your head down the well till get throughY
 .Marhof may 90 to the devil! Hes . lot more mysterious than even you. Armitage. These fellows that brought me up here to kill me in the belief that Iwas you cannot be friends of Mar hofs cause"
 .They are not l assure you they ars not They are biaekguards of the black est dye"
 T believe you. Armits ge-"
 .Thank you Now your horse is at