The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-11-16

followed the car to the house where tho
reception was held; even mingling with
the guests and watching until the bridal
ouple left for the train. He had stood
in the ally in the shadow, the only n
of the guests who had found how the
bride was really going away, and again
he had followed to the station.
He had walked close enough to the
bridegroom in the station to be almost
sure that mustache and those heavy
eyebrows We're false; and yet he could
rot make it out. How could 1t be pos
Slble that a man who was going to be
married in a great church full of fash
ionable people would SO dare to flirt
with chance as to accept an invitation
to a dinner where he might not be able
to get away for hours? What would
AVE happened If he had not got there
in time? Was it in the least possible
that these two men could be identical?
Everything but the likeness and the
fact that he had followed h man SO
closely pointed out the impossibility.
The thick-set man was accustomed
to trust his inner impressions
thoroughly, n III this case his
inner impression was that he must
watch this peculiar bridegroom and be
sure he was not the right man before
he forever got away from him-and'
yet-and yet, he might be missing the
right man by doing it. However, he
had come SO far, had risked a good
deal already in following and in throw
ing himself on that fast moving train.
He would stay a little longer and find
out for sure. He would try and get q
seat where he could watch him n in
ar hour he ought to be able to tell if
he were really the man who had stolen
the code writing. IL he could avoid the
conductor for a time he would simply
profess to have taken the wrong train
by mistake and maybe could get put
off somewhere near home, in case he
discovered that he was barking up the
wrong tree. He would stick to the
train for a little yet, iRaSmuch as there
seemed no safe way of getting off at
present.
Having decided so much, he gave one
last glance toward the twinkling lights
az he city hurrying past, and getting
up sauntered into the train, keeping a
weather eye out for the conductor. He
meant to burn no bridges behind him.
He was we'll provided with money for
any kind of a trip and mileage books
and passes. He knew where to send
a telegram that would bring him in
slant assistance in case of need, and
ever now he knew the officer on the
motorcycle had reported to his en-
ployer that he a boarded this train.
There was really 10 immediate need
for him to worry. 1t was big game he
was after and one must take some
risks in a case of that sort. Thus he
entered the sleeper to make good the
impression of his inner senses.
Gordon had never held anything so
precious, so sweet and beautiful and
frail looking, in his arms. He a a
feeling that he ought to lay her down,
yet there was a longing to draw her
closer to himself and shield her from
everything that could trouble her.
But she was not his-only a precious
trust to be guarded and cared for as
Vigilant]y as the message he carried
hide about his neck; she belonged to
another, somewhere, and was a sacred
trust until circumstances made 1t pos
sible for him to return her to her
rightful husband. Just what all this
might mean to himself. to the woman
In his arms, and to the man whom she
was to have married, Gordon had not
as yet had time to hin 1t was as if
he had been watching a moving pic
ture and suddenly a lot Of circum-
stances had fallen in a heap and be-
come all jumbled up together, the re-
suit of his w rash but unsuspecting
steps, the way whole families have in
moving pictures of falling through a
skyscraper from floor to floor. carrying
furniture and inhabitants with them as
they descend.
He had not as yet been able to dis
entansle himself from the debris and
llnd out what mao peen MS Iault and
he ought to do about it.
He laid her gently on the couch of
the drawing room and opened the little
door of the private dressing room.
There would be cold water in there.
He knew very little about caring for
sick people-he had always been well
and strong himself-but cold water
was what they used for people who
had tainted, he was sure. He would
not call in any one to help, unless it
was absolutely necessary. He pulled
the door of the stateroom shut and
went after the water. AS he passed the
mirror, he started at the curious vision
of himself. One false eyebrow had
come loose and was hanging over his
eye, and his goatee was crooked. Had
1t been so all the time? He snatched
the eyebrow off, and then the other;
but the mustache and goatee were
more tightly affixed and 1t was very
painful to remove them. He glanced
back, and the white, limp look Of h
girl on the couch frightened him. What
was he about, to stop over his appear
ance when she might be dying, and as
from him. and. stuffing 1t into his
pocket. filled a glass with water and
went back to the couch. His chin and
upper lip smarted. but he did not no.
t1ce 1T, nor know that the mark Of the
plaster was all about his face. He only
1AAS" SiaL SiA0 ldy liICIS apparently
lifeless before him, and he must bring
the soul back into those dear eyes. It
was strange, wonderful, how his feel
ing had grown for the girl whom he
had never seen till three hours before.
He held the glass to her lips and
tried to make her drink, then poured
water on his handkerchief and awk-
wardly bathed her forehead. Some hair
pins slipped loose and q great wealth
Of golden brown hair fell across his
knees as he half knelt beside her. One
little hand dropped over the side Of
the couch and touched his. He startedl
1t seemed so cold and lifaless.
He blamed himself that he had nc
remedies in his suit case. Why had he
never thought to carry something-a
simple restorative? Other people
might need it though he did not. No
man ought to travel without something
for the saving Of life in an emergency.
He might have needed it himself even,
n case OF a railroad accident or some
thing.
He slipped his arm tenderly under
her head and tried to raise it so that
she could drink, but the white lips did
not move nor attempt to swallow.
MI