Putnam patriot., 1908-05-15

and handed fl to his wife
 lulia. he said hurrietllv. this is
 the combination of the safe Telephone
 to Michael will you, and ask hlm to
 come over before he leaves for town?
 Get him to unlock the safe and bring
 the diamonds with him to my office. . I'll pGt them in the safety deposit
 vault. fhefr- haven't tine to explain
 any more. My train k due in three
 minutes. Geeaby. Now. Walters. let
 Molly have ter head"
 In a moment the trap had whirled
 through the open gates. aud Mrs. Ren- wyck. marveling at what could take
 her lord away so suddenly. turned and
 went into the house. where she obe-
 diently telephoned her husbands mes
 sage 10 her brother Michael Breakfast was late that morning. as two at least of the inmates of the
 house showed unmistakahIe signs of
 loss of sleep.
 How loyely"' exclaimed Miss Har- riet as she glanced through delicately tinted note. then turned to Richard Such dear friend of mine is coming out this morning to stay over Sunday l know you will be charmed to meet her"
 Delighted. I'm sure" drawled Rich ard indoIenfly.
 Who is it. HarrietT Mrs. Renwyek asked.
 Nellie Sempton."
 Richards indolenee departed in
 stantly. Tie name recalled several
 things.
 "Er-beg pardon" he questioned. is
 the lady rather tall and hlond-ah.
 twenty-two or thereabont. with 8 rip ping tgure:s
 Why. tes.' cried Imogene delight
 edly. Do you know herr
 Well. 10. not exactly" returned tie
 smiling Texan. 'She has-er- been
 pointed out to me" lie screwed in
 his monoele and picked up letter
 from Lord Groyland's mail which lay beside his plate I'm awfully sorry that sllau't be here when Miss Semp- ton arrives. but I find shall have to go to New York this morning. Toe bad, really"
 But you haven't even read your letters yet" chirruped Miss lmogene. "Can you tell from the outside that it's some horrid busnessf.' Richard nodded sadly and tapped a formidable official envelope ''Too true" he murunred. Its business and as you aptiy express it. horrd.'
 Tn one sense the Texan spoke the plain. nnvafnished truth. for business Of an unpleasant character called him in several directions. E- had entire. ly forgotten until tue meation of Miss SenIpton'S name recalled it to him that he had smashed automobile on his hands. not tJ mention prospec= tive lawsuit from a Justly irate farm CT. Then. too. 1t would be most awk=
 ward to have the charming Miss Semps
 ton extend her hand and say. with a most engaging smile: "How do you do. Mr Peter Wilson2 knew yol
 were not a chauffeur How many oth. CT names do veu happen 10 possesst Yes. "horrid business called him away from Irvington at once and bade fair to keep hiln away until Miss Sempton 1 departed
 .Woolsey and l." he muttered to his inward. disguSted self. must seek se- clusion ia some faroff. happier cline. Breakfast was scarcely over when Nr. Corrfgan was announced. He en- 1 tered with q cheery good morning 10 1 every one. then went with Mrs. Ken wyck to the library Miss Schermerly I strove with all her crafty wlles to ! lure Lord Croyland away for morn | ing walk and chat on the superior advantages of being nobleman. hdt the nobleman in question met guile with guile and pleaded an excuse o' | having io catch the next irain- He said he would walk to the station. 1 especlally as on foot he might dodge Miss Sempton if she happened to come earlier than expected. and started | across the lawn.
 On the iawn he fingered in the hope l of seeing Miss Harriet once more. Tor 1 be did net wish to leave lrNington without eenfessing his deception and
 declaring himself her hum ble worship or from the Lone Star State He had l almost given up hope when be sfiea | her coming from the house foWafu 1 him She. too had been lodging difD- entities in the path of meeting witl ! him alone And now as she trippeu across tbe grass he saw in her eyes i light. on her cheeks color WHICH eaused his heart to bound. while fhe warm blood tingled through his veins. Lord eroyiand." she said. before vou % I want to thank you for what YOU did for lnogene and me last night. It was splendid of yoa to take the blame and
 But how do you know what did he asked her laughingiy. Because" she stammered. we've didn't go upstairs when you told us We stayed in the billiard room and and listened She finished with violent blush. which made her irreslsi- ible in the Texan's biased eyes -Ohr' b. laughed Il see Miss Harriet did not join in his mef- riment She looked up earnestly and asked:
 -Why didn't you tell the whole truth and explain to father!s -ExpIain to father" he echoed. mis- taking her meaning Good Lord.