Milford chronicle., 1908-10-02
chauvenet lushed. and be ejaculated

still with his drawl;
"You air a liar, seh"'
Chauvenet took step forward. look
ed again into the rifle barrei and stop
ped short Fanny. bored by the pro
longed interview, bent her neck and
uibbled at weed.
This gentleman has been In America
only a few weeks. You are certainly
mistaken, friend" said Shirley boldly.
Then the color flashed into her face as
an explanation OF the mountaineer's IN
terest in a stranger riding the hills Oc-
CURED to her.
'My friend" she said. Il am Miss
Claiborne. You may know my fathers
house down in the valley. We have
been coming here as far back as l can
remember"
The mountaineer listened to her
gravely. and at her last words he IN
consciously nodded his head Shirley
seeing that he was interested. seized
her advantage.
81 have no reason for misleading
you. This gentleman is not a revenue
man. He probably never heard OF a
still, do you call it?-in his life" And
she smiled upon him sweetly. "But if
you will let him go l promise to salts
fy you entirely In the matter"
Chauvenet started to speak, but Shir-
ley arrested him with a gesture and
spoke again to the mountaineer in her
most engaging tone:
1--WE are both mountaineers, you and
I, and we don't want any Of our PEG
pie to be carried off to jail Isn't that
so? Now let this gentleman ride away
and shall stay here until | have quite
assured you that you are mistaken
about him"
She slgnaled Chauvenet to mount, /
holding the mystified and reluctant |
mountaineer with her eyes Her heart |
was humping fast, and her hand |
shook a little as she frightened her
grasp on the rein. She addressed Chau-
venet in English as a mark Of good |
fai61 to their captor.
|'Ride on, monsieur. Do not wait for
me-"
"But It is growing dark. cannot
leave you alone. mademoiselle. You
have rendered me a great service.
when it is I who should have extricat
ed you
"Pray do not mention 1t! It is
mere chance that am able to help.
shall be perfectly safe with this gen
tleman"
The mountaineer took of his hat
"Thank ye. miss" he said, and then
to Chauvenet, Get outg
Don't trouble about me in the least.
NJ. Chauvenet," and Shirley affirmed
the last word with 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 nameT
"Tom Selfridge."
"Whom did you take that man to be,
MIR. Selfridge?" asked Shirley. and in
her eagerness she bent down above the
barred tangle Of tow.
"The name you called him amt it
It's a queer name | never heered tell
IN -it's-it's like the amy
as it Armitage?" asked Shirley
quickly. 5
That's it, missl The postmaster over 7
It Lamar told me to look out fer i'm ;
Hes moved up hy'eh, and it amt fer
10 good. The words out that a city :
mans looking for something or some
,ody in these hills. And the mans
tayin - {
"Where2" g
at the huntin' club where folks \
Ion't 20 no more. I amt seen him
,ut tn words passed. He's a city E
nan and a stranger and got a little !
ella that's been a soldier into til r
rmy stayin' with i'm. l thought 70
urriner was him, miss, honest to God T
did" I
The incident amused Shirley, and she
lughed aloud. She had undoubtedly d
aimed information that Chauvenet had \
one forth to seek; she had-and the u
hing was funny-served Chauvenet 7
rell in explaining away his presence
] the mountains and getting him out y
( the clutches of the mOuntaineer Il
'ulIe at lue bdlue llluG sue " do ASaa ~ | y
lg for herself the fact Of Armitage's
,hereabouts and keeping it from Chau
enet 1t was a curious adventure. =.
nd she gave her hand smilingly to the
justified and still doubling mountain g
ar.
Il give you my word Of honor that
either man is government officer
nd neither one has the slightest in
crest in you. Will you believe mel"
Il reckon l got to, Miss"
Good and now, Mr.. Selfridge, it is
rowing dark, and | want you to walk
own this trail with me until we come
the Storm Springs road"
I'll do it gladly, Miss" yc
"Thank you Now let us be off," m
She made him turn back when they sa
cached point from which they could D
.ok upon the electric lights of the d"
prings colony and where the big no
j and its piazzas shone like a steam
lip at night A moment later Chauve
1t. who had waited impatiently, join VI
/ her, and they rode down together
he referred at once to the affair with
I'll