The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-10-08
and asked him to my supper for the

| ourselves, where we can ask him some
questions" declared Judge Claiborne.
They discussed the matter in detail
1t was agreed that Dick should remain
at the Springs for few days to watch
Chauvenet; then if he got no clew to
Armitage's whereabouts he was to 60
to Montana to see if anything could
be learned there.
1--WE must find him. There must be
no mistake about it." said the ambas.
sador to Judge Claiborne when they
were alone. "They are almost panic
stricken in Vienna. What with the
match burning close to the powder in
Hungary and clever heads plotting in
| Vienna this American end of the game
has dangerous possibilities"
"And when we have young Armi'
tage"- the Judge began.
Then we shall know the truth"
But suppose-suppose"-and Judge
, Claiborne glanced at the door-"sup-
! pose Charles Louis, emperor-king OF
| Austria Hungary, should die-tonight-
| tomorrow"
- we VIII dSSuuc AotA1uS VI tAC
kind" calculated the ambassador
sharply. 1T is impossible" Then to
Captain Claiborne: "You must pardon
me if do not explain further. / wish
to find Armitage. 1t is Of the greatest
importance. 1t would not aid you if l
told you why must see and talk with
, him."
And as though to escape from the
thing of which his counsel had hinted
Baron Won Marhof took his departure
at once.
Shirley met her brother on the We
aided, and she was frankly astonished
to see him.
"Well, Captain Claiborne, you are a
man Of mystery. You will undoubted
ly be court martialed for deserting-
and after a long leave too"
you are the daughter Of diplomat"
"Humph! 1t doesn't follow necessari-
ly that should be stupid"
"You couldn't be that, Shirley. dear"
"Thank you, captain"
They discussed family matters for a
few minutes; then she said. with elab-
crate irrelevance:
"Well, we must hope that your ap-
pearance will cause no battles to be
: fought in our garden. There was
enough fighting about here in old
tines
Take heart. little sister. | shall pro
tect you. Oh. it's rather decent of Ar
He started to walk beside her as she
turned away, but she paused abruptly.
.''Oh, this won't do at all! can't be
seen with you, even in the shadow Of
my own house. must trouble you to
take the side gate" and she indicated
it by a nod of her head. ..
mot if l know myself! l am not a
fraudulent member of the German no.
bility-you have told me SO yourself.
Your conscience is clear I assure you
mine is equally so! hlld l am not a
person, Miss Claiborne. to, sneak out by
side gates. particularly when | came
over the fence! It's long way around
anyhow. and have horse over there
somewhere by the inn"
my brother
"Is at Fort Myer. of course. At about
this hour they are having dress parade.
and he is thoroughly occupied"
"But-there is NJ Chauvenet. He
has nothing to do but amuse himself"
They had reached the veranda steps.
and she ran to the top and turned for
a moment to look at him. He still car
ried his hat and crop in one hand and
had dropped the other into the side
pocket of his coat He was wholly at
ease. and the wind ruff1ed his hair and
gave him boyish look that Shirley
liked But she had no wish to be
found with him, and she instantly nod
ded his dismissal and half turned away
to 60 into the house, when he detained
her for moment.
II am perfectly willing to afford NJ.
Chauvenet all imaginable entertain
ment We are bound to have manv
meetings. | am afraid he reached this
charming valley before me; but. as a
rule. prefer to be little ahead of
him. It's a whim. the merest whim,
assure you"
He laughed. thinking little of what
he said, but delighting in the picture
| she made, the tall pillars Of the veran.
da framing her against the white wall
Of the house and the architraye high
above speaking, so he thought, for the
! amplitude, the breadth of her nature
Her green cloth gown afforded the
happiest possible contrast with the
white background. and her hat--for q
! gown, let us remember. may express
the dressfnaker, but a hat expresses
] the woman who wears it-her hat, Ar
| niitage was aware, was a trife OF
black velvet caught up at one side
with snowy plumes.
Her annoyance at finding herself
lingering to listen to him was marked
In an almost imperceptible gathering
Of her brows. It was all the matter oi
an instant. His heart beat fast in his
! Joy at the sight of her, and the tongue
that years of practice had skilled II
reserve and evasion was possessed by
a reckless spirit.
She nodded carelessly, but said moth
| ing, waiting for him to go on.
But when wait for people they