Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-01-05

opposite direction as fast as they could
go, making wild gestures for a car to
stop for them.
She stood by the window and saw
Gordon get out Of the car, n disap-
pear into the building below. saw the
car wheel and curve away, and the
either corner; heard the clang of the
Y as 1t started UP. and the clash
OF Its door as 1t stopped at that floor;
heard steps coming m toward the door,
and h key in the latch. Then she
turned and looked at HIM. her tWo
hands clasped before her, and her two
eyes yearning, glad and fearful al. at
once.
oh. 1 have been so frightened about
you! am so glad you have Gomez"
she said. and caught her voice in a
sob as She took one little step toward
him.
-. He threw his hat upon the floor,
Wherever 1T might land, and went to
meet her. a great light glowing in his
tired eyes, his arms outstretched to
hers.
And uid you care he asked in a
voice of almost awe. Dear, did you
care what became of mc?"
He had come quite close to her now.
ooh yes. | cared, | could not help
''etS IA IOoi SUI Az HS NOlIC
now. though her eyes We're shining.
His arms went around her hungrily,
as il he would draw her to him in spite
OF everything: yet he kept them so en-
clrcllng, without touching her, like u
benediction that would cnwrap the very
soul of his beloVed. Looking down in
to her face he breathed softly:
on, my dear, ii seems as il | must
hold you close and kiss YOU"
She looked up with bated breath, and
thought h understood. Then, with a
lovely gesture of surrender, she whis-
pered: II can trust YOU" Her lashes
We're dropping now over her eyes.
Not until you know an" he said,
and put her gently from him into the
great arm chair. with a look of rever-
ence n self %abnegation she felt she
would forget.
linen ell me quickly h said. a
swift fear making her weak from head
to foot. She laid her hand across her
heart. as if TO help steady its beating.
He wheeled forward the leather
couch opposite her chair. and sat down.
his head dropping, his yes down. He
dreaded to begin.
She waited for the revelation, her
eyes upon his bowed head.
Finally he lifted his eyes and saw her
look, and q tender light came into his
face.
1T is a strange story" he said. Il
don't know what you will think of me
after it is told. but l want you to know
that. laundering, stupid, even criminal.
though you may think me, | would
sooner die this minute than cause You
n more breath of suffering"
Her eyes lit up with a wonderful
and the ready tears sprang into
them, tears h a sparkled through the
sunshine OF a great JOY that Illuminated
her whole face.
uD1aocA -o ~ y, ~. .,:l .zr.t. -,
d very gently. Il believe you."
But even with those words in his
ears the beginning was not easy. Cor
o drew a deep breath and launched
forth.
II am not the man you think" he
said, and looked at her to see how she
would take it. My name is 10 George
Hayne. My name is Cyril Gordon"
AS one might launch an arrow at a
beloved victim n long hat it may
not strike the mark. so he sent his
truth home to her understanding, and
waited in breathless silence, hoping
against hope that this might not turn
her against him.
"Oh!" she breathed softly. as if some
puzzle We're solving itself. "Oh."-
this time not altogether in surprise, nor
as If the fact were displeasing. She
looked at him expectantly for further
revelation. and he plunged into his
story headlong.
I'm a member of the secret service,
Headquarters here in Washington
n day before yesterday l was sem to
New York on an important errand. A
message OF great import written in a
private code a e. stolen from one
or u men. l was sent to get it be-
fore they could decipher it. The mes
sage involved matters of such tremen-
dous significance that l was ordered to
go under an assumed name, and on no
account to let any one know of my
mission. My orders were to get the
message, N let nothing hinder me in
bringing it with all haste to Washing
ton. L went with the full understands
ing that l might even be called upon to
risk my life"
He looked up. The girl sat wide
eyed, with hands clasped together at
e throat.
He hurried on. not to cause her anv
needless anxiety.
u won't weary you with details.
There were a good many annoying
hlndrances on the way, which served to
make me nervous. but L carried out the
program laid down by the chief and
succeeded in getting possession of the
message and making my escape from
the house of the man who had stolen
1t. AS l closed h door behind me.
Knowing that it could be but a matter
OF a few second at longest before six
furious men would be or my track,
who would stop at nothing to get back
what l had taken from them, | saw a
carriage standing almost before the
house. The driver took me for the man
ne awaited, n / lost no time in taking
advantage Of his mistake. 1 jumped in.
telling him to drive as fast as he could.
l intended to give him further direc-
tons, but he had evidently nae them
from another quarter, and l thought
could call to him as soon as we were
out OF the dangerous neighborhood. To
add to my situation 1 soon became
sure that an automobile and q motor