The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-10-08

40 Oue q III II.
He gazed off through horne was +hore
in the valley,
and he smiled with the thought of her,
for soon-perhaps in a few hours-he
would be free to 60 to her, his work
done, and no mystery or dangerous
task would henceforth lie between
them. He walked quite to the brink
of the chasm and laid his hand upon
the iron cable from which swung the
bridge.
81 shall soon be free," he said, with
a deep sigh, and looked across the star
lighted hills.
brated slightly. At first he thought it
the night wind stealing through the
vale and swaying the bridge above the
sheer depth. But still he felt the
tingle of the iron rope in his clasp, and
his hold tightened and he bent forward
to listen. The whole bridge now audi
bly, shook with the pulsation Of step
"a soft, furtive step, as Of one cautious
ly cropping way over the unsubstan-
tial flooring. Then through the star
light he distinguished a woman's fig
ure and drew back. A loose plank in the
bridge floor ratified, and as she passed
it freed itself, and he heard it strike
the rocks family far below, but the
figure stole swiftly on, and he bent
forward, with cry of warning on his
lips, and snatched away the light bar
ricade that had been nailed across the
opening.
When he looked up his words Of re-
buke, that had waited only for the
woman's security, died on his lips.
"Shirley!" he cried and put forth
both hands and lifted her to firm
ground.
A little sigh of relief broke from her.
The bridge still swayed from her
weight, and the cables hummed like
the wires of harp. Near at hand
the waterfall tumbled down through
the mystical starlight.
II did not know that dreams really
came true" he said, with an awe in
bis voice that the passing fear had left
behind.
She began abruptly, not needing his
words.
You must 60 away at once. l came
to tell you that you cannot stay here. "
"But it is unfair to accept any warn
ing from you! You are too generous.
too kind" he began.
ut is not generosity or kindness, but
this danger that follows you. 1t is an
evil thing, and it must not find you
here. 1t is impossible that such a
thing can be in America. But you
must CO. You must seek the laws
aid"
"How do you know dare"
II don't know that you dare!"
81 know that you have great heart
and that love you," he said.
She turned quickly toward the bridge
as though to retrace her steps.
81 can't be paid for a slight, very
slight, service by fair words, Mr.. Armi.
tage. If you knew why 1 came'-
"If dare think or believe or hope
"You will dare nothing of the kind,
Mr.. Armitagev' she replied. But l
will tell you that l came out of or
linary Christian humanity. The idea
of friends, of even slight acquaint-
ances, being assassinated in these Vir-
ginia hills does not please me-"
"How do you classify me. please
with friends or acquaintance"
He laughed; then the gravity of what
she was doing changed his tone.
II am John Armitage. That is all
you know, and yet you hazard your
life to warn me that l am in danger"
'If you called yourself John Smith
should do exactly the same thing. 1t
makes not the slightest difference to
me who or what you are"
"You are explicit! he laughed. II
don't hesitate to tell you that l value
your life much higher than you do"
'That is quite unnecessary. 1t may
amuse you to know that, as am a
person of little curiosity, am not the
least concerned in the solution of-of-
what might be called the Armitage
riddle"
"Oh, I'm a riddle, am I?''
"Not to me, assure you! You are
only the object of some ones enmity,