The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-06

tell why I dared to venture over here. You see, you have haunted house on your land, and I"- She hesitated.
 "I see The old Renwood cottage on the hill. Been deserted for years. Renwood brought his wife up here in the mountains long ago and murdered her. She comes back occasionally, they say; mysterious noises and lights and all that. Well?"
 Well, I'm very much interested in spooks. Ins spite of the feud I rode over here for a. peep at the house. Dear me, it's desolate looking pYace. I didn't go inside, of cougse. Ss7aa+ don't you tear it down?'
 ''And deprive the ghost of house and home? That would be heartless. Besides, it serves as an attraction to bring visitors to my otherwise un- alluring place Pm terribly sorry the fortunes of war prevent me from offering to take you through the house But as long as you remain Bazel hurst can't neglect my VOW. Of course, don't mean to say that you can't come and do what you please over here, but you shall be recognized and treated as trespasser.''
 "Oh, that's. just splendid! Perhaps Pil come tomorrow"
 'I shall be obliged to escort you from the grounds, you know"
 "Yes, I know" she said agreeably. He looked dazed and delighted. s'Of course I shall come with stealth and darkly. Not even my brother shall know of my plans'
 Certainly not,'' he said with alac- rity. They were nearing the hne.) Depend on me-"
 Depend on you? Your only duty is to scare me off the place"
 That's what mean. I'll keep sharp watch for you up at the haunt ed house."
 ''Its more than a mile from the line," she advised him.
 "tYes, I know" said he, with his friendlest smile. "Oh, by the way, would you mind doing your brother a favor, Miss Drake? Give him this watch. He-er-he must have dropped it while pursuing me"
  with surprise and unbelief
 Here is the line, Miss Drake" he evaded. Consider yourself ignomin- iously elected. Have I been unneces- sarily rough and expeditions ?''
 You have had long and tiresome walk," she said, settling herself for a merry clip Please don't step on our side" He released the bride rein and doffed his hat
 T shall bring my horse tomorrow" he remarked significantly.
 T may bring the duke," she said sweetly.
 'In that case I shah have to bring an extra man to lead his horse. It won't matter"
 .'So this rock is the dividing line?'
 'eYes; you are on the safe side now -and so am I, for that matter. The line is here" and he drew broad line in the dust from one side of the road ] to the other. ssMy orders are that you are not to ride across that line at your \ peril"
 "And you are not to cross it either at your peril"
 Do you dare mel" with an eager step forward
 'Goodby.'
 "Goodby! I say. are you sure you can find the Renwood cottAger' he called after her. The answer came back through the chatter of hoofs, ac companied by smile that seduced his self possession.
 T shall find it in time"
 For long time he stood watching her as she raced down the road.
 At my peril" he unused, shaking his head with a queer smile. By George, that's fair warning enough. She's beautiful" At dinner that night the Hon. Pene- lope restored the watch to her broth CT, much to his embarrassment, for he had told the duke it was being repair ed in town.
 Tt wasn't this watch that meant, old chap,' he announced irreverently to the duke, quite red in the face. Where did you find it, Pen ?, She caught the | plea in his eye and responded loyally. You dropped it, INdaresay, in pur- suing MT. Shaw"
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