Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-06-02


dimpling upon him. And then, with
the air of one who has no time to
waste in airy persinage. I'm here on
business. though. Mr.. North. l want
to borrow the services of your stenog-
rapher for a day."
Met" inquired Betsy Barbara.
"You." replied Rosalie Le Grange.
She turned back to Tommy North
then; and the flash of her dimples dis
armed any possible resentment.
"Mr. North. haven't you got five or
ten minutes of business somewhere
else? Like buying your days cigars
or something? When two ladies want
to talk something over alone. they
hate to talk in the hail."
"Oh, certainly" replied Tommy
North. rising and reaching for his
coat.
1T amt every young boarder." said
Rosalie Le Grange, who is intelligent
enough to let his landlady boss him.
Now you be back in Just ten minutes
by the clock, that's an obedient boy"
Tommy cast one look at Betsy. Bar
bara as he went out of the door; and
Betsy.Barbara smiled as though to re-
assure him.
Rosalie proceeded to the heart Of
the matter without any Of her Gus
tomary circumlocution.
"Betsy-Barbara Lane" she said, 'T
believe you'd go for a friend to the
place we amt supposed to mention.
except in church. Wouldn't your"
What has happened?" asked Betsy
Barbara, her color departing with a
rush. HAS Constance"
Constance IL perfectly all right"
reassured Rosalie. "She was tryin' to
read-poor thing-when left her fif-
teen minutes ago. But I've got my an
swer. you would"
II think l would give my life II It
would help now." said Betsy-Barbara.
What I'm askin' them" continued
Rosalie LIE Grange. may seem only a
little thing. But it's important. I
can't tell you how important 1t may
save him-you know, Mr.. Wade-if
you play your cards right"
Betsy-Barbara was on her feet now.
What is 1t? Quick!" she asked.
mot beatin' about the bush," re-
piled Rosalie Le Grange. 81 want you
to spend the day nirtin' perfectly out
rageous with Mr.. Estrilla-"
In spite of herself, Betsy-Barbara let
her pink blond coloring suffuse her
cheeks But the color flowed back as
her mind leaped from circumstance to
circumstance and rested on a sus-
picion.
What has he" she said under her
breath, what has he to do with the
Hanska case?"
"Nothin' much-himself." said Rosa
lie, indiferently. but great deal 20
do with solvin' it. An it's important
that he should be delivered at Just the
right time-as a kind Of Witness"
A new idea widened Betsy-Barbara's
eyes and made soft and wondering the
little mouth of her.
"And what have your she whis-
pered. Have you-all this time-and
never suspected"
Now don't go cuttin' corners an
guesein," said Rosalie lie Grange.
I've been doin' my part. Don't ask
me any more. please. I'm Just Dustin
to tell. I'm an old fool with my tongue.
an II ! spring the littlest leak in a
secret 1t all comes tumblin' out Re-
member what I've told you. First, you
can help save Mr.. Wade as nobody
else can. Next, don't ask any ques-
tons. An Betsy-Barbara Lane. now
I'm gettin' solemn. l want you to
hold up your right hand an swear
somethin' on your honor-that you
won't tell anybody-anybody-
this until let you"
But now the shade of a suspicion
flashed across Betsy.Barbaras face.
Rosalie caught It and formed her an
swer mentally before her pretty Juror
spoke.
Suppose" said Betsy yBarbara-'I
beg your pardon, Mrs. lie Grange. but
one must watch everything In a time
like this-suppose you were working
for the other side?"
TN case you ever found that out"
said Rosalie. your oath is all on.
Goodness me!"-and now her emotion
was real-"do look like a traitor or
anything of that sort? Haven't helped
Mrs. Hanska every way couldf
You're a woman, Betsy-Barbara, an
you know me by this time. Am that
kind?"
NO" replied Betsy-Barbara. You
are not" And with an air OF pretty
solemnity, she swore It.
"If l was a man." said Rosalie lie
Grange. Il could Just eat you up when
you look that way. Now we're goin'
straight to business. 1t is a quarter
of ten. Has Mrs. Hanska any date to-
day."
she was going to her lawyers at
eleven o'clock"
Let her do that; but first you're to
see her and tell her that she mustn't
come home afterwards. Let her go any
where except home. An after you've
done what l want you to do, you'll