The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-10-08

'or consider me very presumptuous In
assuming that you are already SUM-
ciently my friend to permit my making
such a request Of you; but remember
that / owe you Il rescue and that we
have come together instantly on the
same plane without any of the usual
preamble. Perhaps Indebtedness al
ready incurred is scarcely a ground
for claiming further help; but you will
Understandable, you must, for am In
great distress and trouble, and there
Is no one to whom | can go with my
difficulty"
Pedro, who had been examining a
vase, turned to her with surprise. Ever
ready with sympathy, he put out his
hand with a single expressive gesture.
Madonna" he exclaimed, you
know | would willingly serve you. II
1t is In my power to help. surely you
must know that ! would not hesitate
Very well. then" she said %gravely.
1T Is this: My father is a strong
man, a brave man, | am sure, and one
who is not easily daunted or disturbed.
You noticed how he acted today? Why,
he was scarcely civil to you. Such
rudeness, believe me, is far from his
customary habit. and there is only one
explanation for 1t. He must be deeply
troubled about something, and for II to
disturb him so, that thing is a very
serious matter; otherwise he would
throw 1t of. or, at worst, conceal It,"
Have you no idea Of what this
trouble ISL" he asked.
IL have tried to get him to tell me-"
she replied. but 1t has been a useless
effort. My father and are close
friends, but he persists in saying there
is nothing wrong, which simply means
that something is very wrong indeed;
so much so that he is unwilling to tell
me"
81 am sorry" said Pedro, but how
a | help?"
THE case is Just this!" she cried,
rising in her excitement: 81 have
good reason 10 believe that he is be-
ing either defrauded by a pack OF
scoundrels who have managed to de-
ceive him into some questionable n
dertaking, or that he is being black
mailed. Could you-oh, do you think
that you could in any way find out II
he is being deceived, imposed upon.
and help him, or at least set my dis
turbed mind at rest?"
1T is a curious request" said Pedro
slowly. IL to help your father! Why,
he is a great mana wonderfully sue
cessful person. Surely you cannot
really believe | could serve himl"
You do not yet understand" she
urged. "He is strong and capable, but
he Is almost ri%diculously sensitive on
lines which touch his honor, and is
quite susceptible to being worked and
tormented by INSCRIPTIONS people.
And | have some real proof that this
is happening, although cannot actual.
ly show II to you at this moment. DO
you remember my saying that | car
ried papers OF value the day you res.
cued me with your bear? Well. the
sight of them excited my father great.
ly, and ever since, he has been receiv.
ing letters which have nothing to dc
with his regular business or his social
correspondence. know II for a fact
because | stumbled upon them acct
dentally, In a secret drawer of his
desk. They are in a foreign language
Spanish, ! think-and he keeps then
all with great secrecy. oh, ! am sure
he is being harried by some mysteri
Gus people. Why, that note he received
at luncheon was directed In that same
fine foreign handwriting in which tn,
others are written. Now won't you
help me? Don't you see that it is ar
exquisitely delicate matter with which
| cannot go to every one?"
Have you no relations whom thii
would concern" he asked.
NO" said she, I'VE have only som,
distant cousins whom we seldom Sc,
and who would not do at all"
Then" said Pedro, 81 will help you
It is a position Of questionable honor
/, almost, which you require for thil
spying and | cannot go about 1t DELHI
, erately. Yet, II you sometime can Civ,
, me a definite task in the matter, | will
. make sure to perform It; or shout
\. chance throw me any information,
, shall not fail to use 1t and follow |
, up. and | shall be on the watchout 70
any such. Still, II is not likely tina
, such a thing will cross my path"
| Thank you'll" she exclaimed in rea
gratitude. ut Is a relief to know tina
, may call upon you II necessary. The
the matter can rest between us tive
There Is nothing at present that | ca
3 ask you to do. but II a clue shout
i arise | shall let you know"
n And | will respond Immediately,
said he, arising to take his departure
q g" have friends-ay, good friends
who are more likely to hear rumors {
plotting than I. They probably kno'
a most OF the sub rosa doings OF tn
town by now, or else they have faile
in their habit of other citiesl But eve
so, | am afraid that there's not a yer
great chance of their stumbling upo
d the particular information we nee,
d And now, Madonna, ! must leave. WI
Il you pose for me? | want to paint tn
O beautiful line which runs from yor
. chin downward, like the edge Of tn
young moon"
k "Posel" she gasped, astonished
4. THE new turn OF affairs. Then deligl
z at the prospect flooded her heart an
suifused her cheeks with a delicaI