The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-08-13

ded and threw away his cigar that he
Armitage might have to say.
| "a man does not like to have his Sis
ter forming the acquaintance of per-
sons who are not properly vouched for
Except for Singleton you know moth
ing of me, and Singleton knows very
little Of me indeed"
Claiborne nodded. He felt the color
creeping into his cheeks consciously as
| Armitage touched upon this matter.
II speak to you as do because it is
your right to know who and what I
am, for am not on the King Edward
by accident, but by intention, and am
going to Washington because your sis
ter lives there"
Claiborne smiled in spite Of himself.
"But, my dear sir, this is most ex-
traordinary! 1 don't know that care
to hear any more. By listening
seem to be encouraging you to follow
US. It's altogether too unusual. It's
| almost preposterous."
And Dick Claiborne frowned severe
! ly, but Armitage still met his eyes
, gravely.
Its only decent for a man to give
,, his references when it's natural for
them to be required. l was educated
at Trinity college, Toronto. l spent a
year at the Harvard law school. And
l am not beggar utterly. l own a
ranch in Montana that actually pays
and a thousand acres Of the best wheat
land in Nebraska. At the Bronx Loan
and Trust company in New York l
have securities to considerable
amount am perfectly willing that
any one who is at all interested should
inquire of the trust company officers
! as to my standing with them. If
were asked to state my occupation, l
should have to say that l am a cattle
herder-what you call a cowboy.
can make my living in the practice of
the business almost anywhere from
New Mexico north to the Canadian
line. l flatter myself that l am pretty
good at it," and John Armitage smiled
and took a cigarette from box on the
table una lighted it.
Dick Claiborne was greatly interested
in what Armitage had said, and he
struggled between an inclination to en-
courage further confidence and a feel
ing that he should, for Shirley's sake.
make it clear to this young stranger
that it was of no consequence to any
member of the Claiborne family who
he was or what might be the extent of
his lands or the unimpeachable char
acter of his investments. But it was
not so easy to turn aside fellow who
was so big of frame and apparently so
sane and so steady of purpose as this
Armitage. And there was, too, the
further consideration that while Ar
| mitage was volunteering gratuitous in
| formation and assuming an interest in
his affairs by the Claibornes that was
wholly unjustified, there was also the
other side Of the matter: that his ex-
plantations proceeded from motives Of
! delicacy that were praiseworthy. Dick
was puzzled and piqued besides to find
that his resources as big protecting
brother were so soon exhausted. What
Armitage was asking was the right
to seek his sister Shirley's hand in
marriage, and the thing was absurd.
Moreover, who was John Armitage?
/ The question startled Claiborne into
a realization Of the fact that Armitage
had volunteered considerable informa-
tion without at all answering this ques-
ton. Dick Claiborne was a human
being and curious.
Pardon me-" he asked, "but are you
an Englishman?'
Il ana not" answered Armitage. II
have been so long in America that
! feel as much at home there as any
where-but am neither English nor
American by birth. am, on the other
hand
Continued Next Week