Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-11-03

| wondering. with chagrin,i how she
could haze. forgotten. even in the first
surprise of seeing him, those haunting
words of Mrs. Waythe. told TO her a
few days previously. ~
Hes In love with girl in
| Lonsdale. and she's a heartles crea-
ture that has led him d chase for five
years"
Baton kept hoping as they' talked
commonplaces for return OF the
friendly, confiding atmosphere, but he
was disappointed. He was SO disturbed
by the change In her manner that IL
was not till he was on the point OF
leave-taking that he suddenly remem
bered to wonder once more what the
I.onsdale girl would say to all this:
He was still standing near the door
the position he had taken on rising TO
leave, when, abruptly. without word.
but with a curious expression on his
face. be. unfolded slip OF paper and
handed II to her. .
A wave OF color swept from her neck
! to her oair. and she laughed nervously
as she took the paper and tore 1t nerv,
ously across.
MY poor little story she cried.
Where did you get that
Baton was staring in bewilderment.
but he answered:
II told on how we searched your
room. That was in your typewriter"
"Of course, They were the last
words | wrote the night before | left
town"
Then suddenly she met Baton's gaze
squarely and her laugh died.
You'd hardly believe ii. Miss Hay
Imam" he said after a minute, in
strained, unnatural voice, but I've
been a superstitious fool about this
thing. and can't shake 1t of all at
once. You might as well know hrst
as last-Tve been thinking you sent me
that message in some mysterious way
last night at three. II even heard
your machine going just long enough
ITO write it,
One OF my birds tapping, breathed
the quick-witted girl. You know Mrs.
Waythes house was wired Tor electric
lights. but il has never been connected.
and heavy wires hang down In front
of my window. and the sparrows perch
there. and then the wires tap on my
window like a signal to me. call II
my alarm clock Some mornings there
will be three or four birds all cuddled
together there at once. | believe they
sleep there all night, because once In
a great while they have awakened me
at unearthly hours, with their tap
Sping, but usually IT. comes in the
morning.
It's no matter" said Baton.
He turned on his heels as though the
affair were of no consequence.
A rush of thoughts crowded her
mind This explained ii all, then. This
was the reason he had come into the
country TO find her. He had obeyed a
supernatural summons. To girl down
at Lonsdale" could understand that, oil
course. He had lost all interest in heI
Iva Hayman-now that he knew
there was no mytery TO probe. Oh.
But just as she reached that point
Baton wheeled back and caught hel
by the shoulders 't
You did think of me last night by
your fathers bed" he said. You did
wish | could know? You wanted -me
TO come? U.s. that part true?"
a. She tried not TO look at him. but
his eyes insisted.
is IL true?"
Yes" she acknowledged, under her
breath; her heart had begun to beat
so loudly that II seemed as If he might
hear what II was saying. II said il
over and over. and its message brought
hot flush to her face, she made heI
try to draw away from the grasp or
her shoulders. 4. 40
What are on thinking" he asked
as If he had a right. What thought
came into your head just theh?''
Throb-throb--thro went that tell
tale heart. Was il possible that he
could hear every word that it said
She could never tell him-neyer."
Tell me" he insisted.
His eyes were looking into hers
and then. to her horror. she heard her
self putting words to those heart
beats.
Hes in love with girl down. al
Lonsdale."
Il am nor denied Barton, as If he
had been accused of murder; and the
next instant that gossiping little
heart was muffled tight in a great
overcoat learning a new song. which
went:
He's in love with, you. He's in
love with you!'