The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-01-07

than l told you
He laughed softly.
You did not need to tell me;
could have found you anywhere in the
world, Helen. That man Donovan is
watching you like hawk; but he's a
pretty good fellow, with Milesian joy
in row. He's going to protect Miss
Pat and you if he dies at the bust
ness"
She shrugged her shoulders, and l
saw her disdain of me in her face. A
pretty conspiracy this was, and
seemed to be only the crumpled wrap
ping of pack Of cards, with no part
in the game.
Gillespie drew an envelope from his
pocket, held it to the white lantern for
an instant, then gave it to her.
Il telegraphed 70 Chicago for
draft. He will have to leave here to
get 1.-THE bank at Annandale carries
no such sum; and it will be a means
Of getting rid of him."
ooh, l only hope he will leave-he
must-he must" she cried.
you must go back" he said. these
matters will all come right in the end,
Helen" he added, kindly. There is
one thing do not understand.
THE thing that troubles me is that
your father was here before YOU"
"No-that isn't possible; can't be-
lieve It,"
He had engaged the Stiletto before
you came to Annandale: and while
was tracing you across the country he
was already here somewhere. He
amuses himself with the yacht"
yes, l know; he is more of men,
ace that way-always in our sight
always where l must see him."
Her face, clearly lighted by the Ian
terms, was touched with anxiety and
sorrow, and | saw her, with that pref.
test gesture Of woman's thousand
graces-the nimble touch that makes
sure no Grant bit of hair has gone
wandering-lift her hand to her head
for a moment. The emerald ring
flashed in the lantern light. l recall
thought that occurred to me there
that the widows peak, so sharply
marked in her forehead, was like the
finger-prints of some playful god. She
turned to 60, but he caught her hands.
"Helen!" he cried, softly.
mo! Please don't!"
She threw the nuns hood over her
head and walked rapidly up the pier
and stole away through the garden to-
ward st. Agatha's. Gillespie listened
for her step to die away, then he
sighed heavily and bent down. to draw
up his canoe. When l touched him
On the shoulder he rose and lifted the
paddle menacingly.
"Ah, SO it's our young and gifted
Irish friend!" he said, grinning. mo
more sprinting stunts for me! I de.
cline to run. The thought of aspara-
gus and powdered glass saddens me.
Look at these hands-these little
hands still wrapped in mystical white
rags. l have bled at every pore to
give you entertainment, and now it's
got to be 20 PAGES with bird-guns."
What mischief are you in now?"
demanded, angrily. Il thought
warned you, Gillespie; I thought
even appealed to your chivalry."
my dear fellow, everything has
changed. If nun in distress ap.
peals to me for help, am Johnny-on.
thespot for Mother Church"
THAT was not the sister, it was
Miss Holbrook. l saw her distinctly;
heard"
by Jove, this is gallant of you,
Donovan! You are a marvellous fel.
low!"
Il have right to ask-I demand to
know what 1t was you gave the girl"
Matinee tickets-the American girl
without matinee tickets is a lonely
plead humping through the void"
You are contemplate ass. Your
conduct is scoundrelly. If you want
to see Miss Holbrook, why don't you
go to the house and call on her like a
gentleman? And as for her"
YES; and as for herr"
He stepped close to me, threaten.
ingly.
las for her, she may go too fart"
"She is not answerable to you. She's
the finest girl in the world, and If you
intimate"
Il intimate nothing. But what I saw
and heard interested me a good deal,
Gillespie"
What you heard by stealth, creep
ing about here at night, prying into
other peoples affairs!"
II have pledged myself to care for
Miss Pat"
Its noble of you, Donovan" and
he stepped away from me, grinning.
Miss Pat suggests nothing to me but
button, button, who's got the button? p
She's a bloomin' aristocrat, while I'm
| the Wealth-cursed child of democraoy -