The Harrison times., 1911-04-15

each of two stories and so shallow in
extent as perhaps not to offer space
to more than a half dozen rooms. In
stead of what should have been, how
ever, there was a wide hall-wide as
each building would have been from
front to back, but longer than half
dozen of them would have been! |
did not know then, what | learned
later, that the partitions throughout
this entire row had been removed, the
material serving to fill up one of the
houses at the farthest extremity of
the row. There was thus offered
long and narrow room, or series OF
rooms, which now | saw beyond pos
sibility of doubt constituted the resi-
dence Of this strange woman whom
chance had sent me to address; and
whom still stranger chance had thrown
in contact with me even before my er-
rand was begun!
She stood looking at me, a smile
fitting over her features, her stock
inged foot extended, toe down, serving
to balance her on her high-heeled sin.
gle shoe
Pardon, sir" she said, hesitating,
as she held the sealed epistle in her
hand. You know me-perhaps you
follow mel do not know. Tell me,
are you a spy of that man Paken-
ham,"
Her words and her tone startled
me, | had supposed her bound to Sir
Richard by ties of a certain sort. Her
bluntness and independence puzzled
me as much as her splendid beauty
enraptured me. | tried to forget both.
Madam | am spy of no man, unless
| am such at order of my chief, John
Calhoun of the United States senate
perhaps, if madam pleases, soon Of
Mr. Tylers cabinet"
In answer, she turned, hobbled to a
tiny marquetry table, and tossed the
note down upon it, unopened. ! waited
patiently, looking about me meantime.
| discovered that the windows were
barred with narrow Stats of iron with
in, although covered with heavy dra-
peries of amber silk There was dou.
BILE sheet of iron covering the door by
which we had entered.
Your cage, MADAME" | inquired.
81 do not blame England for making
it so secret and strong If so lovely
a prisoner were mine, | should double
the bars"
The swift answer to my presumption
came in the flush of her cheek and her
bitten lip, She caught up the key from
the table, and half motioned me to the
door But now smiled in turn, and
pointed to the unopened note on tho
table. You will pardon me, madam
| went on. Surely it is no disgrace
to represent either England or Amer
lea. They are not at war. Why
should we be-" We gazed steadily at
each other.
The old servant had disappeared
when at length her mistress chose to
pick up my unregarded document. De-
liberately she broke the seal and read.
An instant later, her anger gone, she
was laughing gaily
See" said she, bubbling over with
her mirth; 81 pick up a stranger, who
should say good-by at my curb; my
apartments are forced; and this is
what this stranger asks that ! shall
go with him, tonight, alone, and other
wise unattended, to see man, per-
haps high in your government, but
stranger to me, at his own rooms
alone! Oh, la! la! Surely these
Americans hold me high"
"Assuredly we do, madam" ! an.
swered. "Will 1t please you to go in
your own carriage, or shall return
with one for you|
She put her hands behind her back,
holding in them the opened message
from my chief 81 am tired, ! am
bored. Your impudence amuses me;
and your errand is not your fault.
Come, sit down. You have been good
to me. Before you 60 shall have
some refreshments brought for you"
felt sudden call upon my re'
sources as ! found myself in this sim
gular situation. Here, indeed, more
easily reached than had dared hope,
was the woman in the case. But only
half of my errand, the easier half, was
done.
GRO BE CoNTINUEDJ