Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-22

w nat ID H.
 The fellotp fcd, Ar missp Did YOU
 "staos after h''n' call?"
 'sNo; 1t was nothing. Thomas-noth- ing at all" and she mounted and turn ed toward home.
 Her heart was still pounding with excitement, and she walked her horse to gain composure Twice, in circum- stances most unusual and disquieting. she had witnessed an attack on John Armitage by an unknown enemy. She recalled now certain pathos of his figure as she first saw him leaning . against the tree watching the tur- bulent little stream. and she was im- patient to find how her sympathy went out to him. It made no difference who John Armitage was; his enemy was a coward, and the horror of such men, ace to a mans life appalled, her. She passed a mounted policeman. who rec ognized her and raised his hand in salute. but the idea of reporting the strange affair in the strip of woodland occurred to her only to be dismissed. She felt that here was an ugly busi- ness that was not within the grasp of a park patrolman, and. moreover. John Armitage was entitled to pursue his own course in matters that touched his life so closely. The thought Of him reassured her. He was no simple boy to suffer such attacks to pass un- challenged, and so. dismi-sing him. she raised her head and saw him gallop forth from bypath and rein his horse beside her.
 Miss Claiborne!"
 The suppressed feeling in his tone made the moment tense, and she saw that his lips trembled. It was situa- ton that must have its quick relief. so she said instantly in a mockery of his own tone:
 "Mr. Armitager' She laughed. T am almost caught in the dark. The blandishments of spring have beguiled me-
 He looked at her with a quick scru- tiny. It did not seem possible that this could be the girl who had called to him in warning scarce five minutes be- fore. but he knew 1t had been she. He would have known her voice any where in the world. They rode silent beside the creek. which was like laughing companion seeking to mock them into 2 cheerier mood At an opening through the hills they saw the western horizon aglow in tints of lem on deeping into gold and purple. Save for the riot of the brook the world was at peace. She met his eyes for an in stant. and their gravity and the firm lines in which his lips were set showed that the shock of his encounter had not yet passed
 You must think me a strange per son, Miss Claiborne. It seems mex plicable that mans life should be so menaced in a place like this. If you had not called to me-
 Please don't speak of that! It was 50 terrible!"
 "But must speak of it. Once, be- fore the same attempt was made-that u1SAl ou lAE Nius Cu d1u.
 'Yes: have not forgotten"
 And today I have reason to believe that the same man watched his chance, for l have ridden here every day since I came, and he must have kept track of me-"
 "But this is America, MT. Armitage"
 That does not help me with you. You have every reason to resent my bringing you into such dangers. It is unpardonable, indefensibler'
 She saw that he was greatly trou- bled.
 But you couldn't help my being in the park today have often stopped just there before. It's favorite place for meditations If you know the man.
 "I know the man."
 Then the law will certainly protect you, as you know very well. He was dreadful looking person. The police can undoubtedly find and lock him up."
 She was seeking to minimize the s,ntter. to pass it off as a common place affair of every day. They were walking their horses. The groom fol- lowed stolidly behind.
 Armitage was silent look of great perplexity on his face. When he spoke he was quite calm.
 Miss Claiborne. I must tell you that this is an affair in which I can't ask help in the usual channels You will pardon me if seem to make a mys- tery of what should be ordinarily a bit of business between myself and the police. But to give publicity to these attempts to injure me just now would be a mistake. I could have caught that man there in the wood. But I let him go for the reason-for the reason that I want. the men back of him to show themselves before I act But if it isn't presuming'
 He waS quite himself again. His voice was steady and deep with the case and assurance that she liked in hin. She had marked today in his enrnestness. more than al any other t1ma, . slight, an almost indistipguish-