Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-02

nurr0tD cut. .. .u. and he smiled with the thought of her. for soop-perhaps in few hours-he would be free to go to her, his work done, and no mystery or dangerous task would henceforth lie between them. He walked quite to the brink of the chasm and laid his hand upon the iron cable from which swung the bridge. . , -.-. .a..t...- ..
 q shall soon be free" he said, with deep sigh. and looked across the star lighted hills. -..,s .. ...
 Then the cable under his hand vi- brated slightly. At first he thought it the night wind stealing through the vale and swaying the bridge above the sheer depth. But still he felt the jingle of the iron rope in his clasp and his hold frightened and he bent forward to listen. The whole bridge now audi bly, shook with the pulsation of step "a soft, furtive step, as of one cautious ly groping a way over the unsubstan- tial flooring. Then through the star light he distinguished woman's fig ure and drew back. A loose plank in the bridge floor rattled, and as she passed it freed itself, and he heard it strike the rocks faintly far below, but the figure stole swiftly on, and he bent forward, with cry of warning on his lips, and snatched away the light bar rto In hot hoI aI ha opening
 When he looked up his words of re- buke, that had waited only for the woman's security, died on his lips.
 Shirley" he cried and put forth both hands and lifted her to firm ground. -..
 A little sigh of relief broke from her. The bridge still swayed from her weight. and the cables hummed like the wires of a harp. Near at hand the waterfall tumbled down through the mystical starlight.
 "I did not know that dreams really came true" he said. with an awe in his voice that the passing fear had left behind. .,.
 She began abruptly. not needing his words.
 You must go away at once. I came to tell you that you cannot stay here"
 But it is unfair to accept any warn- ing from you! You are too generous. too kind" he began.
 Tt is not generosity or kindness, but this danger that follows you. It is an evil thing, and it must not find you here. It is impossible that such thing can be in America. But you must go. You must seek the laws aid"
 How do you know dare?"
 T don't know that you dare!'
 Il know that you have great heart and that love you" he said.
 She turned quickly toward the bridge as though to retrace her steps.
 I can't be paid for slight. very slight. service by fair words. MT. Armi- tage. If you knew why I came"-
 If I dare think or believe or hope
 You will dare nothing of the kind. Mir. Armitage" she replied But I will tell you that 1 came out of or dinary Christian humanity. The idea of friends. of even slight acquaint- ances. being assassinated in these vir- ginia hills does not please me-"
 How do you classify me, please with friends or acquaintances?"
 He laughed; then the gravity of what she was doing changed his tone
 T am John Armitage. That is all you know, and yet you hazard your life to warn me that am in danger2"
 If you called yourself John Smith l should do exactly the same thing. It makes not the slightest difference to me who or what you are" |
 You are explicit" he laughed. T don't hesitate to tell you that value your life much higher than you do."
 That is quite unnecessary. It may amuse you to know that, as I am a | person of little curiosity, am not the | least concerned in the solution of-of- what might be called the Armitage riddle''
 "0h. I'm a riddle. am I?"
 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 nice! It's positively unaesthetic" '
 She had begun seriously, but laughed 1t the absurdity of her last words.
 You are amazingly impersonal. You would save a mans life without caring n the least what manner of man he nay be-"
 You put it rather fiatly. but that's lbout the truth of the matter. Do you lnow, am almost afraid'-
 Not of me. hope"- Certainly not. But it has occurred | o me that you may have the conceit 'f your own mystery. that you may ake rather too much pleasure in mys- flying people as to your identity
 That is unkind-that Is unkind," md he spoke without resentment. but oftly, with a falling cadence. He sud lenly threw down the hat he had held n his hand. and extended his arms to- yard her.
 You are not unkind or unjust You ave a right to know who 1 am and vhat I am doing here. It seems an to thrust my affairs upon ou. but if you will listen should like 0 tell you-it will take but moment