Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-03-21
(Copyright by the Bobbs- Merrill Company

Alto AASANs AOA 5ON eA4h6 DuN NhS
potent charm of the mystery which
sat beside me and which | was deter
mined to unravel, as they say in de
tective stories.
What do you wish me to do?"
repeated
II will tell you when the time
comes. For your own sake, be ad
vised by me and do nothing rash. Yor
are so impulsive."
For my own sake do nothing rash
l was so impulsivel My hand wan
dered toward the door-latch, and fell
No! / would stick 1t out, whatever
happened.
you are not afraid, are your" she
asked
Afraid Of hat?"-adroitly
81 was right in waiting for you
simply.
Maybe; that remained to be seen.
Are you wise in taking me there
tonight?" / asked. This was very
cunning Of me.
She coughed slightly and peere6
from the window. Ten blocks more!
oh, II only we dared go faster, faster
and have 1t all over with"
"a policeman would delay us nc
inconsiderable time" l cautioned
And think Of its being reported in
the papers! That wouldn't help mat
ters. They are bad enough as they
are" Doubtless they were!
She said nothing.
Courage, courage!" l said; "all
will end we'll" At least / sincerely
hoped It would end well. I reached
over and touched her hand. She with
drew that member of an exquisite
anatomy as suddenly as If my touch
had stung her
Then a horrible thought scorched
me. had more than a thousand dol
lars in my wallet. ] snuggled over tc
my side Of the carriage. The news
papers were teeming with stories OF
new bunko-games, and this might be
one of the classics of getting-rich
quick on other peoples money.
slyly buttoned up my coat. Anyhow
1t was chilly.
On, on we rolled; light after light
flashed intos the window, gloom fol
lowed gloom.
More than a thousand dollars was q
large sum for an author to be carry
ing about; and II the exploit turned
out to be a police affair / might be
seriously questioned as to how ar
author came by so large a sum- Yet
as / thought of her necklace, felt
my cheeks grow red with shame. It's
so hard to doubt a beautiful young
woman! Still, the jewelry might not
be real. Had she really mistaken
me? Ha! I had 1t. / would find out
what she was.
l leaned over quickly and kissed
her cheek. There was mot a sound
only / felt her shudder. She wiped
with her handkerchief the spot my
lips had touched. was a cad and 6
wretch. When she did speak hel
tones we're even and low.
Il did not quite believe that OF
you"
81 could not help it," 1 declared
ready to confess that I was an i'm
poster; and as I look back l know
that / told the truth when / said ]
could not help 1t. l didn't care where
the carriage went, nor what the end
would be.
And l trusted you!" The reproach
was genuine.
1 had nothing to say. My edifice
Of suspicious had suddenly tumbled
about my ears.
Il am sorry; I have acted like q
cad. am one" l said finally.
Il was helpless. One after another
the men we trust fail u.s." she an.
swered despondently.
Madam. l am a wretch. am not
the gentleman you have taken me for.
l have had the misfortune to resem.
BILE another gentleman"
Il never saw you before in all my
life, nor any person that resembles
you"
/ gasped. This was what the old
dramatists called a thunderbolt from
heaven. l felt for my wallet; 1t was
still in my pocket. Inconsistency,
grew angry.
Then, what the devil"
DO not add profanity to Ill man
ners," she interposed. PERHAPS |
have no right to complain. There is
the door, sir; you have but to press
the button, stop the driver, and get
out. / am In a terribly embarrassing
position tonight. one which my own
folly has brought me to. II was alb
solutely necessary that a gentleman
should accompany me in this carriage
to my destination. When you came
forth from your club-the only club
the exact location OF which / am IA.
miliar with-you appeared to be a
gentleman, one could trust to ac-
company me. To attract your at
tention, and at the same time arouse
your curiosity. had to resort to
equivocal methods. II is an adven-
ture. sir. Will you see 1t to the end,
or shall press the button?" She
seemed really in earnest.
Permit me to ask a question or
twol" was nightly confused at the
turn of things.
Perfect confidence in me, or I
shall open the door"
I'm any other city but New York"
Yes or no!"-imperiously.
Hang II, madam"
Her hand went toward the electric
button.