Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-02-03

leellHSS lOWdIuS me anu Iiy " lol 6Se
all you said the other day. Let me
begin by asking favor of you"
"Ah, Miss Genevieve, anything, to be
sure, that l may dol"
1T is that | wish your opinion. When
Mr.. Blake finished that absurd door
last evening he would not tell me why
he had built it--only a vague state
ment about my safety"
"Ah! He did not go into particu-
lars?" drawled Winthrope.
mo, 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-the motive which actuated him 2"
he murmured.
Il should not have mentioned 1t to
you if did not" she answered.
"Well-er-" He hesitated and
paused for a full minute. you see,
it is rather difficult undertaking to
intimate such a matter to lady
just the right touch of delicacy, you
know. But l will begin by explaining
that have known it since the first"
known what?"
"Of that bound-of-er-Blake's
trouble"
"Trouble?"
"Ah! Perhaps l should have said
aff1iction; yes, that is the better word.
To own the TRUTH the fellow has some
good qualities. 1t was no doubt be-
cause he realized when in his better
moments"
Better moments? Mr.. Winthrope,
am not child. In Justice both to my
self and to Mr.. Blake, l must ask you
to speak out plainly"
My dear Miss Leslie, may first ask
If you have not observed how strange
ly at times the fellow acts-looks odd
as you put it-how he falls into me[
ancholia or senseless RACES? l may
truthfully state that he has three
times threatened my life"
I-I-thoughth his anger quite natural,
| after l had so rudely-and so many
people are given to brooding- But
if he was violent to YOU"
my dear Miss Genevieve, / hold
nothing against the miserable fellow.
At such times he is not-er-respon-
sible, you know. Let us give the fell
low full credit-that Is why he himself
built your door"
"Oh, but can't believe it! l can't
believe it," cried the girl. Its not
possible! He's so strong, so true and
manly, so kind, for all his gruffness!"
"Ah my dear!" soothed Winthrope,
that is the pity Of it. But when
man must needs be his worst enemy,
when he must needs lead a certain
kind of life, he must take the conse-
quences. To put it as delicately as
possible, yet explain all, l need only
say one word-paranoia."
Miss Leslie gathered up her days
outfit with trembling fingers and went
to mount the cliff.
After waiting a few minutes Win
| thrope walked hurriedly through the
cleft and climbed the tree-ladder with
| an agility that would have amazed his
companions. But he did not draw
| himself up on the cliff. Having salts
| fed himself that Miss Leslie was we'll
out toward the signal, he returned to
| the baobab and proceeded to examine
Blake's door with minute scrutiny.
That evening. shortly before dark,
| Blake came in almost exhausted by his
| journey. Few men could have COW
| cred the same ground in twice the
| time. 1t had been one continuous
| round of grass Jungle, thorn scrub,
| rocks and swamp. And for all his
pains he brought back with him moth
| ing more than the discouraging infor-
nation that the back-country was
worse than the shore. Yet he betrayed
no trace of depression over the bad
| news, and for all his fatigue main
tanned a tone of hearty cheerfulness
until, having eaten his fill he sudden
| ly observed Miss Leslie's frigid po-
| likeness.
whats up now?" he demanded.
You're not mad cause l hiked OF
this morning without notice."
mo, of course, not, Mr.. Blake. Moth
ing of the kind. But I"
"Well, what?" he broke in, as she
hesitated. Il can't, for the world think
of anything else I've done"
you've done! Perhaps l nigh:
suggest that it is a question of what
you haven't done" The girl was trenl-
bling on the verge of Mysteries. Yes,
what you've not done! All these
weeks, and not single attempt to get
us away from here, except that miser.
able signal; add I as good as put that
up! You call yourself a man! But
/" She stopped short white with
a sudden overpowering fear
Winthrope looked from her to Blake
with a sidelong glance, his lips drawn
up in an odd twist.
There followed several moments of
tense silence; then Blake mumbled
apologetically: We'll, | suppose
might have done more. l was so dead
anxious to make sure of food and shel
] L,.i.. y. ?,