The weekly true Democrat., 1909-09-17
cIIAPTEn XI.

A \ existence. Moving swiftly
forward, she dropped on both knees by
the side Of the boy and caught up one
Of his hands, clasplDg II passionately
IN her own.
"Frcdw she cried, curious break IN
her tone. MY little Freddlol Oh,
what has happened, dearieT
"Oh. bellO. mhmmaw Rrunted that
young man. submitting lIstlessly to
her cnresses and betraylng no over
whelmlng surprise az her appearance
there. Indeed, he seemed more con.
cerned as 90 what KlrkwOOd. an older
man, would be thinking 10 see him 90
endeaFed and fondled than moved by
any other emotion. KirkwOod could
zee hib ahamefaced. sidelong glances
and despised him properly Tor them.
But without attending 10 bis re.
uDonse Mrs. Hallam ratified on IN the
uneven accents OF excitement. Il
waited until I couldn't wait any long.
eE, Freddie, dear. I had 70 know, had
90 come. EccIea came home about o
and said that you had told him 70 wait
outside, that some one had followed
you IN here and that n bobby had told
him 10 move on. didn't know what
whats O'Clock nowT' her son inter
Fupted.
sits about 3. ] think Have you hurt
yourself. deari Oh. why didn't you
come homer You must have known J
was dying OF anxletyT
"Oh, I sayl Can't you SEQ I'm hurtf
Had a nasty fall ana must We been
asleep ever since"
"My precious Onel How
'Can't say. hardly. ] say. don't paw
a chap Ro, mamma. I brought Eccles
along aud told him 20 wait, BECAUSE
we'll. because I didn't feel 30 much like
shuttin myself up In this beastly old
tomb. 50 ! left the door ajar and told
him not 10 let anybody come IN. Then
I came upstairs. There must 'vo been
somebody already IN the house.
know ! thought there was. II made
me feel creepy rather. AZ any rate, !
heard voices down below, and the door
banged. and somebody began hammer.
in' like fun on the knocker."
The boy paused. rolling an embar.
Eassed eye up nc the stranger.
"Yea, yes, deaFT Mrs. Hallam urged
him on.
"Why, IL made up my mind 70 cut
my atlck-iet whoever II was pass noe
on the stairs. you know, But he fol
lowed me and struck me, and then
Jumped at him, and we both fell down
ths whole night. And that's all. BE.
uldos, my heads achiu' like every
thing"
~But this man.
Mra. Hallam looked up at KirkwOOd,
who bowed silently. struggling TO hide
both bis amusement and perplexity.
"You, MF. KlFkwOodl"
Again be bowed, grinnlng awry.
she rose suddenly. "YOu win b.
HoOd enough 10 explain your presence
here" she informed him. with danger
Gus serenity.
ITO be- frank with you
II advise that course. Mr.. Kirk
wood"
''Thanks, awfiy came here hall
"a hour ago looking Tor a lost purse
enll-well. not quite full OF sovcroisns
lt was my purse. by the way"
Suspicion gllnted like foxnro IN ths
cold green eyes beneath her puckeret
brows Il DO not understand" ah'
said slowly and IN level tones.
II didn't expect you TO-" returned
Klrkw0od EMO more DO I. But any
way, Il must be clear 20 you that I've
done my best FOR this gentleman here
ne paused. with 90 interrogative hf
81 hls oyebrOwa
This gentleman II my a0n. Fred
eTick fIallam But you win explsln"-
"pnrdon me, Mrs. IinlIami I shall
o8Dlain nothing at present Perml
ne % point out that your position her'
-iike mlne-ls. % nay the least. anon
aIoubH The randam stroke told Al
~ rouid leil by fhr lnaiant conjunction
81 heF eyss ~ q cat "It would be bes