The Delta independent., 1914-08-28

en- by Alan Law to catapuIt over the
edge OF cliff in northern Maine) the
muted signal OF the little mans desk
telephone clicked and, eagerly lifting
receiver to ear, he nodded with a smile
and said in accents of some relief:
Ask her to come in at once. please"
Jumping up. he.placed chair in in.
innate juxtaposition with his own;
and the door opened, and a young
woman entered.
The mouse-brown man bowed. Miss
Rose Trine?" he murmured with q
great deal Of difference.
The young woman returned his bow
with show Of perplexity: "Mr. Dig
byf"
you are kind to come in response
to my-ah-unconvent invita-
tion," said the little man. Won't
you-ah-sit DOWN."
She said. Thank you." gravely. and
took the chair he indicated. And Mr..
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
diffidently-"if 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
your"
Il have the honor to be his nearest
n1eno. rnls sioe tne water. as well
as his man OF business"
He paused with an embarrassed ges-
ture. 80 have ventured to request
this-ah-surreptitious appointment In
order to-ah-take the further liber-
ty Of asking whether you have recent
ly sent Alan a messager
Her look OF surprise was answer
enough, but she confirmed 1t with Wig
orous denial: II have not communi-
Gated with Mr.. Law In more than .
Year!"
Precisely as thought" Mr. Digby
nodded None the less, Mr.. Law not
long since received what purported to
be a message from you; In fact-a
rose" And as Miss Trine sat for
ward with a start of dismay. he AIDED:
i have the information over Mr.. Laws
Iignature-a letter received ten days
Lgo-from Quebec"
Alan in Americai" the girl cried
IN undisguised distress.
He came in response to-ah-the
message of the rose"
But ! did not send IT."
Il felt sure of that, because" said
Mr.. Dgby. watching her narrowly
because OF something that accompa,
MED the rose. a symbol OF another sig.
niflcance altogether playing card. a
trey of hearts"
Her eyes were blank He pursued
with openly sincere reluctance: Il
must tell you, see, that q trey OF
hearts invariably foresignaled an at
Alan's father"
With a stricken cry the girl crouched
back In the chair and covered her face
with her hands.
That is why ! sent for you" Mr..
Ogby pursued hastily. as II in hope
Of getting quickly over a most unhap
py business. "Alan's letter, writer
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 secretly-as
he puts It, by the back door, by way
OF northern Maine-and promised ad
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 tc
cross. Frankly, ! am anxious about
the boyi"
And II" the girl exclaimed pitifuily
ITO think that he should be brought
into such peril through mel"
You can tell me nothing?"
"Nothing-as yet I did not dream
Of tbis-much less that the message
OF the rose was known to any but Alar
and myself. / caInot understand"
Then ! may tell you this much
more, that your father maintains 6
very efficient corps OF secret agents.
You think he spied upon me?" tho
girl famed with indignation.
Il know he did" Mr.. Digby per
mitted himself quiet smile. 1T hat
seemed my business. in the service OF
my employer, to employ agents Of my
own. There IL no doubt that your
father sent you to Europe for the SOLE
purpose Of having you meet Alan"
"Oh!" she protested. But wha,
earthly motIve-?"
THAT Alan might be won back u
America through you-and 80"
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.
Il may depend on you" Mr.. Digb,
suggested. ito advise me II you hnt
out anything?"
For even more" The girl rose ant