The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-10-29
Bv MEREDITH NICHOLSON,
Author Of ''rhs House Of Thousand Candle


Claiborne sheathed the sword. PLACED
1t on the table and folded his arms.
Eyes: they are very interesting"
"And those ribbons and that cloak
I assure you they are Of excellent quail
fty. Oscar. put blanket on this gen
tleman's horse. Then make some cof
fee and wait"
As Oscar closed the door Armitagt
crossed to the table, flung down hi
gauntlets and hat and turned to Clai
borne.
81 didn't expect this Of you. really
didn't expect it. Now that you have
found me, what do you wantY
"1 don't know-Irl be hanged II
knoww And Claiborne grinned SO thai
the grotesque lines of his soiled coun
tenance reused Armitage's slumberins
wrath.
you'd better find out! This is my
busy night. and IL 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
trunks?"
81 didn't come here, Armitage. I was
brought-with a 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 in the
mountains? Why are you not at your
station2 The potato sack story Is pret.
ty fimsy. Do better than that and
hurry up" -.-/
"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. l will tell you
frankly that have blown hot and cold
about you as never did before with
another man in my life. On the ship
coming over and when l met you in
Washington l thought well of you.
Then your cigarette case shook my
confidence in you there at the Army
and Navy club that night, and now
Cd my cigarette case" beloved
Armitage, clapping his hand to his
pocket to make sure of it.
That's what | say! But it was a
disagreeable situation. You must I'D.
NIT that"
ut was indeedv'
ut requires some nerve for man to
tell circumstantial story like that to
a tableful of gentlemen about one of
the gentlemenr'
mo doubt of it whatever. Mr.. Clai-
borne"
Armitage unbuttoned his coat and
jerked back the lapels impatiently.
And l knew as much about NJ.
Chauvenet as l 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 fill a
large volume. How did you get here,
and what do you propose doing now
that you are here? | am in hurry
and have no time to waste If can't
get anything satisfactory out Of yon
within two minutes I'm going to chuck
you back into the sack"
II came up here in the hills to look
for you-you-you! Do you under
stand?" began Claiborne angrily. "And
as was riding along the road about
two miles from here | ran into three
men on horseback. When l 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 of and were decidedly disagreed
BILE at finding they had made a mis-
take. One Of them had gone in to ran
sack your effects, and when they pull
ed off the bag and disclosed the wrong
hare he dropped his loot on the floor.
and then told them to go to the
devil, and hope they've done it. When
you came in l was picking up your
traps, and submit that the sword Is
handsome enough to challenge any.
body's eye. And there's all there is of
the story, and don't care whether
you believe it or not"
Their eyes were fixed upon each 9TH
er in gaze of anger and resentment.
Suddenly Armitage's tense fgore re-
laxed, the fierce light in bis eyes gave
way to gleam Of humor, and he
laughed long md 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, 60 in there
and wash your face!'
He made light in his own room and
piled Claiborne with towels, while he
continued to break forth occasionally
in fresh bursts of laughter When
they went into the hall both men were
grave.
Claiborne
Armitage put out his hand, and Clai
borne took it in vigorous clasp.
"You don't know who am or what
am. and haven't got time to tell you
now. It's long story. and have
much to do, but / swear to you, Clai
borne, that my hands are clean; thai
the game am playing is no affair oi
my own. but big thing that l have
| pledged myself to carry through