The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-03-20

4 L U6l1SNS YOU u Dc.
He was silent for e moment; then
he spoke very soberly.
Il promise you, Donovan, that will
do nothing to encourage or help Hol
/ brook know as well as you that
he's blackguard; but my own affairs
must manage in my own way"
But as surely as you try to mo-
lest those women you will have to an
swer to me. | am not in the habit of
beginning what never finish, and
intend to keep those women out OF
your way as well as out Of Holbrook's
clutches, and If you get a cracked
head in the business-well, the cracks
in your own skull, Mr. Gillespie"
He shrugged his shoulders, threw up
his head and turned away down the
road.
There was something about the fell
low that I liked. ! even felt certain
pity for him as l passed him and rode
on. He seemed simple and guileless,
but with a logged manliness beneath
his absurdities. He was undoubtedly
deeply attached to Helen Holbrook
and his pursuit of her partook Of
knight-errantish quality that would
have appealed to me in other cireum-
stances; but he was the most negli-
gible figure that had yet appeared in
the Holbrook affair, and as l put my
horse to the lope my thoughts reverted
to Red Gate. That chess game and
Helen's visit to her father were still
to be explained; if l could cut those
cards out of the pack should be
ready for something really difficult. l
employed myself with such reflections
as 1 completed my sweep round the
lake, reaching Glenarm shortly after
two O'Clock
I was hot and hungry, and grateful
for the cool breath of the house as
entered the hall.
Miss Holbrook is waiting in the
library" lima announced; and in a
moment 1 faced Miss Pat, who stood
in one Of the open French windows
looking out upon the wood.
She appeared to be deeply absorbed
anu Qlu AO6 tA4A Until oPOhSs
Il have waited for some time; I
have something of importance to tell
you, Mr. Donovan" she began, seating
herself.
Eyes, Miss Holbrook."
You remember that this morning,
on our way to the chapel, Helen spoke
of our game of chess yesterday"
Il remember perfectly" l replied;
and my heart began to pound sudden
ly, for knew what the next sentence
would be-
Helen was not at st. Agatha's at
the time she indicated
We'll, Miss Pat" 1 laughed, Miss
Holbrook doesn't have to account to
me for her movements 1t isn't i'm
portant-"
rWhy isn't it important" demanded
Miss Pat in sharp tone that was new
to me.
"Why, Miss Holbrook, she is not &C.
countable to me for her actions. If
she fibbed about the chess it's a small
matter"
Perhaps it is: and possibly she is
not accountable to me, either"
I'VE must rot probe human motives
too deeply, Miss Holbrook," I said,
evasively, wishing to allay her suspic-
ions, if possible. "a young woman is
entitled to her whims. But now that
you have told me this, suppose l may
as well know how she accounted to
you for this trif1ing deception"
ooh, she said she wished to explore
the country for herself; she wished to
satisfy herself of our safety; and she
didn't want you to think she was run
ming foolishly into danger She chafes
under restraint, and l fear does not
wholly sympathize with my runaway
tactics. She likes a contestl And |
sometimes Helen takes pleasure in.
in-being perverse. She has an idea,
Mr. Donovan, that you are a very
severe person"
81 am honored that she should en-
terrain any opinion of me whatever"
replied, laughing.
And now" said Miss Pat, 81 mast |
go back. Helen went to her room to |
"AANO SOAhS lCttSAS d5di1SI d llllO WU0n |
it may be possible to communicate
with our friends, and I took the op-
portunity to call on you. 1t might be
as well, Mr.. Donovan, not to mention
my visit"
walked beside Miss Pat to the
gate, where she dismissed me, remark
ing that she would be quite ready for
ride in the launch at five o'clock.
The morning had added few new
colored threads to the tangled skein 1
was accommodating, but felt that with
the chess story explained could safe
ly eliminate the supernatural; and I
was relieved to find that no matter
what other odd elements 1 had to
reckon with, a girl who could be in