Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-29

My friend" she said, T am Miss Claiborne. You may know my fathers house down in the valley. We have been coming here as far back as can Nmember"
 The mountaineer listened to her gravely. and at her last words he un. consciously nodded his head. Shirley seeing that he was interested, seized her advantage.
 T have no reason for misleading you. This gentleman is not a revenue ulnn. He probably never heard of a. still, do you call it?-in his life." And ste smiled upon him sweetly. "But if you will let him go promise to satis, fy you entirely in the matter"
 Chauvenet started to speak. but Shir. ley arrested him with gesture and spoke again to the mountaineer in her most engaging tone:
 We are both mountaineers. you and !. and we don't want any of our peo. pie to be carried of to jail. Isn't that 70! Now let this gentleman ride away, and shall stay here until have quite assured you that you are mistaken about him."
 She signaled Chauvenet to mount, holding the mystihed and reluctant mountaineer with her eyes. Her heart was humping fast, and her hand shook little as she frightened her grasp on the rein. She addressed Chau- venet in English as mark of good faith to their captor.
 'Ride on, monsieur. Do not wait for me-
 "But 1t Is growing dark. I cannot leave you alone, mademoiselle. You have rendered me great service, when 1t is I who should have extricat- cd you"-
 Pray do not mention 1t! It Is a mere chance that I am able to help. I shall be perfectly safe with this gen. tleman."
 The mountaineer took of his hat
 Thank ye, miss," he said, and then to Chauvenet, Get outr'
 Don't trouble about me in the least, M Chauvenet," and Shirley affirmed the last word with a nod as Chauvenet jumped into his saddle and rode of. When the swift gallop of his horse had carried him out of sight and sound down the road, Shirley faced the noun taineer.
 What is your name?'
 Tom Selfridge."
 'sWhom did you take that man to be, MT. Selfridge?" asked Shirley, and in her eagerness she bent down above the mountaineer's barred tangie of tow.
 The name you called him ain't it. It's queer name I never heered tell on befo'-it's-it's like the a'my"-
 stIs it Armitage?" asked Shirley quickly.
 That's it, miss! The postmaster over at Lamar told me to look out fer i'm. He's moved up hy'eh. and it ain't fer no good. The words out that a city mans looking for something or some body in these hills. And the mans stayfn' "-
 .fWhere?"
 "At the huntin' club where folks don't go no more. I ain't seen him, but tn words passed. He's a city man and stranger and got little fella' that's been a soldier into tn army stayin' with i'm. thought yo' further was him, miss, honest to God I did"
 The incident amused Shirley, and she laughed aloud. She had undoubtedly gained information that Chauvenet had gone forth to seek; she had-and the thing was funny-served Chauvenet well in explaining away his presence in the mountains and getting him out of the clutches of the mountaineer, while at the same time she was learn ing for herself the fact of Armitage's whereabouts and keeping it from Chau- venet. It was curious adventure, and she gave her hand smilingly to the mystifed and still doubting mountain eer. T give you my word of honor that neither man is government officer and neither one has the slightest in- terest in you. Will you believe me"
 T reckon I got to, Miss" Good, and now, MT. Selfridge, it is growing dark, and want you to walk down this trail with me until we come to the Storm Springs road" "T'n do it gladly, Miss"
 Thank you. Now let us be off,"
 She made him turn back when they reached point from which they could look upon the electric lights of the Springs colony and where the big ho- tel and its piazzas shone like a steam , ship at night A moment later Chauve- net, who had waited impatiently, join cd her, an they rode down together. l She referred at once to the affair with the mountaineer in her most frivolous key.
 "They are an odd and suspicious | people, but they're ss loyal as the | stars. And please let us never mention | the matter again-not to any one, if you please, monsieur"