Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-25
Authos = my Lady = the
North, "s1laid q the Forest etc.

t.There Il not much to te1l," Ne went
on, almost jauntily. II saw exactly
how things were going before we left
the boat. I knew Hollis reputation
ashore, and determined to warn you Of
his purpose, but had no opportunity.
Besides, felt you had 30 poor an opin-
ion Of me that probably you would not
listen"
you were greatly mistaken, Mr.. Nc
Cann," she said pleasantly. II would
have gladly received your advice. You
were my fathers friend"
could read the mans surprise In
his face. The graciousness. Of her
words was q shock, yet his egotism
made him instantly her victim.
.You mean Jon trusted met That
you would have nstened?"
most assuredly. How could you
think otherwisel I knew you were not
yourself in the boat, and the treat
sment to which You were subjected was
brutal. owed my life to you equally
with Captain Hollis, and am very
grateful. I have never forgotten that
you have been a9.guest In our home,
buaaxess assodate Of my fathers.
why should I not have confidence In
700 r
looked at her In amazement, but
her eyes never met mine. What did
this mean7 Was the girl acting part7
Was she endeavoring to deceive him,
or wss she speaking now In deadly ear
nest7 Nothing in her manner, or in
the tone Of her voice, gave me a clue.
As for McCann, the very expression OF
his face pictured his delight, his con-
viction Of her sincerity. It was almost
too good to be true, yet his was not q
nature to doubt his own attractiveness.
"II-you surprise me-" he STAN
mered, absolutely forgetting my pres
ence. I'll assure you I was actuated
by the highest motives in all my eff
forts. My-my duty was to you, and
your father"
He turned and faced me, the bully
in him surging to the surface.
II will converse with Miss Caring
ton alone"
To resist would have been utter fool
ishness. I could see the CLEAN Of the
gun In his hand, and realized that
:.a o..y eennired an excuse to use 1T.
More, there was nothing in the eApres-
sion Of the girls face to inspire me to
resistance. She did not even glance
toward me, or exhibit the slightest in
terest.
With hands clenched in impotent
rage, not even venturing a reply, I
stepped backward. AS crossed the
threshold McCann closed the door, and
/ heard the key turn in the lock.
Trembling still with anger, and dazed
by the strange action Of the girl, I
sank back upon the stool, realizing my
utter helplessness. All she had done
and said appeared 80 natural it never
really occurred to me once that she
might be acting q part, seeking in this
way to gain McCann's confidence, in
order to win from him the information
we required. It was only as sat there
In silence, brooding over every detail,
that this possible conception began to
slowly dawn upon my mind. That she
could trust the man in any way wa.
practically impossible, for he had re
vealed to her his true character In sc
many ways the memory could not b.
blotted out.
As the full knowledge Of this trutf
grew apparent, was able to view all
cured Later n different
light. She had simply accepted hel
one chance; had grasped with womanly
intuition the single weapon left a,
her command. Girl as she was II
years, her experience In the world, had
been that Of woman, and she instinc
lively realized her power-the power
Of wealth, of beauty, and Of youth. Il
had peen Deautiff u;i:; done sn deftl.
accomplished as to deceive even me
Aye! and the method had succeeded
with Mccain. recalled the expires
sion Of surprise, of qualification, Of
awakened pride on the mans face. &c
(. had no power Of resistance left; he
was already putty in her hands.
True, but would he remain so? The
4 game she played was a dangerous one
. II she ven4ured too far she would dis
cover the brute lurking in him still
Ana Ne had the power. the physical
powRs 70 wreak vengeance once he