The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-12-26
Chapter XXM'
TUE VERGE OF MoRSiSo.

IA IL ] ATUlldSS SlOOQ u III
T tie in advance. his
hand on Oscars arm
to check the rush of the little man.
Claiborne sbeathed the sword, placed
it on the table and folded his arms.
Yes; they are very interesting
"And those ribbons aud that cloak.
l assure you they are of excellent quail
ity. Oscar, put blanket on this gen.
fee and wait"
As Oscar closed the door Armitage
crossed TO the table, flung down his
gauntlets and hat and turned TO Clai-
borne.
81 didn't expect this of you. I really
didn't expect it Now that you have
found me, what do you wanti"
81 don't know-I'lI be hanged IL
Know And Claiborne grinned so that
the grotesque lines of his soiled coun-
tenance reused Armitage's slumbering
wrath.
You'd better find out. This Is my
busy night. and if you can't explain
yourself I'm going to tie you hand and
foot and drop you down the well till
finish my work. Speak up! What are
you doing on my grounds, in my house.
at this hour of the night, prying into
my affairs and rummaging in my
trunksT
Il didn't come here. Armitage. was
brought-with potato sack over my
head There's the sack on the floor,
and any of its dirt that isn't on my
face must be permanently settled in
my lungs"
What are you doing up here liz the
mountains? Why are you not at your
station? The potato sack story is pref
ty fiimsy. De- better than that and
hurry upr'
"Armitage"-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. will tell you
frankly that have blown hot and cold
about you as l never did before with
another man In my life. On the ship
coming over and when l met you I'm
Washington / thought we'll 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, clapping his hand to his
pocket to make sure Of it.
That's what | sayl But IL was a
dIsagreeable situation You must ad-
NIT that"
ut was indeedw
at requires some nerve for man to
tell circumstantial story like that to
q tableful Of gentlemen about one Of
the gentlemen
mo doubt of 1t whatever, Mr.. Clai-
borne"
Armitage unbuttoned his coat and
jerked back the lapels impatienty.
And ! knew as much about NJ.
Chauvenet as | did about you or as
do about you"
What you know Of him, Mr.. Clai-
borne. is Of no consequence. And what
you don't know about me would ill a
large volume. How did you get here.
and what do you propose doing now
that you are here? | am in z 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"
Il came up here in the hills to look
for you-you-you! Do you under
stand?" began Claiborne angrily. And
as l was riding along the road about
two miles from here 1 ran into three
! men on horseback. When | stopped to
parley with them and find out what
they were doing they crept up on me
and grabbed my horse and put that
sack over my head. They had mistak-
en- me for you, and they brought me
here, into your house, and pulled the
sack off and were decidedly disagreed
! bic at finding they had made a mis-
take. One Of them had gone in TO ran
sack your effects, and when they pull
ed of the bag and disclosed the wrong
hare he dropped his loot on the floor.
and then | told them to go to the
ievil, aud hope they've done It When
sou cane in was picking up your
traps. and / submit that the sword IS
handsome enough to challenge any
0odys eye. And there's all there is Of
the story, and | don't care whether
you believe ii or not"
Their eyes were fixed upon each 9TH
er in a gaze Of anger and resentment
Suddenly Armitage's tense figure re-
Taxed, the fierce light IN bis eyes gave
way te a CLEAN Of humor, and be
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
CHASTITY For Gods sake, go in there
and wash your face"
He made a light in his own room and
piled Claiborne with towels, while he
continued to break forth occasionally
in fresh bursts Of laughter. When