The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-08-27

mo; it 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 i'm
patient to find how her sympathy went
out to him. 1t made no difference who
John Armitage was; his enemy was a
coward, and the horror of such a men,
ace to mans life appalled, her She
passed 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. dismissing him. she
raised her head and saw him gallOp
forth from a bypath and rein his horse
beside her.
"Miss Claibornew
The suppressed feeling in his tone
made the moment tense, and she saw
that his lips trembled. 1t was situa-
tion that must have it's quick relief, so
she said instantly in mockery of his
own tone:
"Mr. Armitagev' She laughed. 81
am almost caught in the dark. The
Establishments Of spring have beguiled
me-"
He looked at her with quick scru-
tiny. 1t 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 it had been she.
He would have known her voice any
where in the world. They rode silent
beside the creek, which was like a
laughing companion seeking to mock
them into q 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 strange per.
son, Miss Claiborne. 1t seems mex.
plicable that a mans life should be SC
menaced in place like this. If you
had not called to me-
"Please don't speak of that! 1t was
so terrible!"
"But | must speak of it. Once be-
fore the same attempt was made that
night on the King Edward
Yes; have not forgotten
And today have reason to believe
for have ridden here every day since
l came, and he must have kept track
of me-"
"But this is America, Mr.. Armitagev'
THAT does not help me with you.
You have every reason to resent my
bringing you into such dangers. 1t is
| objectionable, indefensiblep'
She saw that he was greatly trou-
| bled.
"But you couldn't help my being in
the park today. I have often stopped
Just there before. It's favorite place
for meditations. If you know the
man
81 know the man."
"Then the law will certainly protect
you, as you know very well. He was
a dreadful looking person. The police
can undoubtedly find and lock him
up"
She was seeking to minimize the
matter, to pass it off as 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, must tell you that
this is an affair in which can't ask
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