Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-10-15

| person OF itlliG CURIOSITY. AIN not tHc
| least concerned in the solution of-of
what might be called the Armitage
riddle"
"Oh, I'm riddle, am 2"
Not to me, | assure you! You are
only the object of some ones enmity.
and there's something about murder
that is that isn't exactly nicel It's
positively unaesthetic."
She had begun seriously, but laughed
at the absurdity of her last words.
You are amazingly impersonaI You
would save mans life without caring
in the least what manner of man he
may be-
You put 1t rather fatty, but that's
about the truth of the matter. Do you
know, am almost afraid"
Not of me. hope"
Certainly not. But it has occurred
to me that you may have the conceit
of your own mystery, that you may
take rather too much pleasure in mys.
tifying people as to your identity"
sgThat is unkind- that is unkind,
and he spoke without resentment. but
softly, with falling cadence He sud
denly threw down the hat he had held
in his hand, and extended his arms to
ward her.
'sYou are not unkind or unjust. You
have right to know who | am and
what | am doing here 1t seems an
impertinence to thrust my affairs upon
you, but if you will listen should like
to tell you-it will take but moment
why and what
please do notl AS told you, /
have no curiosity in the matter | can't
allow you to tell me. l really don't
want to knowr'
Il am willing that every one should
w-tomorrow-or the day after
not later
She lifted her head, as though with
the earnestness of some new thought.
'sThe day after may be too late.
Whatever 1t is that you have done''
Il have done nothing to be ashamed
Of, swear | have notp'
Whatever it is, and don't care
what it is" she said deliberately. ''it
i5 SOuStAiAS AuIbS SCAAoucs MI. A1AlA-
tage. My brother
She hestated for moment. then
spoke rapidly.
'tMy brother has been detailed to
help in the search for you. He is at
Storm Springs now
"But he doesn't understand
MY brother is a soldier, and 1t is
not necessary for him to understand"
sAnd you have done thisyou have
come to warn me-
.It does look pretty bad.s she said
changing her tone and laughing a lit
tie. But my brother and I've al
ways had very different ideas about
you. Mr.. Armitage We hold briefs
for different sides of the case"
"Oh, I'm a case. am IY' And he
caught gladly at the suggestion of
lightness in her tone. "But I'd really
like to know what he has to do with
my affairs
''Then you will have to ask him.
"To be sure. But the government
can hardly have assigned Captain Clai-
borne to special duty at NJ. Chauye
nets request ! swear to you that I'm
as much ia the dark as you are"
"I'm quite sure an officer of the fine
would not be taken from his duties
and sent into the country on any friy
olous errand But perhaps an ambas
sador from great power made the re-
quest perhaps. for example, it was
Baron Won Marriott
"Good Lordv'
Armitage laughed aloud.
4 beg your pardon! | really beg
your pardon! But is the ambassador
looking for mey'
II don't know, Mr. Armitage. You
forget that I'm only traitor and NOT
a spy"
"You are the noblest woman in the
world" he said boldly. and his heart
leaped In him, and he spoke on with a
fierce haste. you have made sacri-
fees 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 second of it, /
| lay down before you, and 1t is yours
to keep or throw away. | followed
you halfway round the world, and
snail follow you again and as long as
live. And tomorrow or the day after
l shall Justify these great kindnesses.
this generous confidence, but tonight
have work to do
As they stood on the verge Of the de:
file by the bridge that swung out from
the cliff like a 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.
4 must 60 back" said Shirley and
turned to the bridge and put her hand
on its slight iron frame but be seized
her wrists and held them tight.
| You have risked much for me. but