The Mena weekly star., 1909-01-21

trO anu Wuch iuCHi ct OHtt, ana | IT put on . dressing"
 No, thank you, Miss Jenny. You needn't bother They'll do all right"
 You must, It would please me
 Why. then, of course-- But first. I want to make sure you understand fastening the door. Try the bars your self"
 She obeyed. sliding the bars in and out until he nodded his satisfaction.
 eGood." he said Now promise me you'll slide em fast every night
 If you ask it. But whyg.
 ''I want to make you perfectly safe"
 Safe? But am I not secure with
 Look here, Miss Leslie; I'm not go- ing to say anything about anybody"
 Perhaps you had better say no more. Mir. Blake"
 That's right. But whatever hap pens, voull believe I've done my best, won't you ?--even If I'm not a. Prom. ise me straight, you'll lock up tight every night"
 Very well, I promise, responded the girl, not little troubled by the strangeness of his expression.
 That night Miss Leslie dutifully fastened herself in with all six bars. She wakened at dawn, and hastened out to prepare Blake's breakfast. but she found herself too late There were evidences that he had eaten and gone of before dawn. The stretching frame of one of the antelope skins had been moved around by the fire, and on the smooth inner surface of the hide was a laconic note, written with charcoal in firm, bold hand:
 Exploring inland. Back by night, if can
 She bit her lip In her dlsappoint- ment, for she had planned to show him how much she appreciated his absurd but well-meant concern for her safety. As 1t was, he had gone off without word and left her to the questionable pleasure of tete.a-tete with Win. thrope. Hoping to avoid this, she hur. ried her preparations for day on the cIiff. But before she could get off. Winthrope sauntered up, hiding his yawns behind hand which had re. gained most of it's normal plumpness. His eye was at once caught by the charcoal note.
 An" he drawled: really now, this Is too kind of him to give us the pleas ure of his absence all day"
 "Ye-es7" murmured Miss Leslie. Permit me to add that you will also have the pleasure of my absence. I am going now"
 Winthrope looked down, and began to speak very rapidly: Miss Gen. evieve, I---I wish to apologize I've thought 1t over. I've made mistake Ill mean, my conduct the other day was vile. utterly vile, Permit me to appeal to your considerateness for a man who has been unfortunate-who I mean, has been-er-was carried away by his feelings. Your favoring of that bloom--er-that-erA so angered me that I-that I--"
 MT. Winthrope," interrupted the girl 'I will have you 10 understand that you do not advance yourself in my esteem by such references to Mir Blake"
 Aye, aye. that Blake." panted Win thrope. Don't you see? It's i'm, an that blossoml Wen mans daffy- wen es in love!-" Miss Leslie burst into nervous laugh: but checked herself on the in- stant.
 Really Mir. Winthrope." sine ex- claimed. you must pardon me. I--I never knew that cultured Englishmen ever dropped their h's. As it happens. you know. I never saw one excited be- fore this"
 "Ah, yes to be sure--to be sure," murmured Winthrope. in an odd tone.
 Tho girl threw out her hand in lit tic gesture of protest.
 Really, I'm sorry to have hurt--to have been so thoughtless,"
 Winthrope stood silent. She spoke again: .I'll do what you ask. I'll make allowances for your-for your feelings towards me and try to forget all you said the other day. Let me begin by asking q favor of you"
 -Ah. Miss Geneyleve. anything, to be suro. that may do!'
 "It is that wish your opinion. When Mir. Blake finished that absurd door last evening. he would not tell me why he had built it--only vague state ment about my safety
 An. He dil not go into particu- lars?" drawled Winthrope.
 "No. not even hint; and he looked so-odd."
 Winthrope slowly rubbed his soft palms one upon the other.
 Do you--er-really desire to know his--thc motive which actuated him?' he murmured.
 T should not have mentioned 1t to you if did not" she answered. "Well-er--" He hesitated and paused for a full minute. Ton see, it is a rather difficult undertaking to intimate such a matter 10 lady just the right touch of delicacy, you know. But I will begin by explaining that have known it since the first" Known what?' "Of that bound--of--er-- -Blake's trouble
 "Trouble2"
 An, Perhaps l should have said afiiction; yes, that is the better word. To own the truth, the fellow has some good qualities. It was no doubt be- l cause he realized, when in his better l moments"