The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-12-25

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CHAPTER XIII.
The Lady'S Pistol.


The Lady's Pistol.
At breakfast next morning Colonel
Wright explained at some length that
rs the stage manager had now ar
rived, he failed to see any obstacle In
the way of VINEYARD and himself in
iulging in another mornings fishing.
This proposal VINEYARD agreed to
with his usual readiness, and 1mme-
diately after the morning meal they
sailed forth together.
According to arrangement, Win
yard went down stream, while the
colonel fished up.
While he flshed, VINEYARD Mistley
was actually pondering over the ad-
visibility of abandoning his new pro-
session. What conclusion he might
have arrived at it were hard to say,
had he been allowed to think the
matter out; but suddenly the new
light shone upon it. A light all lur1d
with the hate of man, red with the
CLEAN of aggressive treachery, yet
shining with the glory of steadfast
purpose.
Among the solitary grandeur OF
his native hills, by the side of peace
full Broomwater, an event was des-
tined to take place on this fair sum-
mer morning which left its mark on
Winyard Mistley's life. 1t was here
that the long pursuit, so steadfastly
carried out by Marie Bakovitch, was
to come to an end. AS will be learned
hereafter, he was fully aware of the
girls purpose, and even knew her
name and description, but had al
ways treated the matter lightly, as
the passing freak of a highly strung
and ignorant girl. Now he was
about to learn his mistake; he was
about to face sudden and unexpect-
ed danger, alone and unaided, as he
had faced most things in his short
life. And the result of it all was to
be the appearance of new ally
against the little god who had laid
his siege so skilfully. Dogged Brit.
ish pride joined ambition, determin-
alton and patriotism, and drove their
small enemy shrinking back.
VINEYARD Mistley had made his un-
eventful way up the stream for about
mile, and was now approaching a
spot where the water broadened out,
losing, after the manner of earthly
things, profundity in so doing. Here
were stepping stones and on each
side natural unmade footpath.
Although he was fishing careless
ly, VINEYARDS eyes were fixed upon
the water, and he therefore failed to
perceive the form of a girl at the
edge of the stream, upon the oppo-
side, and a little higher up.
This young lady had apparently
no intention of making her way
across the stepping stones, being
quite content to stay where she was.
Every now and then she glanced
down stream, as if expecting some
one; and yet when Mistley appeared,
unconsciously and placidly angling
she appeared surprised and some
what disturbed.
At first she made a movement as
if to draw back; and then, suddenly
stepping forward, she resoIutely
planted herself at the waters edge
with pale, agitated face and quiver.
Ing lips, while her small, ungloved
hand went to the pocket of her dress.
Adonis was some distance behind
his master, engaged in botanical dis.
coveries, and therefore oblivious tc
all around him. With aggravating
deliberation the fisherman came
slowly on. The water below the
stepping stones was of no use tc
him, SO he raised his rod to gather
in the line and pass on. AS he did
SO, he lifted his eyes and found him.
self face to face with the girl Her
attitude, the paleness of her lovely
face, and the wild excitement CLEAN.
ing in her eyes, were instantly OBJ
served by Winyard, and in a flash of
thought he connected her presence
there with himself, and with the
tall artist whose face he remembered
having seen at Victoria Station on
the morning of his arrival in Eng
land
There was no ignoring the girls
evident excitement; he could not pre-
tend to treat her as a villager, and
lass on with a local greeting For
q moment the ruddy color left his
face; but it was not due to coward
ice, for men grow pale in moments
OF excitement who do not know what
fear is. Then he raised his cap, but
never smiled or inclined his head.
Tho girl ignored his salutation,
standing motionless and pale as a
marble staue.
Il am Marie Bakovitch," she said,
simply, the musical tone of her deep
voice rising above the brawl of the
water
Il know" he replied. Even in
face Of her pale, set features, and
under the gaze OF her cold blue eyes,
he could not check the culver of his
lips. He was too chivalrous to let
her see his smile, so he said: You
have caught me at last"
Then, rod in hand, he stepped into
the running water, while Adonis
stood upon the bank with his left ear
raised, watching these proceedings
uneasily. The brook sped past Win
.ard's legs, ripping and laughing.
Wn1Ie Win us voice mInSIed the muir
mar OF the pine trees overhead, like
the sound OF the surf on a deserted
shore.
Slowly he made his way across,
feeling with his encumbered feet for
each Standing place, for he dared not
remove his eyes from the girls pale
and defiant lace. Suddenly she
seemed to raiiize what he was doing,
and So raised one Nand c0nyulsively
to her tnroDbins temples. Then
Ias.iIy she withdrew the other hand
from Ac. poc141. Mistiey saw the
CLEAN OF polished metal flashing i'll