Putnam patriot., 1908-10-02

the business aiEltes a.ss ~s4~s~ arssa New Mexico north to the Canadian line. I aatte- myself that am pretty good at It. and jobe Arnltage smiled aud took q eigareste from box cn the table and lighted it
 Dick Claiborne was greatly Interested in what Armitage bad saia. and he struggled between an inclination to en- courage further confidence. and feet ing that he should for Shirtey's sake. make 1t clear to this young stranger that 1t was of no consequence to auy member of the Claiborne family who be was or what mishi he the exseat of his lands or the ualmpeaehabse char acter cf his Investments But h was not so easy to turn aside a fellow who was so hig of frame and apparently so sane and so steady Of puri,oSe as this Artnitage. And there was. too. the further consideration that whiie Ar mitage was volunteering gratuitoas ia- formation and assuming an interest in his affairs by the claibernes that was wholly unjustifsed. there was also the | Ss1Nf F+t4N VI kAt AsaNAftE hA> 1 plantations proceeded from motives of delicacy that were praisewcrthy. Dick | Was puzzled sDd piqued besides to lind that his resources as q big protecting | brother were so soon exhausted What | Arnitage was asking was the right to seek his sister Shirtey.s hand in marriage. and the thing was absurd. Moreover, who was John Armltageg 1 The question startled Claiborne into q realization of the fact that Armitage had volunteered considerable informa- tion without at all answering this ques- tien. Dick Claiborne was q human being and curious.
 Pardon me-" he asked, but are you an Englishmang"
 1 "i am not" answered Armitage. "f have been SO long in America that l feel as much at home there as any. where-but I am neither English nor American by birth am. on the other hand''-
 He hesitated for the barest second. and Claiborne was sensible of an in. tensihcation of interest Now at last there was to be a revelation that amounted to something.
 "on the other hand" Armitage re- peated. .I was born at Fontainehleau. where my parents lived for only a few months, but do not consider that that fact makes ne Frenchman. My mother is dead. My father died-very recently. I have been in America enough to know that a foreigner is often under suspieion-partieula If ] am foreigner without enev Johu Armitage laughed.
 cit Is. indeed. real merit" declared Dick. who felt something was expect ed of him. fn spite of himself ls found much to like in John Armit ze He particularly despised sham aud pc tense. and he had been won by the evi dent sincerity of Armitage's wish tt appear well in bis eyes.
 And now" said Armitage T assurt
 Ing so much about myself-and if yol
 will overlook this offense promise no
 to bore you again"
 "I have been interested remarke
 Dick. And" he added. "t cannot q
 less than thank you. MT. Armitage"
 Armitage began talking of tine Amel
 ean army-its strength and veal
 ses-with an intimate knowledp
 thdt greatly surprised and intereste the young officer, and when they SCI aratcd presently 1t was with a curol mixture of liking and mystifieatio
 that Claiborne reviewed their talk.
 The next day brought heavy weatl CT. and only hardened seagoers wei abroad Armitage. breakfasting lat
 was not satisfied that he had aete
 wisely in speaking 10 Captain Cla borne: but he had. at any rate. ease 2 in some degree his own eonseienc , and he had every intention of seein
 all that he couid of shirley Claiborn I during these days of their fellow vo'
 .a.rff.