The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-06-06


prisoner in Libby ia his brother
that's what you said-his brother
bring him here. Go to the prison anc
bring that man here"
"What?"
Let them meet Bring them fac,
to face, then you can see whether
you mean bring them together
here?"
yes"
"As If the prisoner were trying tc
escape?
Exactly"
There is something in that" saiC
Arrelsford; when do you suggest
Nov"
'I am willing to try It, but It de
Dends upon you. Can you keel
Thorne here?"
~ can"
ut won't take more than half an
hour. Be out there on the veranda
When | tap on the glass bring him
into this room and leave him alone
And l can rely upon you to give him
no hint or sign that we suspect"
Mr. Arrelsford!" said the girl, in
dignant and naughty, and her mother
stepped swiftly toward her, looking at
him contemptuously, as If he should
have known that such an action would
be impossible for either Of them.
Arrelsford gazcd at them a minute
or two, smiled triumphantly. and
| passed out of the room.
Mamma, mammal moaned the
girl, her eyes shut, her hand extend.
ed. Mamma" she repeated in an
guish.
81 am here Edith dear; am here, "
said Mrs. Varney, coming toward her
and taking her tenderly in her arms.
DO you think-do you think-that
he-he could be what they say?" Her
hand fell upon the commission in her
belt. This commission | got for him
this afternoon"
"Yes?"
"The commission, you know, from
the President, for the telegraph serv-
ice-why, he refused to take IT," her
voice rose and rang triumphantly
through the room; ''he refused to take
it! That doesn't look as if he wanted
to use the telegraph to betray US"
Refused! That's impossible!" said
her mother.
"Ie said that it was for me that he
couldn't take it,"
For you! Then it is true" an
swered Mrs. Varney.
mo, no." said the girl; don't say
it,"
Yes" said her mother; "the infa-
nous" The girl tried to stifle with
her hand upon her mothers lips the
words, but Mrs. Varney shook off her
hand. "The spy. the traitor" she
added witheringly.
mo, mol" cried the girl, but as she
spoke, conviction seemed to come to
her. Why was it that her faith was
not more substantially based and en-
during? she asked herself. Mamma"
she walled, sit can't be-" She buried
her face in her hands for moment
and then tore them away and con-
fronted her mother boldly, Wont
you leave me alone for little while,
mammal" she asked plaintively. 81
must get"
Il will go to Howard; l will be back
in short time, my dear" said her
mother, gently laying her hand on her
daughters bent head.
Left alone, the girl took the commits
sion from her belt, opened it,
it out, and read it through.
as if bewildered and uncomprehend-
ing She folded 1t up again, and
walked slowly over to one of the front
windows, drew aside the curtains, and
pushed 1t open. All was still She
listened for she knew not what There
was a footstep from the far end of
the walk leading from the summer
house, a footstep she knew. Edith
moved rapidly away from the window
to the table and stood by it, her hand
resting upon it, her knees fairly trem-
bling in her emotion, as she waited
The next moment the open space
framed the figure Of Captain Thorne. |
He entered fearlessly, but when his |
eye fell upon her there was something |
80 strained about her attitude that
spark Of suspicion was kindled in his
soul Yet his action was prompt
enough. He came instantly toward
Ter and took her hand.
Miss Varney," he said.
Edith watched his approach fasci-
lated, as a bird by serpent. His
ouch awakened her to action. She
her hand away and shrAnk
Jack.
"No; don't touch me-" she cried
He looked at her in amazement. The
park Of suspicion burst into fame,
nut she recovered herself instantly.
"Oh, it was you" she faltered. She
orced smile to her lips. "How per
ectly absurd am. am sure ought
0 be ashamed of myself. Come. let's
% out on the veranda. want to talk
0 you about so many things.
half an hour--yet be-
ore we must go to Caroline's."
She had possessed herself of his
and again as she spoke. She now
topped swiftly toward the window.
Ie followed her reluctantly until they
cached the opening. She stepped
through it and archly looked back at /
i'm, still in the room.
How lovely is the night" she said !
nth tender persuasiveness. Come !
nth me-"