Putnam patriot., 1915-02-05
Gordon Craig Soldier of Fortune --by Randall Parrish


\. C. MoClurs C Co. what had occurred had the gun mug gle at the side of his head
 Now answer" l commanded sharp ly. Whose orders put you hereT'
 He choked. shrinking back helpless n the chair.
 You won't always have the drop on ne
 Well | have now. Speak up. Who the manE''
 Philip Henley he whispered, so ow scarcely caught the name.
 What,
 "Waal. told yer" he growled re- entfully. Yer kin believe CT not, just $ you please, but 50 help me that's he truth reckon I know"
 K | stared it him. half believing. aalf iaerednleus. became conscious that she stood in the hall doorway. bombs lifted his heads glad of any .espite. and l glanced aside also, drop dne the pistol back into my coat pocket
 YYeu-you were quarrelingf' she 7sked. coming into the room. "lou were SD long 1 became anxious and anne down"
 ~Noihing serious" 1 assured her smil- mgly. -Coembs here was little re- iuctant 10 inpart information, and was compelled to resort to primitive methods The result has been quite satisfactory.
 "Ein | go now?" he asked uneasily.
 "Yes. by way of the front door
 watrhed his great milking figure until lie disappeared along the path leading around the house. l had no fear that he would ever face me open ly All I needed to guard against was treachery Then l turned and looked into the questioning eyes of the woman.
 What did you learn? What did he say?"
 "Only one thing of real importance" I answered in subdued tone. and dragged that out of him by threat. He was not employed by Neale. and the fellow who was sent down here to as sst US was disposed of in some way"
 Killed you meanY T suspect as much but Coombs claims he was kicked off the place and returned north.
 For moment she stood silent breath ing heavily her eyes on my face In the pause I saw again the picture of the old judge and remembered.
 "Why is he here. then? What au- thority has he?'
 Come outside into the garden and will tell you the W hole story"
 In front of the Veranda and to the right of the brick walk the latticework of a small summer house could be dis cerned through a maze of shruhbery and weeds On rustic seat within we were completely screened from obserya- ton. With flushed cheeks and eyes bright and questioning she could scarce ly wait for me to begin.
 "Now tell me. Surely we are out of sight and hearing.
 .'I do not think I shall ever be entire ly assured as to that until l know more of our exact situation" I replied, speak ing cautiously We may have been seen coming here, and those weeds would easily conceal an eavesdropper The truth is, l have gained very little information of value and am as mysti- fled as ever. If that fellow told the truth it is beyond my understanding. think he lied and yet cannot be sure He claims to be working under the or ders of Philip Henley"
 What. Impossible.'
 '.So I felt, and consequently hesitat- ed to tell you. but now that l have been compelled to do so. l will explain in full. He said this under menace. a condition which often inspires men to speak the truth. can scarcely imagine his making up such story for he is dull witted fellow. and even before he had threatened to test your claims to be Henley's wife"
 You told him, then?"
 Everything. except the original cause of our being here. determined this morning to fight in the open. un- der my own name. That is the right way. is it not.'
 Yes. l think so" and she lifted her eyes to mine. T like you better for that"
 T think l like myself better also" said with a laugh. ''I confess didn't care much at first But after what you said the night of our arrival began to view tls thing in new light and to despise my part in it. Yet even then I felt bound to carry out my agreement. It was only when you told me your identity, tf.at l felt free to decide otherwise. 1 want to serve you, and want you to respect me. Down in your heart you haven't really been assured that l was not one of that gang of conspirators. You came down here to watch me-
 "No-no. l scarcely think I ever did doubt you, only it was all very strange. Nothing seemed real.
 We are both getting our heads above the mist now l interrupted gently, "and deep as the mystery ap. pears, when finally solved II will like ly prove very sordid. commonplace affair The main thing is for us to thoroughly understand and trust each other
 Il trust you" And both her hands were impulsively extended. T have from the very first did not come here to watch. but because believed in you. Truly this was my motive rather than any thought of the prop erty. l came because l knew you needed me. 1 had an intuition that you were going into danger. into some trap. u was not until that aft
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