The Bottineau courant., 1910-02-11

rang the bell at the front door.
Once within, the air OF domestic
Y peace, the pictures on the walls. q
whip and q felt hat with 8 blue band,
on the hall table, and al book on q
chair Ia the drawing room, turned
down to mark the absent N readers
place, rebuked him for his impud dence..
He would take the earliest train for
Ardsley# and bury himself there for
the remainder OF his days He had
hardly formed this resolution when
d q light step sounded in the hall, and
Miss Geraldine Dangerfield stood at
the threshold. His good resolutions
went down like house Of cards.
Miss Dangerf1eld,' z he began, Il had
i the pleasure Of meeting your father In
New Orleans the other day, and as
was passing through town unexpect-
edly, l thought should give myself
the pleasure Of calling on him. He
said that in case I found him absent
might call upon you. In fact, he.
wrote line on card for me to pre-
sent, but ! stupidity left 1t at my
hotel" ss ss ~
They faced each other in the dim,
cool room for what seemed to him
endless centuries. She was much
younger than he had imagined; but
her eyes were blue, just as he re-
membered them, and her abundant
light hair curled away from her fore
head in pretty waves, and was tied
to-day with q large bow Of blue rib
bon.
won't you please sit down, Mr..
Ardmore?"
And when they were seated there
was another pause, during which the
blue eyes continued to take account
Of him, and he fingered his tie, feel
ing sure that there was something
wrong with It. 4fftse M
''It's warm, isn't it,"
81 suppose it is. It's a way summer
has, Of being mostly warm"
He was quite sure that she was
laughing at him; there was tinge
Of irony in the very way in which
she pronounced "wa'm," lingeringly,
as though to prolong her contempt for
his stupidity In not finding anything
better to say.
Il enjoyed meeting your father so
much, Miss Dangerfeld. I think we
are always likely to be afraid of great
men, but your father made me feel at
home at once. And he tells such cap
ital stories-Ive been laughing over
them ever since left New Orleans" J"
II suppose, Mr.. Ardmore, that you
saw papa at the luncheon at the
Pharos club in New Orleans?"
''Why, yes, Miss Dangerfield. It
was there met the governor!"
"Are you sure it was there, Mr.
Ardmore?" a
"Why, think that was the place.
I don't know my New Orleans as
should, but"
Ardmore was suddenly conscious
that Miss Dangerfield had risen and
that she stood before him, with her
fair face the least bit flushed, her
blue eyes alight with anger, and that
the hands at her sides were clenched
nervously.
My father was not at luncheon at
the Pharos club, Mr. Ardmore. You
never saw my father in your life. I
know why it is you came here, and if
you are not out of that door in one
second I shall call the servants and
have them throw you out"
She ceased abruptly and turned to
look into the hall where steps sounded
ssIe thof vO,1 1nrrv9"
Eyes, mamma; I'll be up in just a
minute. Please don't wait for me. It's
only the man to see about the plumb
ing"
The lady who had appeared for an
instant at the door went on slowly
up the stairs, and the girl held Ard
more silent with her steady eyes until
the step died away above.
Il know what you want my father
for. Mr.. Billings and you are both
pursuing hints infamous. outrage
Gus! And it isn't his fault. I would
have you know that my father is an
honorable mani"
The bayonets were at his breast;
he would ask for mercy.
Miss Dangerfield, you may call me
anything you please. but I am not
quite the scoundrel you think me. It's
true that ! was not In New Orleans,
and never saw your father In my
life. came to Raleigh on mission
that has absolutely nothing to do with
Mr.. Billings; he did not know was
coming. On the way here q message
intended for your father came into my
hands. It was thrown on the train at
Kildare last night. / had gone out on
the platform because the sleeper was
hot, and a warning to your father to
keep his hands OF Of Appleweight
was given to me. Here It is. It seems
to me that. there is immediate danger
IA this, and want to help you. l
4 want to do anything can for you.
didn't come here to pry into your fam
Hy secrets. Miss Dfangerneld. honestly
4 ! didn't" s5
5s She took the piece of paper into her
slim little hands and read 1t, slowly
nodding her head, as If the words
.- l - E fsf