Las Vegas optic., 1914-11-25

ASK her to come in at once, please.
Jumping up, he placed chair in in
innate 1uxtaposition with his own.
and the door opened. and a young
woman entered
The mouse-brown man bowed. Miss
Rose Trine?" he murmured with a
great deal of Difference.
The young woman returned his bow
with show of perplexity: Mr. Dig
by?"
you are kind to come in response
to unconventional Invita-.
tion, said the little man. Won't
you -ah-sit DOWN."
She said. THANK you.' gravely, and
took the chair he indicated And ME.
Digby, with an admiration he made no
effort to conceal, examined the fair
face turned so candidly to him
1T is quite comprehensive" he said
difidently II you will permit me to
say so-now that one sees you, Miss
Trine. 1t is quite comprehensive why
| my employer ah--feels toward you as
he does"
The girl flushed. "Mr. Law has told
you?"
4 have the honor to be his nearest
friend, this side the water, as well
as his man Of business
He paused with an embarrassed ges-
ture. so have ventured to request
this ah surreptitious appointment in
order to--ah-take the further hber-
ty Of asking whether you have recent
ly sent Alan message?"
Her look of surprise was answer
enough, but she confirmed it with Wig
orous denial: Il have not commune
Gated with Mr.. Law in more than a
year!"
Precisely as l thought" Mr. Digby
nodded. None the less, Mr. Law not
long since received what purported to
be message from you; in fact "a
rose" And as Miss Trine sat for
ward with a start Of dismay, he AIDED:
Il have the information over Mr.. Laws
signature letter received ten days
ago-from Quebec"
Alan in America!" the girl cried
In undisguised distress.
He came In response to-ah--the
message of the rose"
But l did not send i'll"
II felt sure of that, because" said
Mr.. Digby, watching her narrowly
because Of something that accompa-
MED the rose, a symbol Of another sig
nifcance altogether-a playing card, a
trey of hearts
Her eyes were blank. He pursued
with openly sincere reluctance: 81
must tell you, l see, that trey of
hearts Invariably foresignaled an at
tempt by your father on the life of
Alan's father"
| With stricken cry the girl crouched
back in the Chair and covered her face
with her hands.
THAT is why | sent for you" Mr..
Digby pursued hastily, as If in hope
Of getting quickly over most unhap-
py business. "Alan's letter, written
and posted on the steamer, reached me
within twenty-four hours of his arrival
In Quebec, and detailed his scheme to
enter the United States secretIy-as
he puts It, by the back door, by way
Of northern Maine-and promised adj
vice by telegraph as soon as he
reached Moosehead Lake He should
have wired me ere this, am told by
those who know the country he was to
cross. Frankly, am anxious about
the boy!"
And IT. the girl exclaimed pitifully
ITO think that he should be brought
into such peril through me!9
"You can tell me nothing?9
Nothing yet did not dream
of this-much less that the message
of the rose was known to any but Alan
and myself. cannot understand"
Then I may tell you this much
more. that your father maintains a
very efficient corps Of secret agents" /"
You think he spied upon me?" the
girl famed with indignation.
Il know he did" Mr.. Digby per-
mitted himself a quiet smile. 1T has
seemed my business, in the service of
my employer, to employ agents of my
own. There is no doubt that your
father sent you to Europe for the sole
purpose of having you meet Alan"
OH she protested. But what
earthly motive-?"
That Alan might be won back to
America through you-and So"
There was no need to finish out his
sentence The girl was silent, pale
and staring with wide eyes, visibly
mastering her wits to cope with this
emergency.
Z may depend on YOU Mr. Digby
suggested, ito advise. me if you find
out anything?
For even more" The girl rose and
extended hand whose grasp was firm
Ind vital on his fingers. A fine spirit
of resolve set her countenance aglow.
You may count on me for action on
my own part. il find circumstances
warrant it. / promised not to marry