Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-28

"My curiosity is certainly natural"
| he said, little severely, piqued by
her superiority. 'You have told me
that you wish to speak with me in con-
| fldence. How can repose equal con-
fidence in you if YOU refuse me your
name?"
do not ask you to repose conf
dence in me, Mr.. Rolfe," was her quick
response, opening her eyes widely. Il
have brought you here to tell you
something which ! know
will greatly interest you, more so,
indeed, than the question of whom
and what l am"
"Then tell me your Christian name,
SO may address you by that"
For moment she did not reply.
Her gaze was fixed straight before
her. The wind stirred the dusty leaves
above them, causing them to sigh
slightly, while before them along the
Quai big cream colored automobile
speed swiftly, trumpeting loudly.
| At last she turned to him, and with
smile upon her fresh dimpled cheeks
she said:
my name is rather unusual one
Lorena."
"Lorena! he echoed. What a
very pretty name! Almost as charm
ing as its owner!"
She moved with gesture of mock
Impotence, declaring:
"You are really too bad, Mr.. Rolfe!
Why do you say these things?'
Il only speak the truth. feel fiat
tered that you should deign to take no
tice of such an unimportant person
as myself"
"Unimportant!" she cried, again op-
ening her eyes and making a quick
gesture which showed foreign resi-
dence. SIS Mr.. statham's secretary
an unimportant MANI"
Certainly"
"But he is Of Importance to one per-
son at least"
ITO whom?''
For a moment she did not answer.
Then, she turned her dark eyes full
upon his, and replied
ITO the woman who loves him!"
Charlie started perceptibly. What
could the girl mean? Did she mean
that she herself entertained affection
for him, or was she merely limiting at
what she believed might possibly be
the case-that he was beloved
He was more than ever dumbfound-
ed by her attitude. There was some.
thing very mysterious about her-a
mystery increased by her own sweet
piquante and unconventional manner
In his whole career he had never met
with a similar adventure. At one mo-
ment he doubted her genuineness, but
at the next he reflected how, at the
first moment of their meeting, she
hnan w " vi fo
with him alone. Her attitude was
Of one who had some confidential in
formation to impart-something no
doubt in the interests Of the world
renowned firm of Statham Brothers.
Other secret agents of Sam Stat
ham whom he had seen on their Wis
it's to Park Lane had been mostly men
and women advanced in age, for the
most wearing an outward aspect of
severe responsibility. Some were,
however, the reverse. One was a
we'll known dancer at the music halls
Of Paris and Vienna, whose pretty
face looked out from postcards In al
most every shop on the continent.
But the question was, who could be
this dainty girl who called herself
Lorena?
What do you mean by the woman
who loves me?" he asked her present
ly, after pause. 81 don't quite fol-
low you. Who does me the great
honor Of entertaining any affection fo!,
me?'
"Who? Can you really ask that?"
she said. 'Ask yourself?"
Il have asked myself" he laughed,
rather uneasily, meeting her glance
and WaVering beneath II
'Ah! you will not admit the truth,
see," she remarked, raising her fin
ger in shy reproof
"Of what?"
That you are beloved-that you are
the lover Of Maud Petrovitch!"
Maud Petrovitch!" he gasped.
'You know her? Tell me- he cried
quickly.
81 have told you" she answered, Il
have stirred your memory of fact
which you have apparently forgotten,
Mr. Rolfe.'
Observation-Disclosures Maud!' he
exclaimed. 81 have never for a mo-
ment forgotten her. She is lost to
me-and you know it. Tell me the
truth. Where is she? Where. can |
see herr"
But the girl only shook her head
slowly in sadness. Over her bright.
merry face had fallen sudden gloom,
look Of deep regret and dark de.
spair
Where is she?' he demanded,
springing up from the seat and facing
his companion.
But she made no response. She
only stared blankly before her at the
dark sluggish waters of the Seine.
(To be Continued)
Announcement.