Putnam patriot., 1916-09-08
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAP FIX XVII.
 O'Neil Verifies Suspicious. i" HE locomotive had been switch
 cd out by this time, and ONeil
 hurried 10 board it. On his way
 to Omar he had time thorough " to weigh the rt uts of this unex- pccted complication. His present de sire was merely to verify his suspicion that Appleton had fold his secret to Natalie Beyond that he did not care ro think. for there was but one course open
 His anger reached the blazing point after his arrival Is he stepped down from the engine cab Gray silently handed him code message from Lon don which had arrived a few moments before When its ontents had been deaphered O'Neil cursed and hc was furious as he stumbled through the dark toward the green bungalow on the hill
 Swinging around the corner of the house he came into n bright radiance which strcaned forth from Eliza 's window. and he could not help seeing the interior of tbe room She WAS there. writing busflv. and he saw that she was clad i'll the elaborate kimono which he had given her. Yet it was not her personal appearance which ar rested his angry eyes and caused his step to halt it was. instead. her sur roundings
 He had grown to accept Der prim simplicity aS q matter of course and never associated her in his thoughts with anything feminine. but the room as II lay before him now was n rcvela ton of dainthess and artful decora tion Tasteful water coIors hung on the walls. d warm rug was on the floor and everywhere were rosy touches of color The plain white bed had been transformed into a couch of oriental nxury. \ laee spread of webille texture covered it. then pillows were hidden beneath hillowing masses of rufiles and ribbons He saw typienl ,vaMau's crgzY corner piled high with cushions. There WnN a inr of hurninc incense sticks near lt--evcrything iu fact. was uiterly ni variance with his notions of The owner Even tue gir herself seruied transtigurcd, for he halr wa- brought forward around he fnee in some loose mysterious fashion which gave her a hewiidermgly glrIish appearance
 9'NeHS eyes photographed all this ir q single surprised glance as he passed The neX1 moment he was mounting the steps ao the porch.
 Dan flung open The door. but his words ef greeting fro2e His smile of welcome vanished at sigkt of his chiefs fGr1iddng visnge.
 Murray was iu no mood to waste words I1e, began roughly:
 Did yeu tetl Miss Gerard tknt Poult- ney IlIis is backing me ?''
 Dam stnmmercd. "l = perhaps -l What has e0nc wrens. ehief?"
 '.Did yor aell her the inside sthe sto- ry of his agreement with the steam neat peopleys
 Dan palsd seneath his tan. hut his egaes met Atniqay's without tlinehing 'I think l 4Iid-tell har something. dsaii quite remember. Hut anything I raay have said was in ,ooufi '-
 'i thought su. l merely wished to ntabss .t,ertais. Well. tue wholc tlhng i@ tB the llapers.
 Appleton laid tus hand upon the ta hle ts steady himSeif
 "Thea il didn't come from her. Sh. weuidns~
 "G0r,i,la has slasead the story broad. east l. couldn't have come lfEom apl oiher ~os,Se. It ceuldA,t have Scaehct hin4 in any sther vzay. far noae .ot III, lspys has hseathed Q wsfd' His eui ' russa despite his effefs as self coltro His agreemeut was illee0l," he .Saie SavagriY -It will probably forfeit { c charter af the North l,ass or L.aa Gf in court suppose YOu rpS Ike t'eu discovered lis S,.itt aud .,~sUrcd NI it was sale w~'h iae. Nov a p0dt U t 10 Gordon. aud fhe wbsls shigE a. puhIic. Heres the lirst reSai, H. shook tue London tahlea1a ls ban' lace. aud his own Was di- leteI ni | rage There Wns stir ip EtsI isst3ts Wilich neither uoItsd ApI rio., N44'cs his lace with uncertain ha4u. ,se Nuaisiened h. lips to Sa
 .Al-l' I'm tosBt1ls ssg.Y. lut tl4 su4c .,. \alic wouldn't spy l dou-t tcacsa. " \yylaf told her or how ,ame ct ''ie about the affair hac .tay 5oll
 \thiAk in the urs' eNsitemeut. paek wouldn't kne9 nsts Hr.A Nou tog tA}&tr- tt) l. sNohod eusAt you had learned your except yotNt stenls you haaat Don't
 Neragd for pumping you--- !, leiAone at Alonas te Gordon now. aray. while sApyaity too. Since you 1g forehead
 Y hung up Elhss door open.
 u ye him. pale, fright sbssa my be .,a sa,, ,onldn.1 paos ps efsbetla,H Hr'as sue said- s you,~ is .tss t@ss~saA I've trusted
 ap. ake ss lat the thought roun' os sAadaer erbofs thf occurred to ada,,a is h ns g f oae close tc ne s byh- 1,.frag goa klS this V .ople LWssp,s sdarpled kn a man 'eT1 .,yaiaiiea. i0ee ae sa, aae, pa ae- lie teni.ea yoer b ih.1 h. iarned ,d fnlsx :. Tod n oack