Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-12-26
such tiny thing, on the green grass


with feigned indignation, and l never
thought Of running away. That's just
your conceited manly imagination.
You fancy that everything | do can
have but one cause, and that is your
self. How, pray, was | to know you
intended paying us a morning calf"
Tut, tut" | caught her up. What
n little spitfire We have here! II you
hadn't deserted me so shamefully last
evening, | shouldn't have minded this
morning. so much. AS 1t is, It seems
aeons since / saw you"
Now she smiled until her dimples
nestled. That Is much better" she
returned, gayly, "and deserves a reply,
just as my action OF last evening de-
serves praise, and not rebuke. | sac
rificed myself and my pleasure for one
l love-"
mot for me, surely!"
did | use the word conceit a mo-
ment ago7 Are you the only man l
lover"
Il hope So" answered, impudently.
There Is another" she confessed,
in mock tragedy. Behold his facet"
| had not noticed that she held a
little roll in her hand, for my eyes had
been ever on hers; so, when abruptly,
she spread out and held before me the
missing head from Cameron's portrait,
| was doubly unprepared. know
was startled. She said afterwards
that | went very white. ! suppose
did; for with the rush of realization
came such a chain of superstition as to
drive me momentarily dizzy. For a
second or more l stood dumb, while
my hand went out in eager reach for
the scrap Of canvas. which, | had OBJ
served, simultaneously. bore four per
forations, all Of size-the size of
rife bullet. With that discovery had
REQUIRED the shots | had heard; and
following this, came a maze OF con-
lecture, going back to that first letter.
! then to the paintings mutilation, and
on through devious ways to the morn
ing's target practice; and always with
/ one or another Of Cameron's trusted
| servants as the chief actor.
When l recovered my composure
! found Evelyn backing wilfully away
from my covetous hand.
ut is the picture OF the man I love-"
she was saying. teasingly. "A very,
very good man."
But where did you get it?" asked
seriously. DO you know where 1t
came from?'
Suddenly she was as grave as I
could wish.
| ''I found u poilad IN q trao che on
swered. Wasn't 1t odd? How do you
suppose 1t came there? 1t looks like
the portrait that hung in Uncle
Roberts study. Do you suppose he
grew TO dislike It. and cut it up and
threw 1t away?"
Now ] found myself in some little
embarrassment. II | was to obey
Camerons injunction | could not tell
Evelyn the truth. Yet ! was in no
position to make light OF her find. On
the other hand | must learn from her
just where she had come upon It. and
so trace, If possible, the person who
had fired the shots which riddled It.
MY dear girl" | said adopting n
tone of chjolery I'VE have here,
think. a matter in which we both can
be of seryice--very valuable service.
indeed. TO that beloved uncle and
guardian of yours. But, you must trust
me. absolutely. and, for the present at
least. you must give to him no hint OF
what we have in hand. Do you I'M
deTstand"
She laughed In that merry ripping
fashion which | had found not the
least OF her charms.
DO | understand" she repeated
laying a hand on my arm in emphasis
of her amused tolerance. do | I'M
derstand? OF course | don't, and |
shan't, until you have answered at
least a half-dozen why's and what's.
But you must trust me-" | insisted
"and as primary evidence Of that trust
you will proceed at once to hand over
to me. for examination, that somewhat
damaged piece of portraiture which
you are holding behind you"
Very wide her eyes opened in an in.
nocent, almost infantile stare, as she
asked:
do you really mean It, Philip"
Really" | answered, gravely. I'D
like to tell you all about II, right here
and now, but that might spoil every
thing, so you must show what strong
womanly woman you are. by keeping
silence and waiting"
In token Of compliance she gave
me the oval piece of canvas.
II wonder who punched the holes
in it," she remarked, ruefully. who
ever It was, they were shockingly dis
respectful"
tried TO fancy what she would
have said had she known they were
bullet holes. Evidently that POSSIBLE
ity had not occurred to her and | was
glad that 1t had not.
CTO BE CONTINUED