The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-10
in his relief. We'll. III be damned. :

The hour that followed was the most
difficult Miriam had ever known. 1t
! was one thing to bluff Charles Sander
son for few successful minutes: II
! was quite another to keep II up under
questions from the rest Of the gang as
| well. She began to realize the truth
of what Brent had said. that fraulein
| was the leading spirit. and that there
! was something oddly sinister about
! this quiet. folded little woman in the
| brown shawl
/ Miriam had several things In her ia or.
She spoke German--that is. the bas-
tard German chiefly used in South
| Africa--like Il native. and part Of her
| training had been to get as thoroughly
convcrsant as was possible with the
| pet catchwords and phrases in use
among the denizcns of what may he
called the spy world.
4 curious place. this. n kind OF
! mental dcmi- monde. a place where
F., emotion. except for the one great pas
| sion which was supposed to focus cv-
| crything. vas discoura ged. and whore
| mental effort had TO be kent at it's
| brightest and sharpcst. To be plunged
into Il section of II. as now. gave Mir
| lam a curious feeling Of having been
dropped on to a planet whore the at
mosphcrc differed so from the normal
, that IT was actually hard to breathe.
Everything appeared slightly distorted
in the minds of these pcorle. like OBJ
iccts seen through deep water: and vet
she had to keep all her senses on the
alert through the effect as of a damp
forsipess which this half world made
upon her.
Charles had brought in all the rest
If the gang, excepting Fritz. Mr.. Pol
lock was playing Il complicated game
Of patience in the billiard room. Chris
',ad disa ppearcd. apparently much dis
comfitcd. and as to Molly. she had
gone to bed long ago. Miss Myrtle
too. had taken her departure. but not
ocforc q curious little incident had oc-
cured which struck a chill to Miriam.
Showing what she did.
Miss Myrtle. from whom. Of course.
I'll knowledge of events was kept hid
len by both sides. came pattcring into
he sitting room In search of fraulein
lust as the council of war In which
part was about to begin. All four
'onspirators We're sitting around the
table. ostensibly playing bridge. so that
everything should seem natural to any
ono who glanced in.
Miss Myrtlc's sandy pomradour and
the long face which matched ii 50
ludicronsly in tone came siding around
me door somewhat in advance Of her
hin. hollow chested figure. which was
lad In that abomination known as an
evening blouse. made of drab velvet
trimmed with an unfortunate selection
# glittcrinS ornaments and surmount-
ing cashmere skirt Of the same hue.
I've just come in to say goodnight"
she said in the carefully bright voice
that years of governcssing had instilled
into her.
Mrs Sandcrson checked the annoyed
expression which she felt rising to the
surface of her counterancc and smiled
blandly You are going off early to-
night. Miss Myrtle" she remarked
II know but need the rest am
such light sleeper and | haven't
really quite got over my little chill yet.
| Besides. last night Mr.. Brent awakened
me when he came upstairs. I'm sure
| he would be most upset if he knew IT..
so ! haven't said word. but didn't
| get to sleep again for several hours"
Frauein began a rummage in her
| black silk bag. She produced little
| bottle full of white tablets and then
=! looked up at Miss Myrtle. fixing her
| steadily with her beady brown eyes.
Shall give yon little remedy have.
| lear Miss MYRTLE" she offered She
| held NJ the bottle This. | promise
| YOU. will insure sound repose."
| Charles Sandersons face remained
| lutte impcrt,1rable: he looked down
md made no movement. as If he wait
ID for fate to take its course. being
| eaually unwilling either to help or him
! Ter it,
But Miriam could hardly rcprcss u
| quickly indrawn breath of horror while
| 4 slight moisture broke ont over Mrs.
| Sanderson's large and comedy face.
She put out her plump hand to arrest
| fraulein's.
| DO you think it quite safe to take
sleeping drafts Miss MYRTLE she
! asked. and her voice was a little
| strained and unequal. Let me send
YOU np some hot milk instead to your
| room"
This is not "A sleeping draft" re-
: oiled fraulein. getting up and shaking
Two of the little tabloids into Miss Myr-
ties pain, as she spoke This Is a
mere nothing. 1t will but insure
sound and healthy sleep"
so very comforting" crooncd Miss
Myrtle. II am sure am most Obliged
tn YOU. fraulcin. Thank YOU. and
good night" She gave little an,n =
lar inclination Of the pompadorr to thu
assembled company and departed
while Charles gravcly held the doc,
open for her.
| He shrugged his shoulder slightly a.
he came back to the table and sa,
down again. II must say Your meth
DDS are thorough. fraulein.' he oh
| served. They are somewhat unpleas
mt to any one of a fastidious taste"
! don't like them myself. hut | dom
! suppose 1t would do any good to tel
| YOU so. You would give it to her q nd
| we couldn't ston it. short of scene
| 20 Charles it's murder" said Mrs