The Washington times., 1912-11-20
CHAPTER XII.
A Perilous Venture.

II dressed. The frSt thlnS ne did was
to detach two of the labels affixed
- his box and place them carefully in
MS pocketbook. That accomplished. he
had to wait with what patience he could
muster until Peter returned with Camp
bells reply.
cyril perused II eagerly. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY satisfactory. For he heaved a
sigh of relief as he sat down to break
rast. His eyes. however. never left the
clock. and 1t hardly finished striking
before our hero was out of the house.
No suspicious person was in sight. but
Cyril was determined to take no
chances He therefore walked quickly
ahead, then turned go abruptly that he
would necessarily have surprised any
one who was following him.
This he did many times till he reached
Piccadilly Circus where, with last
look behind him, he bOlted into a shop.
There he asked for a small travelling
box suitable for a lady. Having chosen
one, he took his labels out OF his pocket.
Have these pasted on the box he
ordered.
The mans face expressed suclr amaze
ment that Cyril fastened to remark
that the box was intended for bride
who did not wish to be Identified as
such by the newncss of her baggage.
compreheLdng and Sympat thetiC
smile proved that the explanation was
satisfactory A few minutes later Cyril
drove of With his new acquisition. The
next purchase was handsomely fitted
lady's dressing bag, which he took to
Truiitts and filled with such toilet ac-
cessorics as a much befrizzled young
person designated as Indispensable to a
lady comfort. On leaving there he
stopped for n moment at his bank
Cyril now metaphorically girded his
lotns, and, summOning up all his cour-
age, he plunged into a shop In Bond
street. where h" remembered his mother
used to get what SA. vaguely termed
her things" Among the maze of frou-
frous he stood In helpless hewildermcnt
till an obsequlous ilOOrwalker came to
his rescue.
Cyril explained that he had a box out
side which he wanted to MI then and
there with complete outfit fOr Il young
lady. To his relief the man showed no
surprise at so unusual "A request. and
he was soon cnsCOnCed in the blessed
seclusion of titing-rooTn. There the
box was hurricdly packed with a varied
assortment OF apparel which he devout-
" prayed would meet with Priscilla 3
approval. 1t was now half-past eleven.
The doctor must have left the nursing
home by this time, thought cyril.
Not wishing to attract attention by
driving up to III" door, h. told the
chauffeur to stop when they were stlll
at some distance away from it, Then
he got out and looked anXiously about
him
To his relief he recognized CampbclTs 8
crimson pate lowering IN the distance.
So. far. thought Cyril trlumphantly
there had been no hitch in his carefully
laid plans.
You are to wait here" he said turn
ing to the driver for n lady ara a red
haired gentleman Now, understand, nc
this car. Here Is a pound, and, II you
don't make mess OF things, the other
gentleman Will give YOU 80 more"
IAN right, sir; thank JOu. sir cX-
claimed the astOnishCd chauffeur, greed.
fly pocketing Ia" gold piece.
Cyril was certain that he had not beer
followed, and there was no sign that the
nursing home was being watched, but
that did not rCasSur" him. Those cur.
tained windows opposIt" might conceal
hundred pryIng eyes
When he was ushcred into Miss
Prentice's room he was surprised tC
find her already VI and dressed. She
held "A mirror in on" hand and, witt
the other, was arranging a yellow wil
which encirclcd her face like an aure
ole.
cyril could hardly restrain cry o
admiration. lie had thought her love
ly before. but now her beauty wal
absolutely startling.
On catching sight Of him she drop
ped the mirror and ran to him with
outstretChed hands
"Oh! l am SO glad you have come
How do you ltk" my hair" she eX
claimed all In one breath.
Cyril heroically disengagcd himsel
from her soft ClinginE clasp. and, no
daring to allow his eyes to lingcr oi
her upturned face, he surveyed th'
article in question judicially.
For wig It's not bad. can't say
however. that TX" anything. arti
"You prefer my own hair!" sh
cried. and the corners of her moutl
began began to Io,s,I0 drOoG +" way he, he had d al !
shall | do? Nurs" tells me 1t will
take ages and ages for 1t to gro'
"There, there. my dear, it's all righ,
You look lovely lie paused alb
"Oh, do u" she cried. beaming wit
delight. II am 10 glad you think so.
1T doesn't matter what think
Cyril turned rosolutcly away. Thi
sort of thing must stop, he determin
"I would like to ask you one thing.
She hcsitated moment Are W
very poor"
mo why"
"Then ! could AFFORD to have som
pretty clothes"
"Certainly"
"Oh. I'm SO glad! | can't hear tn
ones ! have on. can't think VIII
ever bought anything so ugly.
shall throw them away as soon n
get others. BY tn" way, where
my box? Nurs" tells me | arrive
here. with nothing but small hand
bag"
at has gone aStray," he stammere'
"It Will turn up soon, no doubt, bt
in the meantime | have brought
few clothes for your immediate use
ooh have you? Whore are they.
she cried, Clapping her hands.
Now was the critical moment. II
must introduce the subject OF her d.
parture tactfully.
They are outside In a cab"