Putnam patriot., 1909-01-29

Her drHlS tpere about hts neck
 had no interest for him whatever The salley breeze. the glory of the blue Vir- ginia sky. the far stretching lines of hills that caught and led the eye like Sea pillows. the dark green of shrub bery the slope of upland meadows and that elusive. vanishing geam of white before such things as these the splen- dor of empire and the might of armies We're unworthy of mans desire.
 The baron's next words broke harsh iy upon his mood.
 ..'fhe gratitude of kings is not q thing to be despised You could go to Vienna and begin where most nen leave off! Strong hands are needed in Austria feu could make yourself the younger the great stroehel'-
 The mention of his name brought back the baron's still unanswered question. He referred te 1t now as h. stood before them smiling
 .l have answered all your questions but one; shatl answer that little later If you will excuse me for just few minutes l will ga and eet the answer-that isa gentlemen. nope l shall be able to bring it back with me-
 He turned and ran down the steps and strode away through the long shad' ows of the garden. They heard the gate click after him as he passed into the Claiborne grounds, and then they glanced at each other with such a glance us may pass between two mem bers of a F.saee commission sitting on the same stle of the table who will hot admit to each other that the latest proposition of The enemy has been in the nature of d surprise They did not. however. suffer themselves to watch Armitage but Automatically re tiled their glasses.
 Through the green walls went Armi- fage lie had not been out of the baron's ground before since ne was carried thence from the bungalow and it was pleasant 10 be free once more and able to sir without nurse al his heels. and ne swung along with his head and shoulders erect. walking with the confident stride of a man wbo has no doubt whatever of his immedi- ate aim.
 At the pergola he paused to recon noiter. finding on the bench certain vestigia that interested him deepiy-a pink parasol eontriyanee of straw. lace and pink roses that seemed to be a hat and T June magazine. He jump ed upon the bench where once be had sat an exile. refugee. person dis cussed in disagreeable terms by the newspapers. and studied the landscape. Then he went on up the gradual slope of the meadow until he came to tue pasture wall. It was under the trees beneath which Oscar had waited for Zmai that he found her.
 They told me you wouldn't dare venture out for a week" she said. ad vancing toward him and giving him her hand.
 That was what they told me" he said. laughing. but l escaped from my keepers"
 You Will undoubtedly take cold 1 without your hatf'
 Yes: shall undoubtedly have pneu- monia from exposure to the Virginia l sunshine. take my chances"
 You may sit on the wall for three ! minutes: then you must go back. cannot be responsible for the life of c wounded hero"
 "Pleaser' He held up his hand 1 That's what I came to talk to you about"
 About being hero? You have talk en an unfair advantage. l was going | to send for the latest designs in laurel | wreaths tomorrow
 She sat down beside him on the wall | The sheep were grayish blur against | the green. \ little negro boy was shepherdlng them, and they scampered | before him toward the farther end of | the pasture The faint and vanishing | tink!e of d bell and the boys whistle l gave emphasis to the country quiet of | the late afternoon They spoke rapidly | and impersonaIIy Of his adventures in the hills and of his Illness.
 -I didn't know. Miss Claiborne. that I was going to lose my mind that morn ing at the bungalow or l should have asked your brother to conduct you to 1 the conservatory while l tainted From what they told me l must have been l little light headed for a day or two If | I had been in my right mind should l not have ief captaia Dick mix up in 1 my business and run the risk of getting 1 killed In q nasty little row. Dear old Dick. raasie mess of that whole l business. ought 10 have teaegraphed for fhs storm Springs constable In the te@iaulns auG tod hsm that if he vasa't careful the noble house of Scl&aEnaf- would tatter and fall
 ''xes 1sl lsst imAg.sse Eas elxect CD our easazfA gse of telling hiHl that fhf fate Of ass efsspsrs. isx In his hands lt's hsTsi eaeiga te get man arrested wao keaEs afs horse But ysa UsnsI go 0seA to your keepers lou haven't your Ezafe