Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-01-24
CHAPTER XII.

O&VSiluk rug LOr = puIoW, sought hnOLncE'
Mira Spry was heavy-eyed when she
awoke, and yawned behind her little
gloved hand as she stood upon the plat
form watching the assiduous O'Rourke,
who BUSTED hither and thither in her
behalf IN his own brightest and most
cheerful manner.
II suppose your friends expect you at
II forget the name Of the place. ia
nennef Is 1t Janenns7" He glanced at
her quickly and with - evident a surprise
that abe added: "Mr. Maskelyne told
me yOu were going there. Is that the
name Of the placer"
There Is little place Of that NAME"
said 0'Rourke. "Maskelyne and / we're
there together q few days age. may
70 on, Or may not. shall probably
have . day or tive In Brussels in any
ase."
When the hotel was reached, O'Rourke
secured rooms for his delightful compan-
ION and ordered for her at her request
a cup of warm milk and q biscuit. This
modest rejection was conveyed to her bed
chamber, and she retired, purring an ac-
knowledgment Of obligation.
II Mrs. Spry had been charming the
nABub PC1OE6, hno was BILL HuOES uciiBhG-
full next morning. O'Rourke made guess
as to her age, and set her down as being
between three and four and twenty. in
which he hattered her. Bearing in mind
all the while how time was flying, and
how It behooved him to make the most of
chances which were likely to be limited,
he turned the conversation to the lady's
probable movements. Did she intend to
stay long in Brussels? he asked
"Wen, no." she answered with q be-
coming little blush. There's only one
thing brings me here. There's an old
lady living here--a little hard up, I'm
afraid, Mr.. O'Rourke. She's a relative
of my poor dear late husband's-a distant
relative, but the only one he had, and he
left her out In the cold. I'm afraid she's
not very likely to be very good friends
with me, but want to make It up with
her If she'll let me-" O'Rourke's atten-
tive and sympathetic face was worth a
volume Of commonplace answers to this
statement. "And then" said the widow,
"I've got a friend to see, and then I've
done with Belgium. shall 80 and see
Paris again, and shall try to persuade
my friend to 60 with me. l haven't seen
her for two years, but she's the dearest
girl In the world"
"That," said O'Rourke. "is hattering
description. Is your friend IN Brussels7"
"No. From what can learn, she's
gone and buried herself alive in some
dreadful quiet place; miles and miles
away from everywhere. I've looked It
UP on the map, and make out NRmoor
to be the nearest city. It's a little place
called Houfoy."
II have been there" returned O'Rourke,
with admirable naturalnsss. "There Is
only enc English family residing there.
have the pleasure to know them"
"Oh," said the lady, rapidly and enthu-
siastically, do you know Angela Butler2
Oh, now. really say, what q little
place the world IL, to be sure Well,
now, do wonder that young George
hlaskelyne never told me that you knew
Angela Butler"
81 only know them very slightly" said
O'ROurke. II only met them a fortnight
ago. No; three weeks since"
"Oh," purred the widow, making her
best and most expressive eyes at her
companion. II adore Angela Butler.
Don't you adore her, Mr.. O'ROurke2 Oh,
I'm sure you do"
II think her a very charming girl.
Frank, clever, English-thOrOuShl Eng
lish."
''oh, 90 very English" said Mrs. Spry.
"And you are going to Houfoy to see
Miss Butler" asked o'ROurke. ''That
is delightful news indeed to me. We
shall be neighbors. 1 am going to ia
nenne to see some old friends Of mine,
and Janenne is the nearest village to
Houfoy."
'That win be pleasant" said Mrs.
Epry. When she had said this she low
cred her head away suddenly, and a sec
ond or two later shot a most vanquishing
glance at O'Rourke.
She discharged her one little bit Of
actual business, and she set out on q
bright afternoon in early June, with the
constant O'Rourke In attendance. for
HoufOy, having previously advised An
gela Of her coming By wire.
LET me see, now" said Mrs Spry,
holding her head on enc side and locking
mp at O'Rourke thouShtfully. "HOw long
will It take this traiA to reach Houfoy p
at d0es not 60 on TO HOufoy," return
cd O'RSurke. at reaches Janenne in
four hours and Ave minutes"
II think you knew everything, Mr..
O'Rourks," said the LADY, Admirably.
Then, clasping her hands with a soft fer
vor, "Will you do ne a favor. Mr..
O'Rsurksr
''Try me-" said o'ROurkG with his
own admirable mixture Of Jest and earn
est.
"WTl you 80 to the telegraph bureau
and write a TELEGRAPH In French, or
these dreadful fSrelEHersM bunEls II.
Fren Mrs. Spry, Brussels, to Miss Angela
Bntlsr, the Chateau, Hsufoy. To say
that I shall be at-what's the name Of
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. does the train get
thersf-and to ask her to meet me there.
Because she might fOEgst."
'May lock at your books1'' he said.
Certainly" she answered taking up
a lOese handful and handing them ever
60 him. As she did - his eyes met hers,
and he drew them away with a sad
reluctance. Mrs. Spry blushed, and
opened enc Of the paper-bound volumes.
"Ahl" cried o'Rourke, brightly, a mo-
meAt later, you have bought 'Firehies,
I see"
"Yes," she answered, looking up with
q faint memory of the blush still hnger-
ing in her eyes, II heard a great deal
= k.lY- II. : -,