Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-10-28
at was indeed!"

at was indeed!'
ut requires some nerve for q man to
tell a clrcumstantial story like that to
tableful Of gentlemen about one of
the gentlemen!"
mo doubt of it whatever. Mr.. Clai-
borne"
Armitage unbuttoned his coat and
jerked back the lapels impatlently.
And knew as much about NJ,
Chauvenet as l did about you or as |
do about you"
What you know Of him, Mr.. Clai.
borne, is Of no consequence. And what
you don't know about me would fill a
large volume. How did you get here.
and what do you propose doing now
that you are here? am in hurry
and have no time to waste If l can't
get anything satisfactory out Of you
within two minutes I'm going to chuck
you back into the sack"
81 came up here in the hills to look
for you-you-you! Do you UNDER
stand?' began Claiborne angrlly. "And
as ! was riding along the road about
two miles from here l ran into three
men on horseback. When stopped to
parley with them and find out what
they We're doing they crept up on me
and grabbed my horse aud put that
sack over my head. They had mistak-
en- me for you, and they brought me
here. into your house. and pulled the
sack off and We're decidedly disagreea-
bic at finding they had made II mis-
tnkc. One of them had gone in to ran.
sack your effects, and when they pull
ed off the bag and disclosed the wrong
mare he dropped his loot on the floor.
and then told them to 70 to the
devil. and hope they've done It. When
you came In WAS picking up your
traps. and | submit that the sword Is
handsome enough to challenge any
body's eye. And there's all there is of
the story. and don't care whether
You believe 1t or not
Their eyes were fixed upon each 9th
err in n gaze of anger and resentment
Suddenly Armitages tense figure re-
Taxed. the fierce light In his eyes gave
way TO n CLEAN of humor. ana he
! laughed long and loud.
Your face-your face. Claiborne. It's
funny. Its too funny for any use.
When your teeth show, it's something
| ghustly. For Gods sake, go in there
and wash your face!'
He made Il light in his own room and
piled Claiborne with towels, while he
continued to break forth occasionally
in fresh bursts Of laughter. When
they went into the hall both men were
grave.
"Claiborne"-
Armitage put out his hand, and Clai-
borne took 1t in n vigorous clasp.
You don't know who am or what l
am. and haven't got time to tell you
now. It's long story. and ! have
much to do. but l swear to you, Clai-
borne, that my hands are clean; that
the game am playing is no affair Of
my own. but a big thing that5I have
pledged myself to carry through. l
want you to ride down there in the
valley and Keep Marhof quiet for n
few hours. Tell him know more Of
what's going on in Vienna than he does
and that If he will only sit in II rock
ing chair and tell you fairy stories till
morning we can all be happy. Is 1t IL
bargain-or-must l still hang your
head down the well till get through?'
"Marhof may go to the devil! He's a
! lot more mysterious than even you.
Armitage. These fellows that brought
me up here to kill me in the belief that
was you cannot be friends of Mar
hof's cause"
] They are not. assure you they are
! not. They are blackguards of the black
est dye"
81 believe you, Armitage."
"Thank you. Now your horse is at
the door. Run along like good fell
1low."
Armitage diyed into his room, caught