Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-02
[~ooNT1NuED.I

tuan ever. But must not the other one
too? She had seen the same look
had won it-but his crime made a diff
ference to her. To Peggy it made
none. She neither knew nor cared
what it was, and there lay her slight
advantage. 1t was too slight. She
loved him, but so much the other.
Her love lay near to hate. She would
see If she could not push the other
woman's nearer yet.
She reached the house, and nobody
was in the way. Lady Starkie was
writing letters in the breakfast room.
Peggy was soon listening at the other
woman's door-listening to her sobs.
She compressed her lips and nodded
to herself with splendid confidence. At
length there fell a silence, in which
Peggy knocked and entered.
II beg pardon, miss, but was Thomas
not in the boat shed? It's sorry 1 am
your presence, miss!"
mo; he was there"
AN did he refuse ye?"
"No-I-changed my mind"
"Glory be to God, miss! IT'S me-
self would let m know It if be gave
any Of his sauce to the masther's lady.
I'd have no more to do wild m at ALL"
Claire turned pale.
"You would have no more to do with
him?" said she very slowly. g" don't
understand you"
"Sure n how would you? He
wouldn't be afther tellin' a lady like
you"
TELLING ME what, my good grip
She was trembling now.
Gle came to the factory last week,
miss. Yell niver guess why-to choose
a wife"
"a wife!"
"An' it's me he chose-you ask the
masther when he comes back"
The master came back in time for
lunch. He found Claire, on the veran-
da with a white face and an angry
eye, loudly declaring she felt another
being.
Tom heard and saw her and waited
UNANIMOUSLY for the first time. He
could not understand it at all. She
had left the boat shed with a very diff
ferent mien. What could she have
found out since then? That he had
purposely misled her for her own
good? That was impossible. Yet he
knew so well from her proud, averted
face that Claire had discovered some
thing fresh against him. Whatever
that discovery might be, however, it
was destined not to be her last that
day.
They were still at luncheon when
Peggy burst into the room.
NAT Sullivan an the thrapsw she
gasped. cts afther Tom they are, In
I tould m he absconded last night.
Oh, sir, say that same, for Ginger's
there, too, In there's the blood in their
eyes!"
Here was a bombshell from the least
expected quarter, at the least expected
time. Tom felt the blood rush to his
face, draining his heart, but he stood
his ground until Daintree ordered him
out of the way Of the windows. Claire
sat m%otionless. Lady Starkie was less
calm. But Daintree rose up from the
table with perfect but ostentatious
sangfroid, and he patted Peggy on the
UdCh us q putty VI uOlScuuSu IOQC III
front Of the veranda.
"Quite right, my girl!' cried he.
"They shall not lay a finger on him.
Never o fear. He has me at his
back. and so have you" With that he
strutted through the French windows,
fourishing his napkin and quite de-
lighted at the prospect of a little ST.
multaneous display Of power, gener-
osity and laudable cunning before So
select an audience.
"Sorry to trouble you, SIR" said a
voice, 'but I believe you have ar as
signed convict here of the name of
Thomas Erickson"
what nameY" cried Lady Starkie.
"Hush, aunt!' whispered Claire.
IT have not" said Daintree.
"You nave not?" roared Nat Sullivan
himself.
81 have not" repeated Daintree
dandy. II had, but he has absconded
rom my service"
"When?"
"Last night"
"Any notion where he VENT"
mot the least"
"And you don't much care, ehT"
mot a bit. May 1 ask a question in
my turn?'
Surely, sir"
do you want him for the Castle Sui.
1ivan b~usinessY'
I'VE do"
II thought SO. I've heard the idea.
But who will you get to swear to him
as having been there?"
"Thls man here" said Nat. And
Tom, in the background, listened curl
ously. He was cool enough now and
his afr shameless. 1t was assumed for
Claire's benefit.