Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-09
r1AprER 1V-tContInued)

.4t,, she pressed both hanos ushu!
Ia sbrank away from him
Ns, !" can trust no one-not ever
,.oui,' she cried, ,houeb NJ re
., ..t craig's heart to pounding IN MI MI
.., - mot even you'll 1t seemed u
Vt .n-t Of acknowledgment that she "e'
% trust him above all others
N'','"s .ho realized the confession under
fsi" ,,o,ds. for she loosened the
n Nv a final tug, and turned ASIDE
pus ,nsw that she was hiding 1t In the
eIssa security of her breast
sae .s she faced him again the SNIP
...s glowed above their heaas' me gu,
nsH,o.d timdly UP at hin' anu Aouiiu .l'
s,sn regarding her WIN S'es ,,,s.u
inc ~, ,be pale drawn look OF fright
they ,od vss whether from confusion or
hnu Sraip could not discover. She
4 gum 40 realize his right to the eXplana-
feemse nod not as yet asked In words
uV,, ~ ,,,,ht that we had evaded them.
q o,,oh surprise and shock to hnd
~ we, .,,, one knew about it--and was try
tnaS aug H." she began, hesitatinsiy
4 and Ill at ease, ...d r,r,ig
Il trvo, rnean-?' prompted 1rds'
.Ivhv-the blue buckle, OF course l
4 vrov II looks odd, OF course out uoi
A., why any one else shoulu want H.
unless they know what 1t means CT
n,,,S,, does IL mean?" asked Craig
,.,,,'aratelv. He must sacrifice politeness
s, IN the bottom Of this systery IL
s,t,o. for IL came to him suddenly
~ IIe,derman had led the subject UP
.hr,,ptIv 10 this same blue buckle
Tt,a look which the young woman
sashad hack at him was mute plea for
,nSn,gence. n charming apology for being
rot wholly frank with HIM
,t,n moi quite sure. That is. 1-well, L
Aon,t exactly know she evaded.
4 half-smile crept around Craigs lips,
AZ he continued to look In her eyes.
"Oh. I know It seems sllly!' she eS-
stained. 81 really don't know what 1t
c.eons. hut 1 know that 1 mustn't lose 1t
That something dreadful would happen!
That is the reason why I've kept it al
ways In my sight"
she turned, as If impatient of this silent
cross-examination. The chill of her sud
den. reserve startled Rutherfords finer
eensibilitles into life. He dreaded losing
a fraction of the little progress he had
made toward the real self of this allur-
ing woman Might she not, indeed. be
telling him the simple truth? The idea
came to Rutherford that her elderly hus-
band, that man of such distinguished
bearing and classically handsome face,
was using her very innocence and fascina-
tion to serve some underhanded purpose
OF his own. She was being made cats
paw was being hurled into unseen
dangers-the recent attack of that stocky
man showed it-while the real criminal
PLAYED invalid. and shielded himself be-
hind woman's skirts! The violent blood
rushed into Craig's face, as this disturb
ing thought came home to him. I'm
petuously he leaned forward and with
an action so swift that she could not
avoid II, he took one of her hands In both
his own and again gazed straight into her
eyes
Mrs. Talcott." he said in a voice
vibrant with suppressed emotion, "a mo-
ment ago you said you could trust no
one-not even mel You are wrong. You
can trust me- l may seem presumptuous
In prying thus into your affairs. but It is
only because i want to help you. You
may be In danger-you seem alone. Will
you not trust me-and let me help you
lin any and every event?"
She gently released her hand, and met
his impassioned look with a clear gaze
that seemed to read his very soul. He
never faltercd. although he felt that she
aeS dppIdlSlnB MN LOT all tlIle 10 come.
Then smile, so wonderfully blended OF
the CLINT OF laughter and the shine of
tears that the man could scarcely pre-
serve his calm attention gaze, shone
up at him.
Mr., Rutherford, I thank you." she
said with simple sincerity. perhaps
lhere will be no danger-let us hope
there will be none-but IF there is or any
other occasion arises-I shall rememberl"
II was confused but effective little
speech-yet Craig, man-like, was dis
appointed, and showed 1t. She was
seized with kindly impulse TO explain.
You see, no one must know"
"But r.
No, not even you-at least, not now.
must try to carry 1t through alone"
Before he could speak again. she
turned and hurried away.
CHAPTER V.
A GTFAFAEnAvc.