Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-13
q do not believe that 1t was you.
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impulsivey.
Thanks. | had nothing to do with
Miss Harrigan's Imprisonment"
DO you feel that you could make
confdante of me?"
He smiled. MY dear Miss Four
nier, | have come to the place where
l distrust even myself"
Forgive my curiosity"
Courtlandt held out his cup to Rao.
a am glad to see you again
"Ah, Sahib!"
The little Frenchwoman was torn
with curiosity and repression. She
wanted to know what causes had
produced this unusual drama which
was unfolding before her eyes. To
| be presented with effects which had
no apparent causes was madden
| ing. 1t was not dissimilar to being
| taken to the second act of a modern
problem play and being forced to
| leave before the curtain rose upon
the third act. She had laid all the
traps her intelligent mind could in
vent, and Nora had calmly walked
over them or around. Nora's mind
was Celtic; French in its adroitness
and Irish in it's watchfulness and
tenacity. And now she. had set her
arts of persuasion in motion aided
of the veil from this mans heart.
! Checkmate.
Il should like to help you." she said
truthfully.
I'm what way?'
1t was useless, but she continued:
"She does net know that you went to
Flora Testimonies that night"
And yet she sent you to watch
me-"
But so many things happened aft
erward that she evidently forgot"
THAT is possible"
II was asleep when the pistol went
off. oh, you must believe that it was
purely accidental! She was in a ter
rible state until morning. What if
she had killed you, what if she had
killed youl She seemed to bark upon
that phrase"
Courtlandt turned sober face to-
ward her. she might be sincere and
then again she might be playing the
first game over again, in a different
guise. 1T would have been embar-
RAISING if the bullet had found its
mark" he met her eyes squarely,
and she saw that his were totally
free from surprise or agitation or in
terest.
do you play chess?" she asked, di-
vertingly
Chess? am very fond of that
game"
80 / should judge" dryly. "I sup
pose you look upon me as a meddler.
Perhaps | an; but 1 have nothing but
goodwill toward you, and Nora would
be very angry if she knew that / was
discussing her affairs with you. But
l love her and want to make her
happy"
THAT seems to be the ambition of
all the young men, at any rate"
Jealousy? But the smile baffied her.
will you be here long?"
ut depends"
Upon Nora?" persistently.
1.-THE weather"
you are hopeless
mo, on the contrary, | am the
most optimistic man in the world.
She looked into this reply very
carefully. If he had hopes of win
ming Nora Harrigan, optimistic he
certainly must be, Perhaps it was
not optimism. Rather might it not
be a purpose made of steel, bendable
but not breakable, reinforced by a
knowledge of conditions which she
would have given worlds to learn?
rs she not beautiful"
II am not a poet"
"Wait a moment" her eyes widen
ing II believe you know who did
commit that outrage"
For the first time he frowned.
Very we'll; | promise not to ask
any more questions"
THAT would be very agreeable to
me- Then, as if he realized the
rudeness of his reply, he added:
Before | leave l will tell you all
YOU wish to know, upon one condi-
ton"
"Tell it,"
"You will say nothing to any one,
you will question neither Miss Har-
rigan nor myself. nor permit yourself
to be questioned"
II agree"
And now, will you not take me
over to your friends?"
"Over there?" aghast.
"Why, yes. We can sit upon the
grass. They seem to be having a
good time"
What a man, Take him over, into
the enemys camp? Nothing would
be more agreeable to her. Who would
be the stronger Nora or this provok-
ing man?
So they crossed over and joined
the group. The padre smiled. 1t was
situation such as he loved to study;
a strong man and a strong woman,
at war But nothing hoppened not
ripple anywhere to disclose the
agitation beneath. The man laughed
and the woman laughed, but they
spoke not to each other, nor looked
once into each others eyes.
The sun was dropping toward the
western tops. The guests were leav-
ing by twos and threes The colonel
had prevailed upon his dinner-guests
not to bother about going back to
the village to dress, but to dine in
the clothes they wore. Finally, none
remained but HarHgan, Abbott, the
Barone, the padre and Courtlandt
And they talked noisely and agree
ably concerning man-affairs until
Rao gravely announced that dinner
was served.
Tt was only then, during the lull
which followed, that light was shed
upon the puzzle which had been sub
consciously stirring Harrigan's mind:
Nora had not once spoken to the
son of his old friend.