The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-11-13
ACCOMPLICE"
Bv FREDERICK TREVOR HILL

neatly, Miss NiipCS, L NuA y
that. It's part Of his policy"
Its part of a bad policy, I say. He
ought to have allowed her to tell every
thing she knew. l believe it was my
going away which first started sus-
picion against her. and Betty Fields
mysterious disappearance made more
mischief, so we've come back to undo
it."
"What! The Field girl hasn't come
back, too:'
The question was an incredulous
whisper of dismay.
"She certainly has," was the calm re-
joinder. "She is here now"
The girl listening at the window
clasped her hands and covered as she
heard the frightened exclamation, and
for some seconds there was deep ST
lence. But when the man spoke again
his voice had recovered its composure.
Does the other side know you're
here yet:" he inquired.
I'm sure l don't know. Probably
not"
"Then there's time yet. Make the
most of it. Miss Mapes. Go. and take
the Field girl with you. I've no doubt
you've acted with the best possible" in
tentions, but you're on the verge OF
making a terrible mistake"
What? Go away and leave Miss
Alice alone, and let them say what
they please about Il disappearance?
Not much. I've done with Barstow!'
Don't say that, Miss Mapes," the
man protested; Miss Emory has per-
feet confidence in him."
well, l haven't. He got her into
this mess, and 1 won't trust him to get
her out"
Every we'll, madam'-the mans
voice hardened with the words-"if
this is your final decision you must
take the consequences, whatever they
may be. Mr.. Barstow knows more
about you than you think, and, though
he would very much regret to involve
any one else in this case-and you will
bear witness that he has always guard
ed your interests as ~scrupulously as
though you were his clientele cannot
be hampered in his defense, madam,
and l tell you plainly he will not be-"
"Barstow says all that, does hep
snapped the woman. "Well, you go
back and tell him Id rather trust a
jury than him any day in the week.
and you can tell him, too, that if I
were dying for want of advice and he
was the only mar in the world to give
it Id die decently without it."
The girl covering beneath the win
dow sill sank on the ground as she
heard the housekeeper's impassioned
words, and her stihed sobbing was
plainly audible to me in the intense
stiffness. Then a chair grated along
the kitchen floor as the, visitor rose to
his feet.
cts too bad you should allow your
personal prejudices to influence you at
a time like this, Miss Mapes," he OBJ
served, calmly but remonstratingly.
ITO interfere with a lawyer at an i'm
portant crisis in a case of this sort is
a serious matter. l don't know why
you assume to be wiser than Mr.. Bar
stow, but perhaps you have private
reasons which are convincing. How
ever, you have assumed the response
bility and must abide by it. l only
hope it may not prove irsupportable.
Good night"
Good night, Mr.. Hunt. Ill be here
when anybody wants me.'
The visitor made no audible reply,
and heard him cross the room, follow.
ed by the housekeeper.
The woman on the ground did not
move at once, but at last she rose
slowly and turned to the door. AS
she reached it Miss Mapes appeared
upon the threshold. Instantly the
younger woman flung herself into the
housekeeper's arms.
"Oh, I'll do anything, say anything
you wish, dear Miss Mapesw! she whis-
pered excitedly. but, oh, haven't
any courage. I haven't any at ALL"
Miss Mapes gathered the sobbing girl
to her breast.
II haven't any, either, child" she
whispered, and her voice was choked
with tears.
For a few moments they remained
clasped in each others embrace. and
then the elder woman disengaged her.
self and, supporting her companion,
passed into the house
The instant they disappeared l dart
ed into the screen of trees, but | did
not breathe easily again until the Shaw
farmhouse lay many miles behind me.
was tired and hungry when | reach
ed home, but l could scarcely touch
the tempting supper which awaited
me, and when l tried to sleep the end
of an hours wakcful tossing found me
n~crvously excited and unstrunv. At
last | rose, and, wrapping a bathrobe
about me, settled down at my study
table to lose myself in work.. Blu the
papers l had left with such reluctance
in the morning no longer had the
slightest charm or interest. The realm
OF Persian poesy appeared empty and
unreal beside the living, practical