The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-05-05
of them requires the station to be

closed.'
Her face lighted with unmistakable
relief. and she answered in the same
language: "My servant has gon to
make some arrangements. ! only wish
to wait for a train"
! interpreted this also. but the man
was obd,lratc. "Shc cannot wait here.
No II is allowed-by law"
Blu: | must watt She broke in and
blushcd wildly and trcmbled at having
given away the fact that she under
stood him.
Let me offer Il suggestion. ! am al
EngliShman, Robert Anstruther. and if
YOU permit ! will wait with YOU outside
until your ervAn returns. These Off
cials are obstinate Just now because Of
some plot that has been discovered,
and he will only send for the police If
you do not cOmply.'
At the mention Of the police she rose
quickly. all the color left her face and
her lips qnivcred.
The station master beamed his thanks
upon me as he bowed us out and turn
ed the key upon us.
"TheSc little officials are very touchy,"
| said when We stood outside, and |
saw she was quite undecided what to
do,
She paused and then said impulsive-
ly: 81 don't know what you will think.
IL am so ashamed"
81 hope not. There is no need"
81 mean about am not English"
Are YOU not: You answered me in
English.' l said gravely.
\ little blush signaled yeXation. ".As
if you did not know. 1t is no subject
for laughter"
"GOd forbid that | should laugh.
You are too evidently in deep trouble"
"And you know that | understood
him all the time
! bowed. II ask no Questions.'
Il should like to explain. but + can
not. Oh, how humiliating..' she cried,
tone touched me deeply.
II am only 4 stranger. but if can
help you | beg YOU to give me the OPP
portunity."
You cannot. You cannot. Oh. T.
She left the sentence unfinished and
turned away to stare along the road
leading to h village, her arm resting
upon a gate ear IF he comes back
| heard her murmur. but the rest of
the sentence vas lost.
She was a mystery. and a very fasci-
mating mystery too. Who could she be:
Why travelling aloneI What was her
trouble: Why pretending to be Eng
lish: Why had she started so at the
mention of the police.
She turned suddenly and broke in
upon my thoughts by saying hurriedly
and nrrvously. this time in Polish.
THANK YOU. sir. for what you have
done and also for your offer, but /
must not detain you longer
| smiled. You are not OBTAINING me,
but l will go, Of course, if you wish.'
She hesitated. I hoped it was from
reluctance to dismiss me. Then she
put out her hand impulsively and said
with an air of constraint and a very
wistful look. MY secret is safe with
YOU, | know
II should like to make it a condition
of silence that you let me help YOU
further"
$40, no. That is impossible-impos-
sihle." she cried quickly. "My-my
servant will be back SOON" The fear
in her eyes increased as she spoke of
him.
well, don't forget the name-An-
struther. In at the Petersburg inn.
should you-or your friends-think me
likely to be Of any use"
She shook her head. mo. no. Thank
you. Thank YOU"
| raised my hat and turned away. |
Would have given a lot to be able to
find some excuse for staying with her.
and when | looked after her chance
found me 4 reason to 90 back. She
was walking slowly in the direction of
the village, her back toward me, and
saw her handkerchief fall.
| picked it up and hurried after her.
Hearing my step, she turned so quick
ly as to suggest alarm.
You have dropped this I said.
handing her the little dainty lace trifle.
AS | held it out the initials Nv. D." EN-
broi'crcd in the corner lay uppermost.
She took it hurriedly. glanced from
the initials to my face and then thank
cd me.
Just then Il man came hastily round
a bend in the path some twenty PAGES
ahead of us. She bit her lip ut sight of
him, and her nervous confusion in
creased.
"My--my servant. You must 90,
please"
Surprised that she should show such
fear of a servant. drew aside. with Il
smile, and she walked on.
Then | looked at the servant. and the
mystery about her at once became
clearer and yet deeper.
1t is one of the freaks of my other
wise treacherouS memory never to for