The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1908-08-06

Then dark
object, hurled
a darh oD3cct s1T"c" through the ait,
him In the face o+ruck him
squarely in the face. and he tumbled
over the wall, and Shirley heard him
crash through the hedge Of the neigh
boring estate. Then all was Quies
again.
The game OF hide and seek in the
garden and the scramble over the wall
had consumed only two or three min
utes, and Shirley now waited, her eyes
bent upon the darkly outlined pergola.
for some manifestation from the re-
naming intruder. A man now walked
rapidly toward the veranda. carrying
cloak on his arm. She recognized Ar
mitage instantly. He dotted his hat
and bowed. The lights Of the house
lamps shone full upon him, and she
saw that he was laughing a little
breathlessly.
This Is really fortunate, Miss Clai-
borne. owe your house an apology,
and If you will grant me audience !
will offer 1t to you"
He threw the cloak over his shoulder
and famed himself with his hat.
"You ire a most informal person.
Mr.. Armitage." said Shirley coldly.
"Tm afraid am. The most amazing
i'll luck follows me. | had dropped In
to enjoy the quiet and charm of your
garden, but the tranquil life is not for
lne. There was another gentleman
equally bent on enjoying the pergola.
We engaged in pretty running match,
and because | was feeter Of foot he
grew ugly and tried to put me out Of
commission"
He was still laughing. but Shirley
felt that he was again trying to make
light Of Il serious situation, and fur
Their tie Of secrecy with Armitage was
not to her liking AS he walked boldly
to the veranda steps she stepped back
from him.
mo. no! This is impossible. 1t will
not do at all. Mr.. Armitage. 1t Is not
kind Of you to come here in this
strange fashion"
"In this way forsooth! How could
send in my card when | was being
chased all over the estate? didn't
mean TO apologize for c:ming," and he
laughed again with sincere mirth
that shook her resolution to deal harsh
ly with him. But" he went OIL. 1T
was the flower pot. He was mad be-
cause beat him in the foot race and
wanted to shoot me from the wall.
and tossed him potted geranium-
geraniums are splendid for the purpose
ard it caught him square In the head.
| have the knack of 1t. Once before !
handed him boiling pot"
1T must have hurt him." said Shir.
ley. And he laughed at her tone that
was meant to be severe.
81 certainly hope so. most devout.
ly hope he felt 1t. He was most ten
Derby solicitous for my health. and II
he had really shot me there in the gar
den 1t would have had an ugly look.
Armitage, the false baron, would have
been identified as daring burglar.
shot while trying to burglarize the
Claiborne mansion. But l wouldn't
take the Claiborne plate for anything.
| assure you"
II suppose you didn't think Of us-all
of us-and the unpleasant cOnse-
quences to my father and brother II
something disagreed BILE happened here"
There was rear anxiety In her tone.
and he saw that be was going too far
with his light treatment Of the affair.
His tone changed instantly.
"Please forgive me. would not
cause embarrassment or annoyance to
any member Of your family for king
doms. | didn't know was being fol-
lowed. had come here to see you.
That is the truth Of It."
"You mustn't try to see me. You
mustn't come here at all unless you
come with the knowledge Of my "a
Their. And the very fact that your life
Is sought 80 perslstently-at most un-
usual times and In impossible places
leaves very much to explain"
II know that I realize all that"
Then you must not come. You
must leave instantly"
She walked away toward the front
door. but he followed, and at the door
she turned to him again. They were
In the full glare Of the door lamps,
and she saw that bis face was very
earnest, and as he began to speak he
flnched and shifted the cloak awk.
wardly.
"You have been hurt Why did you
not tell me thatY
1T Is nothing. The fellow had q
knife, and he-but It's only a tribe In
the shoulder. must be off,"
The lightning had several times
lcaped sharply out Of the hills. the
wind was thrashIng the garden foliage,
and now the rain reared on the tin roof
of the yernnda.