The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-04-18

stroke was necessary. AT all cost he
must keep faith with Jack.
II am this young lady's guardian,
SIR" he said to the stranger. Il un-
derstand that she has just run away
from the SCHOOL, very excellent fin
fishing school-in which I placed her,
in order to contract a marriage with
a worthless scamp. / have followed
her to exercise the authority which
the law allows me and to plead with
her better nature"
"You look very young to be a
guardian, SIR" replied the stranger, a
smile of cynicism spreading over his
face.
Nevertheless, sir, 1t is true"
Jocelyn answered. "And permit me
to say, sir, that I am not accustomed
to having my statements questioned"
To his complete establishment Eileen
O'Connor here interposed with:
Its true. He is my guardian. And
I won't go back. l won't go back to
the finishing school,"
Lord Jocelyn had completed his dis
comfiture. The hasty subterfuge,
meant only to enable him to maintain
his attitude pending the arrival OF
his friend, had destroyed his last
chance Of persuading Eileen. He I'M
derstood now why she had locked him
in the clothes closet; she had mista'
ken him for the gorgon.
II cannot doubt your word, sir" said
the stranger with a significant smile.
"May I ask what you intend to do?"
II intend to take my ward back to
her school by the next train," Lord
Jocelyn answered. Eileen, it is fu.
tile to make any further resistance"
She looked around %piteously. 20
Jack, why didn't you comet" she
cried. And from behind the crowd
which had collected an unexpected re.
joinder came.
"1'm here" beloved a masculine
voice, and Jack Stanfeld, wild-eyed
and furious, thrust himself forward
and placed himself squarely between
Lord Jocelyn and Eileen.
$50 this is how you keep faith with
me, is it," he sneered. II wasn't quite
SO blind as you thought me to be. ]
saw the guilty look on your face when
I asked you whether you knew Miss
O'Connor, but I didn't think that you
were capable of quite such a bastard
ly trick as this"
"What have 1 done, Jack?" cried his
friend.
"What have you done?" re-echoed
Jack Sanfield,% thrusting his face with
in six inches of his erstwhile friends
"You want to know that, do you? You
have tried to induce my fiancee to
elope with you, you miserable cur
And I am going to thrash you within
an inch of your life for it."
20 Jack, Jack, are you quite lost to
| all sense Of the ridiculous" murmured
Lord Jocelyn.
The dignified stranger, seeing that
hostilities were imminent, now inter
posed to keep the peace.
Zone moment, gentlemen" he said
There seems to be some trivial mis-
understanding here. What is YOU
grievance, friend?"
1TlGVduC0: CIlSU 0LduuelU, 6Lll
keeping his eyes menacingly upon
Jocelyn. "This young lady is engaged
to marry me. I was to have met hel
at the station this evening, but, owing
to a mistake. she came on to meet me
at my house, where l had left this fel
low to guard against just such an &C
c%urrence. And how does he take ad
vantage of my confidence? BY running
away with her! And he would have
succeeded had not the sight of these
surroundings awakened remorse il
her"
"Your name," said the stranger, 81,
Mr.. John stanfeld, I believe"
well, what Of that?" cried Stan
field, spinning round on him. Mex
moment he recoiled in establishment
His arms dropped to his sides.
THE guardian!" he calculated.
Exactly" replied the stranger. !"
am, or was, the guardian of this lady
And now, sir" he continued. address
Ing himself to Jocelyn. will yo1