The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-02-26

Infamous effort to intimidate my IA
there" demanded Miss Dangerheld.
81 told the Appleweight gang that
they were lot Of towards. and that
the governor will have them all in
Jail or hanged within ten days"
Splendid! Perfectly. splendid! Did
you really say that"
What else could do. knew that
that's what the governor would say
he'd have to say it-so thought I'd
save him the trouble"
Where's the jug now. Mr.. Ard
more?"
I'm my room at the hotel. The gang
must have somebody on guard here.
A gentleman who seemed to be one
of them called on me this morning
demanding the jug; and If he's the
brown jug from my room in the hotel
by this time"
Miss Dangerfeld had picked up q
spool of red tape and was unwindins
It, They were such nice little hands,
and SO peaceful in their aimless
tritiing with the tape that he was
sure his eyes had betrayed him into
imagining she had clenched Thorn in the
quiet drawing-room at the mansion
This Office. now that its atmosphere
enveloped him. was almost as domes.
tic as the house n which she lived
Miss Dangerheld threw down the spool
Of tape and bent toward him gravely
MIR. Ardmore, can you keep a g.
cret?"
Nobody ever tried me with one,
but think can. Miss Dangerneld,"
he murmured humbly
"Then please stand up"
And Ardmore rose, little sheepish.
ly. like schoolboy who fears blame
and praise alike. Miss Dangerfleld
lifted one of the adorable hands SOL
emily.
II. acting governor Of North Caro-
lima. hereby appoint you my private
secretary. and may God have mercy
on your soul You may now sit down.
Mr.. Secretary"
But thought there was 4 score
tary already. And besides, I don't
write q very good hand" Ardmore
stammered.
81 am just sending Mr.. Bassford to
Atlanta to find papa. He's already
gone. or will be pretty soon."
But thought your father would
be home tonight"
Miss Dangerfield looked out of the
open window upon the park. then into
the silent outer hall, to be sure she
was not overheard.
Papa will not be at home tonight,
or probably tomorrow night, or the
night afterward. I'm not sure we'll
wait next Christmas dinner for papa"
But Of course you know where he
is! 1t isn't possible" and Ardmore
stared in astonishment into Miss Dan
eerheld's tranquil blue eyes.
1T is possible. Papa IL duckinE his
official responsibilities. That's what's
the matter with papa! And I guess
| they're enough to drive any man into
the woods. Just look at all this!"
Miss Dangerfleld rested one Of
those diminutive hands Of hers on the
| pile Of documents, letters and tele-
grams the secretary had left behind
him: with 4 nod Of the head she in
Dictated the governors desk in the in
ner room. and it, too, was piled high
with documents.
II supposed" faltered Ardmore,
that in the absence Of the governor
the lieutenant governor would act.
think read that once"
you must have read It wrong. Mr.
Ardnore. In North Carolina, in the
absence Of the governor, am gov.
ernor! Don't look so shocked; when
say I, mean Inc! Do you under.
stand what I said?"
81 heard what you said, Miss Dan.
gerheld"
II mean what 7 said, Mr.. Ardmore
] have taken you into my confidence
because ! don't know you. don't
know anything about you. don't
want to know anything about you. I'd
be ashamed to ask anybody I know
to help me. The people Of North Car
olina must never know that the gov
ernor is absent during times OF great
public peril. And II you are afraid,
Mr.. Ardmore. you had better not &C.
cept the position"
There's nothing wouldn't do for
| you" blurted Ardmore.
I'm not asking you'll would not
ask you-to do anything for me.
am asking you to do 1t for the Old
North State. Our relations, Mr.. Ard.
more, will not be social. but purely
official. Do you accept the terms?"
II do; and warn you now that I
shall never resign"
II have heard papa say that life il
short and the tenure Of Office uncer-
tain. 7 can remove you at any time
please. Now do you understand that
this is serious business: There's
likely to be lot of trouble, and no
time for asking questions, so when
| say It's 80 it's So
tits So" repeated Ardmore do
cilely.
Now, here's the sheriff at Kildare.
! on our side Of the line, who writes