The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-10-24

for the scenery. The second time he's
got to tell why. and the third time
well. miss. you kin tell the little felIa'
that there amt no third time"
Chauyenet flushed. and he CALCULATED
hotly:
Il have never been here before in
my life"
: The man dropped the rife into his
arm without taking his eyes from
Chauvenet He said succinctly, but
still with his drawl:
You air liar. sehr'
Chauvenet took a step forward, look
ed again into the rife barrel and stop
ped short Fanny, bored by the pro-
longed interviey. bent her neck and
nibbled at weed.
This gentleman has been in America
only few weeks. You are certainly
mistaken. friend" said Shirley boldly
Then the color flashed into her face as
an explanation Of the mountaineers in
terest in stranger riding the hills &C.
Cured TO her.
"My friend" she said, 81 am Miss
Claiborne. You may know my fathers
house down in the valley. We have
been coming here as far back as l can
remember"
The mountaineer listened to her
gravely. and at her last words he IN
consciously nodded his head. Shirley.
seeing that he was interested. seized
her advantage.
81 have no reason for misleading
you. This gentleman is not revenue
man. He probably never heard of a
still. do you call it?-in his life" And
she smiled upon him sweetly. But if
you will let him so promise to salts
fy you entirely in the matter"
Chauvenet started to speak. but Shir
ley arrested him with gesture and
spoke again TO the mountaineer in her
most engaging tone:
I'VE are both mountaineers. you and
l. and we don't want any of our peO-
pie to be carried off to Jail. Isn't that
so? Now let this gentleman ride away.
and / shall stay here until have quite
assured you that you are mistaken
about him"
She signaled Chauvenet to mount.
holding the mystifed and reluctant
mountaineer with her eyes. Her heart
was humping fast. and her hand
shook a little as she frightened her
grasp on the rein. She addressed Chau-
venet in English as mark of good
faith to their captor.
Ride on. monsieur Do not wait for
me-"
But it is growing dark. l cannot
leave you alone. mademOiselle. You
have rendered me a great service.
when it is who should have extricat
ed you
pray do not mention it! 1t is a
mere chance that am able to help. |
shall be perfectly safe with this gen
tleman."
The mountaineer took of his hat.
THANK ye. miss" he said. and then
to ChauveEet. Get out"'
Don't trouble about me in the least.
NJ. Chauvenet." and Shirley affirmed
the last word with nod as Chauvenet
jumped into his saddle and rode of
When the swift gallOp of his horse had
carried him out of sight and sound
down the road. Shirley faced the noun
taineer.
What is your name"
Tom Selfridge."
whom did you take that man to be,
her eagerness she bent down above the
mountaineer's barred tangle of tow.
The name you called him amt it
It's a queer name | never heered tell
on befo'-it's-it'S like the Amy
is it Armitage:" asked Shirley
quickly.
That's it. miss! The postmaster over
at Lamar told me TO look out fer i'm.
He's moved up hy'eh. and it amt fer
no good. The words out that a city
mans looking for something or some
body in these hills. And the mans
stayin' -
"Where?"
AT the huntin' club where folks
don't go no more. amt seen him,
but tn words passed. He's a city
man and stranger and got a little
fella' that's been a soldier into tn
army stayin' with i'm. | thought yo
furriner was him. miss. honest to God
did"
The incident amused Shirley. and she
laughed aloud She had undoubtedly
gained information that Chauvenet had
gone forth to seek; she had-and the
thing was funny-served Chauvenet
well in explaining away his presence
in the mountains and getting him out
Of the clutches of the mountaineer,
while at the same time she was learn
ing for herself the fact of Armitage's
whereabouts and keeping it from Chau-
venet. 1t was curious adventure,
and she gave her hand smilingly to the
mystifed and still doubling mountain
eer.
Il give you my word Of honor that
neither man is a governm.nt officer
and neither one has the slightest in
terest in you. Will you believe me?'
~ reckon | got TO. Miss"