The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1913-03-07

m not truant," she declared,
with feigned Indignation, And never
thought of running away 1sss4@s Just
your conceted 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 morning calf"
Tut. tut, | caught her up. What
little spitfire We have herei 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
riticed myself and MY pleasure for one
love"
Not for me. SURELY"
Did | use the word conceit mo-
ment ago? Are you the only NAV
love-"
L hope So" | answered, impudently.
There is another" she confessed,
IN mock tragedy Behold his facet"
| had not noticed that she held
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 |
vas startled. She said afterwards
that | went very white. l suppose |
~ I
did; for with the rush of realization
came such chain of supposition as to
drive me momentarily dizzy. Fer a
second or more | stood dumb. while
my hand went out in eager reach for
the scrap of canvas. which, | had OBJ
served instantaneously, bore four per.
forations, all Of a size-the size OF
rifle 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.
'hen to the paintings mutilation, and
on through devious ways to the morn
ing s target practice; and always with
one or another of Camerons trusted
servants as the chief actor.
When | recovered my composure !
found Evelyn backing wilfully away
from my covetous hand.
1T is the picture of the man | 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
could wish.
i found it nailed to a tree" she an
swered. Wasn't it odd? How do you
suppose it came there? 1t looks like
the portrait that hung in Uncle
Roberts study Do you suppose he
grew to dislike 1t. and cut It up and
threw it away"
Now ! found myself in some little
embarrassment. II ! was to obey
Cameron's injunction | could not tell
Evelyn the truth. Yet | was in no
position 10 make light OF her find. On
the other hand | must learn from her
just where she had come upon It, and
so trace. II possible. the person who
had fired the shots which riddled Il.
My dear girl" l said. adopting a
tone OF ca1olery. I'VE have here,
think. a matter in which we both can
be Of service-yery 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 ur-
derstand?"
She laughed in that merry ripping
fashion which l had found not the
least Of her charms.
DO | understand" she repeated
laying hand on my arm in emphasis
Of her amused tolerance. do | IN.
derstand? or course | don't, and
shant. until you have answered At
least a halfdozen why's and whats.n
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. "Td
like to tell you all about 1t, right here
and now. but that might spoil every.
thing, so you must show what a 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 We're 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 It had not