The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-09-22

addressing her upon terms OF eqnapCy.
Ordinarily ne easily embarrassed In
feminine society feit In this i1stance
asdeftnite Barrier between uss which
prevented my feeling at ease. Now
and then as we sat opposite each
other, eating amid . silence most ur-
pleasant ! wDnid catch her eyes
glancing across. at me. but they were
lowered Instantly whenever ventured
to meet them Finally broke the
Stiffness with onplace remark:
81 presume your people win be-
greatly worried Nv this time over your
mysterious disappearance.
A flush swept her throat and
from the plate sYess she answered
slowly. Frank Is d6lihtfess searching
for me long before this.
Frank. as feeling glad Of
this opport untty to- earn more of her
relationships. Hou forget possibly,
that your friends are nge to me.
You refer TO the gentlemen who ex-
pected to meet you ono road p
2 ItTo Major arennanj
There was nothing about the. tone Of
her reply that invited shte to press the
inquiry further One thing, however,
was reasonably eertat 81 1.-The man she
called FRANK" could not be her father.
I longed to ask II he was a brother,
but the restraint of her whole manner
repealed the suggestion.
Did 1 understand that you have
nursed in the Federal hospitals at
Baltimore?" questioned, more-to con-
tinue the conversation than from any
deep interest.
Merely as volunteer, and when
the regular nurses were especially
busy. Major Brennan was stationed
there for some time when I first
visited him, and I felt It my duty as
loyal woman to aid the poor fell
lows lo-g s
remained silent, striving yainly
to frame some innocent question
which should solve for me the prob
lem of who and what she was. Sud
denly she spoke softly:
Captain Wayne, I feel owe you
an apology for my unwarranted and
unlndyIike eonduetz last might. I am
very sure now that you are gem
tleman, and VIII APPRECIATE how BIT
terly I was tried, Ihow deeply have,
ever since regretted It"
It hurt her pride to say even this
much, as could tell by her downcast1
eyes and heaving bosom, and 7.
fastened to relieve her embarrass=.
ment.
you have nothing whatever to ask
forgiveness for" said earnestly4
Rather such a request should come
from me. only trust, Miss Brennan;
that you will excuse my part in this
extremely unfortunate affair"
She sat looking down upon her
plate, her fingers nervously crumblihG.
a bit Of corn bread.
you do not even known who am"
she said slowly. II am not Miss, but
Mrs. Brennan"
felt as II a dash Of cold water
had been suddenly thrown in my face.
''Indeed?" stammered, scarcely
knowing what 1 said. "You appear so
young q girl that never once thought
of you as being a married woman"
II was married very early; indeed.
before I was seventeen. My hus-
band"
What she was about to add could
but conjecture, for quick change in
the expression Of her face startled me.
What is tt?" I Questioned, half ris-
ing to my feet, and glancing over my
shoulder toward the wall where her
eyes were riveted.
"somethIng resembling a hand
pushed aside the coat hanging yon-
DER" she explained in low trembling
tone. land I thought saw face"
Believing it to be merely her over
wrought nerves which were at fault,
/ sought to soothe her. ut was prob
ably no more than shadow said,
crossing to her side-of the table, to
enable her better to feel the influence
of my presence. LET US be content
to SIT here by the door. for we should
be taking too great risk of discovery
II we ventured into the open"
had barely spoken these words and
placed my fingers on her hand to lead
her forward when the, small door
which opened into the shed was
thrown back noisily, and two great
shaggy dogs, the evident mates OF
the dead brute at our feet, leaped
flercely in. She shrank toward me
with a sob of terror but even as /
drew a revolver from my belt, man
and a woman appeared almost stimuli
taneously in that same opening
Down, Douglas! down, Roderick!
Ha! There lies Red Murdoch, stark
and stIff!'-down, you brutes; you'll
be dead yourselves sometime"
The man strobe forward as he
spoke, clubbing the frenzied brutes
with the stock of the long rifle he
carried.