The Washington times., 1911-11-18
CHAPTER VIII.
The Lesser Of Two Evils.

~ ARBARA rose quickly and faced
x Sparhawk with flaming cheeks
- and flashing eyes.
You ask me to be your wife?"
said, In q voice that was vibrant with
scorn, anger. and amazement.
Subject to the conditions I have
named" sparhawk answered easily.
The young woman's bosom was heav-
ing, and as she glanced quickly toward
the door Sparhawk steeled himself to
hear again those strange sounds that
only q few minutes before had resulted
in the appearance of the sanguinary
Mayta.
But she did not call Once more her
eyes rested on the American engineer
as he calmly refilled his pipe. Once and
again ste seemed about to speak, but
Indignation cboked her words.
that Ihere Is nothing in the suggestion
you so.' he said quietly. only a few
minutes ago you invoked my spirit of
chlvalry, and here you have 1t. The
proposal l have made Is In your inter-
II find you friendless and threatened
with grave danger In town where,
even were you not friendless, your arch
enemy Is all powerful. You have told
me that as a result OF your flight all
find you here
:, An exclamation of fear fell from the
lips OF the unhappy Barbara, and she
hid her face in her hands.
Sparhawk went on:
If they find you here. how will It
be possible for me to prevent them from
taklng you away, unless"
AS he paused. she raised her head and
looked at him searchingly.
.Unless?' she murmured
Unless. as citizen of the United
states, am able to forbid them to take
my wife from my house without prov
ing that she has violated the laws Of
All traces Of anger had left Barbara n
features now, and there was an incred-
uious expression In the eyes she turned
But citizen of the United States
is no more In Don Antonios eyes than
the humblest citizen of Valo," she pro-
Before the sun goes down again Don
Antonio will have learned 10 look at
many things rather differently from the
manner in which he now sees them"
Sparhawk made answer.
Are you sure that you don't over
estimate Don Antonlo's powers of per-
ception2" asked Barbara.
am sure that before many hours
nave Passed I will not underestimate
and the power OF some of the things
confidently.
There was long pause after this. Bar
to watch her companion narrowly.
Sparhawk had. seated himself in r.
rocking chair and smoked pIacidly
rocking slowly to and fro. Barbara saw
ing fellow, and when there was a tang
Of danger In the air his friends often
realized that there was something COM
fortingly impressive about that aquiline
n n Sttfs fy,D ia
something that seemed to back up his
air OF easy assurance. If Sparhawk
was conscious of the fact that the fair
Barbara was making his profile the
study just then. he gave no sign.
II you marry me, Don Antonio will
try to kill you." she said at length.
A faint smile fiickcrcd for a moment
mouth: i'here vas something encour-
aging In the manner in which she intro
duced the word try" into .he sentence
something that bespoke awakening con-
If he succeeds he will be kept 30
busy sfterwa,d that he will scarcely
have time TO wed my widow he re-
plisd:
Tho 2tteEtioLs of my friends
There was another silence: then Spar-
na"k drew out his watch and saw that
II was half past two. He rose abruptly.
sariiy. Miss Carlton" he said, but
In an hour l will lave to leave this
house. If The suggestion that / have
made Is to result in EnythIng effective,
YOU must come to decision at once"
barbara also rose.
oh, 1t is neutrality-suspicious." sh,
exclaimed distraCtedly. Surely there
must be some other way than tits. You
may be honest in what you have said to
me Eonest In yoUr motives, and But
II Is impossible Marriage means some
thing more than mere ceremony and
the giving woman the right to hear a
rnen's name.
When a woman becomes a wife, she
belongs to her husband Some day
may really learn to love some one. and
thcn-"
what I propose is purely a marriage
of convenience" said Spsrhawk. AS
soon as you are able to get away from
Quincatan, you can get a legal separa-
ton from me. Not only Will I place
no obstacle In your way. but / will aid
"But-but maybe YOU will learn to-
to"
She stopped abruptly.
I'm not a sentimental fool who-''
Barbara started. Fool" she echoed
In a low reproachtul voice.
Permit me to complete nv sentence,
please said SparhGwk Il was saving
that l am 10 sentiment fool who finds
1t possible to fall in love with woman
at first sight
OH exclaimed Bartara. family.
Il dare say YOU have me. plenty of
the other sort" Sparhawk added.
Despite her agitation. Berpara smiled
at the naive manner in which the
American combined gallantry and con-
tempt.
'If-if I were to accept your pro-
posal, I would guard against the dam
gers of second and third sight by maxi
ing myself as 'iisagreeable to you AS
possible she said half laughingly, half
warningly.
THAT effort would not take much of
your time" replied Sparhawk gravely
"It is doubtful whether we shall again
have a chat as long as this for many
weeks to come. Nv work keeps me out
in the open most of the time. Until
you find II practicable to go safely
down the Durango to AdariZ, or posst-
bly, to San Felicidad by way of Moreno,
you will have this house pretty much
to yourself"
Once more an expression of fear set
tied on her features.
~. - NI.I.