The Detroit times., 1913-10-15


do not hermit that 20 bother you
In the least 1 was never going TO
recall It"
WAS il So unpleasant"
"On the contrary, was much anus
ed sf
Il did not tell yeH-the truth. =
$50 have found out"
Il do not believe that it was you, :
impnlsively.
Thanks. | had nothing to do with
Miss Harrigans Imprisonment
do you feel. that you could make q
confidante OF me?"
He smiled. My dear Miss Four
nier, l have come TO the place where
distrust even myself"
Forgive my curiosity.
Courtlandt held out his cup To Rao.
II am glad to see You again, !"
All, Sahib."
The little Frenchwoman was torn
with curiosity and repression. She
wanted to know what causes had pro-
duced this unusual drama which was
unfolding before her eyes. To be pre-
sented with effects which had no ap-
parent causes was maddening. II was
not dissimilar to being taken to the
second act. of 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 invent; and Nora had
calmly walked over them or around.
Nora's mind was Celtic: French In
its adroitness and Irish In its watch
fitness and tsnacity- And now she
had set her arts OF persuasion in mo-
ton (aided by a piQpapt~ beauty to
lift a corner OF the veil from this
mans heart Checkmate!
Il should like TO help you." she
said. truthfully.
I'm what way?"
II was useless. but she continued:
She does not know that you went
to Flora Desimones that night"
And yet she sent you to watch
me-
But SO many things happened az
terward that she evidently forgot
That Is possible"
IL was asleep when the pistol went
OF. Oh, you must believe that 1t WAS
purely accidental. She was in q ter
rible state until morning What II
she had killed you. what II she had
killed you, She seemed to bark upon
that phrase"
Courtlaudt turned q sober face to-
ward her. She might be sincere. and
then again she might be playing the
first game over again, in q different
guise 1T would have been embar-
raising il the bullet had found its
mark He met her eyes sQuarely,
and she saw that his were totally free
from surprise or agitation or interest.
do YOU play chess she asked d.
Chess? / am very fond of that
game"
$50 l should judge" dryly. Il sup
pose you look upon me rs meddler.
Perhaps / am; but have nothing but
good will toward you: and Nora would
be very angry II she knew that was
discussing her affairs with you. But
/ love her and want to make her
happy.".e.l 49,. II .4a
THAT seems to be the ambition OF
all the young men, ct any rate
Jealousy? But the smile bafned
her. "Wn1 you be here long?"
1T depends"
Upon Noray persistently.
THE weather"
"You are hopeless
no: on the contrary, am the
most optimistic man In the world"
She looked into this reply very
carefully. II he had hopes OF win
ming Nora Harrigan. optimistic he
certainly must be. Perhaps 1t was
not optimism. Rather might It not
be q purpose made Of steel. bendable
but not breakable, reinforced by a
knowledge of conditions which she
would have given worlds to learn?
'Ts she not beautiful?"
Il am not = poet"
WAIT q moment" her eyes widen
ing. II believe you know who did
commit that outrage"
For the first time he fruwned.
very. well; I promise not to ask
any more questions"
That would be very agreeable TO
me-" Then, as II he realized the
rudeness OF his reply, he added: BE-
fore I leave ] viii tell you all you
wish to know, upon one condition"
Tell IT,"
You will say nothing to any one,
you will question neither Miss Har-
rigan nor myself, nor permit yourself
to be- questioned" ~sH ,t
II agree" es.n
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
good time"
What a man! Take him over. into
the enemy's camp? Nothing would
be more agreeable to her. Who would
be the stronger, Nora or this pro-
voking man?
80 they crossed over and Joined
the group. The padre smiled. II was
ia situation such as he loved to study:
q strong man and q strong woman.
at war. But nothing happened; 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 10 bother about going back TO
the village to dress, but to dine in
the clothes they wore. Finally. none
remained but Harrigan, Abbott the
Barone, the padre and Courtlandt
And they talked noisily and agree
ably concerning man-affairs until
Rao gravely announced that dinner
was served.
II was only then. during the lull