Putnam patriot., 1908-12-04

He gazed of through haraa ,.s ,sar.
 in the valley. and he smiled with the thought of her, Tor soon-perhaps In few hours-he 1 would be free 10 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 ehasm and laid his hand upon the Iron catle from which swung the 1 bridge
 "l shall soon be free" he said, with a deep sigh. and looked across the star l lighted hills.
 Then the cable under his hand vi-
 brated slightly. At first he thought it the night wind stealing through the vale and swaying the bridge above the sheer depth. But still he felt the I jingle of the iron rope In his clasp. and his hold frightened and he bent forward ! to listen. The whole bridge now audi l bly, shook with the pulsation of a step l -a soft. furtfye step. as of one cautious l iy groping q way over the unsubstan- l tial flooring. Then through the star l ll-hi nt utHliIEulSBtu u N0kHdu uS- ure and drew back A loose plank in the 1 bridge floor rattled. and as she passed I it freed itself, and he heard 1t strike the rocks falntly far below. but the l figure stole swiftly on. and he bent 1 forward. with a cry of warning on his 1 lips. and snatched away the light bar rieade that had been nailed across the 1 opening.
 When he looked up his words of re- l buke, that had waited only for the woman's security, died on his lips. Shirley he cried and put forth both hands and lifted her to firm ground.
 little sigh of relief broke from her | The bridge still swayed from her weight. and the cables hummed like the wires of harp. Near at hand the waterfall tumbled down through the mystical starlight .l did not know that dreams really came true" he said, with an awe in bis voice tbat the passing fear had left behind.
 She began abruptly. not needing his 1 words.
 You must go away at once. I came | 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" he began. '.lt is not generosity or kindness. but evil thing, and 1t must not find you here. It Is impossible that such . thing can be in America. But you mnst go You must seek the laws aid .
 How do you know l dare?" "I don't know that you dare!'
 -I know that you have a great heart and that 1 love you" he said. She turned quickly toward the bridge as though to retrace her steps "I can't he paid for . slight. . very I slight, service by fair words Mr. Armi- tage. If you knew why l came'- If l dare thlnk os believe or hope"- You viii dare nothing of the kind. Mir. Armitase.' she replied But will tell you that came out of or dinary Christian humanity. The idea of friends. of even slight acQuaint- ances. being aaaassinated in these vir- ginia hills does not please me"
 -How do you ciassify me. please with friends or acQnaintaucesT
 He laughed: then the gravity of what she was doing changed his tone.
 Il am Johp Armitage- That Is all you know. and yet you hazard your life to warn me that am in danger ?"
 If you called yourself John Smith I should do exactly the same thing. It makes not the slightest difference to me who or what you are
 You are explicit.' he laughed. "1 don't hesitate to tell you that l value your life much higher than you do."
 That Is quite unnecessary. It may amuse you to know that. as am . person of little curiosity. l. am not the least concerned in the solution of-of- what might be called the Armitage riddle"
 "Oh. I'm a riddle. am ?'
 sSot to me. assure you! You are onlv the object Of some ones enmtfy. and there's something about murder that is-that isn't exactly nice! Its positively unaesthetic.
 She had begun seriously. but laughed st the sbsurdity of her last words.
 "You are amazingly impersonal- You would save a mans life without caring in the least what manner of man hs may be"
 "You put it rather natiy. but that's ahout the truth Of the matter. Do you know. am almost afraid"-
 Not of me. I hope
 acertatnly not. But it has occurred ,o me that you may have the conceit of your own mystery, that you may tate rather too much pleasure in mys- tifving people as 10 your identity
 .sThat Is unkind-that is unkind. and he spoke without resentment, but softly. with falling cadence He sud aanIx threw down the hat be had held ,p his hand. and extended bis arms to- ward her.
 .you are not uukind or unjust You hare A right to know who | am and v.ba4 I am doing here II seems an t,nnertinence- thrust my affairs upon vo,, but if you will listen l should Ike n tell voa-it wiIl take but moment whv ard what-
 ,.p,esse do not. As told you have no curiosity in the matter. l cant