The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-08-06

w. Nttf ~ So - tAtaNNA tAaH NRfAtti
auny oiiicer aud Armliasr then sbool
hsras and tlIr thry~ mea stood for /
niumrnt aciainoI :, seemed. ~ thi
oia Btiaehe Wha had no cAEa grmcn
for the next hour o. two aud rescnies
TIE t1cs % being left alone
"Oae always meets Armlfsger de
clared Singleton "He knows ou
Aaserca as wcu rs We Do and vcry
well indecd Tor an Engilshman."
ATinliage howed gravely.
-Yon make /; necessary for me q
disayow any allegiance TO the powers
that rule Great Britain I'm really .
fair sort Of American have some
times told New York people all aboui
Colorado. Montana. New Mexicow
His Voice and manner were those oi
gentleman. His color, as shirley
Claiborne now observed was that Of
nn outdoors man she was familiar
with Il IN soldiers aud sailors and
knew that II testified TO a vigorous and
wholesome lie
"of course you're not English" ex'
claimed Singleton. annoyed as he ne.
memhered. or thought he did. that Ar
mitage had ON some other occasion
made the same protest
I'm really getting sensitive about
g." said Armitaee. more 10 the Clai-
bornes than 10 Singleton, But mus,
| we all be from somewhere? Is II 30
melancholy plight TO he n man with.
out countryT
The mockery in his tone was belied
| BY the good humor In his face. His
eyes caught Shirley's passingly. and
| she smiled NJ him. II seemed natu.
raj. a perfectly inevitable thing to do
| She liked the kind tolerance with
which he suffered the babble OF Arthur
| Singleton. whom some one had called
an International bore. The young mans
dignity was only an expression OF self
respect His appreciation OF the exact
proprieties resulting from this casual
introduction TO herself and her brother
was perfect. He was already with
drawing. A waiter had followed him
with his discarded newspaper, and Ar.
mitage TOOK tt-and Iuly dropped II on
chair.
Have you heard the news, Armi.
tage7 The Austrian sphinx Is herein
this very houseP' whispered Singleton
impressively.
Yes; 10 be sure, Count Won Stroebe
is here, but he win probably not re
main long The Alps viii soon be safe
again | am glad TO have met you"
He bowed TO the Claibornes inclusive
ly, nodded In response to Singleton's
promise to look him up later and left
them
When Shirley and her brother reach
ed their common sitting room, Dick
Claiborne laughingly held up the copy
of the Neue Freie Presse which Armi-
tage had cast aside at their table.
'Now we shall known he declared,
unfolding the newspaper.
Know what. Dlckf'
at least what our friend without a
country is so interested In"
lie opened the paper, from which
half column had been torn, noted the
date, rang the bell and ordered a copy
of the same Issue. When 1t was
brought he opened 1t, found the place,
laughed loudly and passed the sheet
over TO his sister.
"oh, Shirley, Shlrley$ This is almost
too muchw he cried, watching her as
her eyes swept the article. She turned
away to escape his noise and after |
glance threw down the paper In dis
gust. The article dealt In detail with
Austro-I Hungarian finances and fairly |
bristled with figures and sage con.
illusions based upon them.
isn't that the worstw exclaimed
Shirley, smiling ruefully.
Hes certainly romantic figure
ready to your hand. Probably bank
clerk who makes European finance his
recreation"
Gle isn't an Englishman, at any rate.
He repudiated the idea with scorn."
"Wel, your Mr.. Armitage didn't
seem SO awfully excited at meeting
Singleton, but he seemed rather salts
fed with your appearance, to put 1t
mildly. wonder If he had arranged
with Singleton to pass by I'm that pure
ly incidental way, just for the priv
ilege of making your acquaintance"
Don't be foolish, Dick. It's unbe-
coming an officer and gentleman.
But If you should see Mr.. Singleton
again
"Yes-not II see him firstp' ejacu-
lated Claiborne.
"Well, you might ask him who Mr..
Armtage is. 1t would be amusing
and satisfying-to know"
Later In the day the old attache fell
upon Claiborne in the smoking room
and stopped to discuss report that a
change was impending In the Amer
lean state department Changes at
Washington did not trouble Singleton,
who was sure Of his tenure. He said
as much, and after some further talk
Claiborne remarked:
your friend Armitage seems good
sort"
"Oh, yes: capital talker and thor
oughly well posted in affairs"
yes; he seemed interesting. DO
you happen to know where he lives
when he's at homer"
Lord bless you, boy, don't know
anything about ArmitageP' spiuttered
Singleton, with the emphasis so thrown
rs to imply that Of course In any other
branch OF human knowledge he would
De found abundantly qualified TO an
swer questions.
But you introduced us to him-my
lister and me. ! assumed
my dear Claiborne, I'm always In J
reducing people It's my business to {
Introduce people. Armitage Is all right z
Hes always around everywhere. I've q
lined with him IN Paris, and I've rare I
y seen man order better dinner" d
N wv MI