The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-19

Copyright. 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
Arthur Moore hurried up the broad
stone walk that LED to she ,aon snon 70
on the massive pile. NO Hgnts couio
be seen In the building.
In the shadows of the vast portico
stood a young woman. swiftly, nut
without a sound. she tiptoed to hight
of steps which led into the basement
OF the capitol. At the foot of the steps
through a long corridor and up the
marble steps that led to the main
floor,
The building was in darkness except
for an occasional patch q moonisent.
cended the stairs to the SECOND moor,
the one on which Were the offices OF
the state officials. At the end of a
corridor she stepped into a sharp an
gle formed by jutting pillar.
walking as noiseiessfy as she, Arthur
Moore followed her. He stopped by
the pillar. esrts. ssss
who are you~" he asked in low
There was no answer
Come out 0 fthat corner and let me
see your face.
moonlight and turned 30 that the light
through the great windows at the end
of the corridor shore full upon her.
Carol Burton. What are you doing
here?r
4 shall not tell YOU Her voice was
calmly defiant.
She walked to a marble bench near
the door of the secretary OF states
suite and sat down. "You will have to
remain long time
II shall not md the waiting tire
some" He sat down beside her.
Carol" he said presently. what
part have you. a girl of gentle breed
ing and womanly sweetness, in this
world of political intrigue? You are
the most charming woman in the
capital Your farther Ia a prominent
member of the legislature. Why do
you take part in the schemes. plots
and strategies that lie beneath the sur
face of the political iife9"
do I take such part?"
You cannot explain your presence
here alone at this hour. AS ] came
up the walk I saw you standing near
the basement door and followed you.
Carol, tell me why you are here"
"A trained intrigante tells no Sc
crets Perhaps ! am spy-perhaps
thief ~e,s...- @-.s-+-
Let me take you away from here.
Your mission must not be carried out
| / know what it la. 1t Is not the work
for woman"
/ II shall do 1t, nevertheless.
Carol" he said gently, Il love you.
cannot let you do the work you are
planning to do. Some one has forced
this upon you, has told you that the
the leaders Of your fathers party are
at stake. There are men who are
(cowardiy enough to let a woman do
this. But you shall not do 1t. Go
and tell them that You were seen here,
that you could not carry out their
plans.
II shall not
You shall GO his voice rang out.
You shall not do this thing. I shall
take you from here now il / have to
carry you. You dare not call the
watchmen. WIN you come quietly or
shall / take you by force? / am a
strong man. you are a slip of a girl
He picked her up as IL she had
been child. Her arms went around
his neck and she laid her cheek against
his. She was laughing softly and her
voice was hardly more than a whisper
near his ear. But 1t was whisper
which held JOY and tenderness. In his
MANAGEMENT he almost dropped her
From the rotunda there came the
muff1ed sound of men walking steal
ithily. Carol and Burton slipped back
| into the dark angle behind the pillar.
Two men came down the corridor.
Their coat collars were turned up
around their ears and their hats were
pulled over their eyes. They entered
the suite directly opposite that of the
secretary OF state. 1t was the suite
1 of the state treasurer.
For several minutes Carol and Bur-
ton waited in the corner. The two
men reappeared and hurried quietly
away. I'll
Jones and Strong" Burton said
They came to do this work which
thought you had come for. You did
not intend to enter the treasurer =
lofiice7 answer, Carol. ~
II had nothing to do with the at
fair of the treasurer's Office"
What villain I was to misjudge