Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-09-15

that it was impossible for Miss Gray
man to be afraid OF him. The idea of
n criminal attempt upon her liberty
never entered her thoughts. She i'm
agined that it was a huge practical
Joke perpetrated By some Of her init
mate friends. and she Aied to think
who among them would be most likely
to venture upon such an exploit.
Il must beg thousand pardons for
carrying you off in this way. Miss
Grayman." Payton said. land I wish
at once to offer my absolute assurance
that TO possible harm to you is in
tended have been in Il manner com
PEELED to act as | have done for rea-
sons which you will shortly understand.
Since I know your charitable DISPOSE
ton and your sympathy with the I'M
fortunate. feel sure that I can count
upon your heartfelt support in an en-
terprise which has been undertaken in
order to afford a great and fully de-
served qualification to certain persons
who have not been treated by the
world with even handed justice For
the carrying out Of this enterprise your
cooperation and presence have been
thought essential"
This extraordinary speech was deliv-
cred in a manner as cOnfiding and
gracious and with a smile so winning
that Miss Grayman was far from de-
tecting the irony that lurked In it. She
now became more than ever convinced
that this was really rlSe of some of
her friends to engage her in a romantic
adventure. although she could not i'm
agine why they should have chosen so
singular method Of eniisting her
But 1t had the charm of great novelty.
and youth. ineXperience and high spir.
its united to give her u delightful thrill
OF underlined interest in the escapade
She felt quite at her ease and was pre-
pared to enjoy some most pleasant sur
prises. She answered. therefore, with
no little gayety Of manner:
"Mr. - Of course do not know your
name, you know
Brown" Payton replied promptly
and with an even more engaging smile
than that which had before illumined
his countenance, Commodore Freder.
lex Brown of the Washington Aero
Yacht club"
IL was a. lucky hit, though made en-
trely at random. 1t happened that
Miss Grayman had many close friends
In Washington, and now she could no
longer entertain the least doubt of the
correctness of her original surmise.
This Commodore Brown evidently be-
longed 10 the best circle of society at
the capital and had been selected by
her friends to act as intermediary in
their plot. The extravaganza of the
notion Of having her carried off with
out the least warning or preparation
at snch an hour and by stranger did
not occur TO her excited imagination
1t seemed all as delightful as q fairy
tale, and she tingled with the desire to
witness the denouement, which could
not fail 10 be most entertaining. With
glrlish eagerness she asked, with a
knowing look:
Where have they told you to take
me?'
Payton was the shrewdest Of the
shrewd. He saw in q second the trend
OF Miss Grayman's thoughts and the
advantage which 1t would give him.
50. assuming an appearance of some
confusion IF being SO quickly found
out. he answered:
'Oh, you know j mustn't tell you
that It would spoil all the fun.
You'll understand everything when we
get there"