The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-09-09

| vi, IL was uOlulu6, ! 0uSWCIcu
lightly. ANY one would have done
| the same"
| "Perhaps-but none the less We are
all very grateful. If had only sus-
pected that anything of the kind could
have happened. should never have al.
lowed them to CO."
felt rebelliously, glad that she had
not suspected.
Il blame myself for 1t ALL" bowed.
1T was very careless of me-"
| I'm afraid SO, after all the warning
you have had" said Mrs. Knapp.
But as it turned out, no harm was
DONE" said cheerfully.
Il suppose So" said Mrs. Knapp alb
sently. Then she spoke with sudden
attention. DO you think your enc
mics followed you there?"
l was taken aback with the vision
of the Wolf figure in the grimy pass
| age, a fiend in the intoxication of OPT
UNI, and stammered for a reply.
MY snake-eyed friend made himself
a little familiar, I'm afraid" l ad-
mitted.
1T is dreadful that these dangers
should follow you everywhere" said
Mrs. Knapp with feeling. You must
| be careful
Il have developed eyes in the back
of my head" said, smiling at her con-
Germ.
Il fear you need mere than that
Now tell me how it all happened, just
as you saw it. I'm afraid Luella was
| a little too hysterical to give true &C.
: count of it..
gave her the story of the scene in
| he passage, with a few judicious
examinations. thought it hardly
worth while to mention DOddridge
Knapps appearance, or few other
items that were more precious to me
than to anybody else.
When l had done Mrs. Knapp sighed.
There must be an end of this some
| day." she said.
Il hope the day isn't far off," I con-
fessed, unless it should happen to be
| the day the coroner is called on to
take a particular interest in my per-
.cn.'
Mrs. Knapp shuddered.
'Oh no, nO-not that way"
Then after a pause, she continued:
Would you not rather attack your
dangers at once, and have them over,
than to wait for them to seek you?"
felt a trifie uneasy at this speech.
There seemed to be suggestion in it
that could end the whole matter by
marching on my enemies and coming
| to decisive battle l wished l knew
! what she was limiting at and how it
was to be done before l answered.
Il haven't felt any particular dis
position to hunt them up" l confessed,
but if l could cut off all the heads of
| the hydra at once it would be worth
while. Anything for peace and quiet,
you know
/ Mrs. Knapp smiled.
We'll, there is no use challenging
your fate. There is no need for you
| to act. unless the boy is in danger
oh, no, none at all" I replied IN
/ blushinsly.
And we'll hope that he will be kept
safe until the danger has passed"
| hoped so devOutly. and said as
much. After few more words took
advantage of the lull to excuse myself
and make {; dive into the next room
where l espied Luella.
Yes, you may sit down here she
said carelessly. "I.want 10 be amused"
was not at ali certain that l was
fiattered to be considered amusing;
but was willing to stay on any terms,
SO We fell into animated conversation
on nothing and everything. In the
midst of this entertaining situation l
discovered that Mrs. Knapp was
watching us, and her face showed no
easy state of mind. AS l caught her
eye she moved away, and a minute
later Mr.. Carter appeared WITH
Excuse me, Miss Knapp, but your
mother would like to see you. She
and my wife have some conspiracy on
hand
l was pleased to see that Lueila
did not take the interruption grateful
~, but she surrendered her place to
Mr.. Carter. who talked about the
weather with a fertility of common
places that excited my admiration.
But rs even the weather has its limits
as subject of interest and the hour
grew late l suppressed yawn and
sought the ladies to take my leave.
"Oh. must you gO?" said Luella, ris-
ing. And. leaving Mrs. Carter to her
mother, she walked with me to the
hall as though she would speak with
me.
But once more alone, with only the
hum of voices from the receptiOn-room
as company, she fell silent, and l
could think Of nothing to say.
Its very good of you to come" she
said hesitatingly.
My mind went back to that other
evening when l had left the door in
humiliation and bitterness of spirit.
Perhaps she, too, was thinking of the
time.
(TO BE CONTINCED)
Vet ||sAg}}b aSzai@SS S9s@3
$3.50 ~ IN CWtk p SSVN9