Putnam patriot., 1908-12-04

T am willing that every one should know-tomcrrow-cr the day after not iater-
 She lifted her head. as though with the earuesfness of some new thought.
 The day after may he too late. Whatever il is that you have done
 'l have done nothing te he ashamed of swear I have notr'
 .Whateser il Is, and l don't care what 1t ts.'' she said deliberately. '-it Is something quite serious Mir, srmi- tage My brother
 She heSltate<i for moment. then spoke rapidly.
 My brother has been detailed to help in the search for yoa. He Is at Storm Springs now
 But he doesn't understand
 My brother Is soldier. and it Is not necessary for him to understand"
 And you have done this-you have come to warn me-
 -lt does look pretty bad.~ she said. changing her tone and laughing a lit tie But my brother and i've al ways had very different ideas about you. Mir Armitage We hold briefs for different sides of tue case''
 "oh. rm case. am IF And he caught gladly at the suggestion of lightness In her tone. But Id really like to know what he has to do with my affairs"
 Then you will have to ask him.
 b. n.xt f<. can hardly have assigned Captain Clai- borne to special duty at M. Chsuve- nets request swear 10 you that I'm as much in the dark as you are"
 I'm quite sure an officer of the line would not be taken from his duties and sent into the country on any friv- olous errand- But perhaps an amhas- sador from a great power made the rss- quest-perhars. for example. 1t was Baron von Marhof."
 Good Lordr'
 Armitage laughed aloud.
 "l beg your pardon, really beg your pardon. But is the ambassador looking for mer'
 .l don't know, MT. Armitage. You forget that I'm only a traitor and not a spy"
 You are the noblest woman in the world" he said boldly. aud his heart leaped in him. and he spoke on with a fierce haste. You have made sacri- Gees for me that no woman ever made before for a man. for man she did not know. And my life. whatever it Is worth. every hour and secepd of 1t. Lay down before you. and il is yours to keep or throw away. followed you halfway round the world. and shall follow you again and as long as live. And tomorrow or the day after I shah justify these great klndnesses. this generous confidence. but tonight have work 10 do.'
 As they stood on the verge of the de- fie by the bridge that swung out from the cliff like fairy structure they heard far and faint the whistle and low rumble of the night train south bound from Washington, and to both of them the sound urged the very real and practical world from which for a little time they had stolen away.
 ..I must go back" said Shirley and turned to the bridge and put her hand on its slight iron frame. but he seized her wrists and held them tight
 "Yon have risked much for me. but you shall not risk your life again in my cause You cannot venture across that bridge. again.
 She yielded without further barley. and he dropped her wrists at once.
 Please say no more You must mol make me sorry | came. must go. should have gone hack instantly"
 But not across that spiders web You must go by the long road. l will give YOU horse and ride with you into the valley.a
 .lt is much nearer by the bridge. and 1 have my horse over there"
 We shall get the horse without trou bIe," he said. and she walked beside him through the starlighted wood As they crossed the open tract she saId
 This is the Port of Missing Men"
 "Yes, here the lost legion made its last stand There lie the graves ol some of them. It's pretty story. hope some day to know more of Il from some such authority as yourself
 .I used to ride here on my pony when 1 was a little girl and dream about the gray soldiers who would mol surrender Ii was as beautiful as an old ballad I'll wait here. Fetch the horse" she said. "and hurry, please
 eff there are explanations to maks'- he began. looking at her grayely.
 'i am not a person who makes ex plantations. MT Armitage. You may meet me al the gate"
 As he ran toward the house he met Oscar. who had become alarmed at his absence and was setting forth in search of him.
 .Come: saddle both the horses, Os car" Armitage commanded.
 They went together to the barn and OuickIy brought out the horses