The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-02-10


inquiry further One thing. however.
was REASONABLY certain, the man she
called Franz" could not be her father.
| longed 10 ask II he was brother.
but the restraint of her whole manner
repealed the suggestion.
Did | understand that YOU have
nursed in the Federal hospitals al
Baltimore?" 1 questioned. more TO con
tinue the conversation than from any
deep interest.
Merely as volunteer. and when
the regular nurses were especially
busy. Major Brennan was stationed
there for some time when | first
visited him, and / felt IL my duty as
a loyal woman TO aid the poor fell
lows"
remained silent, striving vainly
10 frame some innocent question
which should solve for me the prob.
lem OF who and what she was. Sud.
denly she spoke softly;
Captain, Wayne, l feel | owe YOU
an apology for my unwarranted and
unladylike conduct last night. am
very sure now that you are ger.
tleman, and will appreciate how bit
ttrly / was tried, how deeply | have
ever since regretted IT,
II hurt her pride TO say even this
much. as | could tell by her downcast
eyes and heaving bosom, and
FASTENED 10 relieve her embarrass
ment.
"You have nothing whatever TO ask
forgiveness for" said earnestly.
Rather such request should come
from me. only trust, Miss Brennan,
that you will excuse my part In this
extremely unfortunate affair"
She sat looking down upon her
plate. her fingers nervously crumbling
bit OF corn bread
"You do not even known who am,
she said slowly "a am not Miss, Int
Mrs. Brennan"
felt az II a dash OF cold water
had been suddenly thrown in my "a te.
Indeed" | stammered, scare, y
knowing what | said You appear
young a girl that never once thoug
or you as being married woman"
4 was married very early; indeed,
before / was seventeen. Ny bus
band"
What she was about 20 add ] could
but conjecture, for quick change In
the expression OF her face startle me.
What is it," | questioned, balf ris-
ing to my feet, and CHANGING over my
shoulder toward the wall where her
eyes were riyeted
Something resembling hand
pushed aside the coat hanging yon-
der" she explained in low trembling
tone, and | thought | saw a face
Believing IL 10 be merely her over
wrought nerves which were at fault,
sought to soothe her. 1T was prob
ably no more than a shadow = said.
crossing TO her side OF the table, TO
enable her better 10 feel the Influence
OF my presence Let MS be content
to sit here by the door for We should
be taking too great risk of discovery
II we ventured into the open
had barely spoken these words and
placed my fingers on her hand TO lead
her forward when the small door
which opened into the shed was
thrown back noisily. and two great
shaggy dogs the evident mates Of
the dead brute at our feet, leaped
ilercely in She shrank toward me
with sob of terror; but even as l
drew a revolver from my belt. a man
and woman appeared almost stimuli
| taneohsly In that same opening
Down, Douglasl down, Roderick!
Ia! There lies Red Murdock, stark
and shutdown. you brutes; you'll
be dead yourselves sometime"
The man strobe forward as he
spoke. clubbing the frenzied brutes
with the stock OF the long rifle he
] carried.
yelled on the view the opening
/ pack" he quoted, as he distributed
his blows impartially to right and left;
"'rock, glen, and cavern paid them
back Them thar be SCOTS words,
stranger. an I reckon as how oil Sir
Walter knew whut he wus writin'
bout Stop tibet blame youlin', you
Roderick. er I'll take t'other end o
this gun ter ye."
He reionbled his efforts for peace,
finally driving the rebellious beasts
back into one corner where they sat
upon their launches and eyed us wist-
! fully.
! 1.-TWO dogs OF black Saint Hubert s
breed. unmatched Tor courage. breath,
and speed" he exclaimed. wIping the
perspiration from his face with the
back OF one hand and staring at us,
specially the breath"
He was fierce-looking little fellow.
scarcely more than haif-grown boy
In size with round, red face full OF
,strange wrinkles. and head as oddly
peak-shaped as ] ever looked upon. II
went mp exactly like the apex Of a
pear while the upper portion Was
utterly bald. He formed most "a
markable contrast TO the tall raw