Bisbee daily review., 1917-02-25

with back to her, little man of fur tive presence oddly like the Japanese whom Kitchener had bowled over in the woods that morning.
 She had hardly appeared by the window when the man in evening dress nodded pleasantly, as if termi- mating a casual conversation, and the other stepped instantly yet without apparent haste. down to the lawn and quickly disappeared amid the shad. Ows of shrubbery.
 The incident made little impression upon her. But she was relieved to see the remaining guest turn and leis- urely sumter away.
 As he rounded the farther corner of the house, shaft of light from an- other window identified his profile enthusiastically as Baron HurOki'S.
 A light footStep sounded behind her; she reused in dismay, striving to calm heart in panic.
 ''MeeS Channing?"
 Patria ali but giggled with the reac. tiOn from her fear lest Captain ParI had found her there, in mood all toe melting.
 'IS it you. Senor de Lima? How fortunate, haven't had q real chance to speak to you tonight, but now"
 Patria was startled to find De Lima SD close beside her; his breath famed her cheek.
 "AIees Channing-Patria- love you"
 "Ah, but please-"
 "No-listen to me. I beg you will marry me. I am mad about you"
 You are mad indeed, Senor de Lima, to imagine I'd ever marry any one but an American"
 'YOu will forget that-in my arms,"
 Patria uttered slight cry. De Lima had taken unto himself one of her hands and was covering it with kisses.
 As if in answer to that cry. she heard De Lima's half smOthered ex- clamatiOn of annoyance. felt her hand abruptly released, and discovered Cap tain Parr standing almost betweeh them.
 Pardon, Miss Charming. but this is my dance. isn't it?'
 She laughed little, almost hySter- ically: '.Is it, Captain Parr; Why. yes of course it is, How stupid of me, You will forgive me, SenOr de Lima:'
 The Mexican recovered admirably. stepping back with bow
 The music ceased; their flying feet were stilled; Patria awOke as from dream. A faint suggestion of ap- plause made her appreciate that they had had the floor practically to them selves.
 Her embarrassment was such that she never knew just what it was she said to Captain Parr as they hastily. by way of another window. sought the refuge. of the veranda.
 She never. indeed. could quite re- call what passed between them in the course of the next few minutes.
 A foOtman found them with the in- formation that Patria was wanted on tiie telephone: Long distance calling from New York.
 4 little dazed by the conflict of her senses. she responded mechanically.
 A moment later she was in the li- brary-quite by herSelf-with re- cciver to her ear. Then voice fal- tered through the night. voice most clear. yet strangely faint. iterating her name-"Patria'- and over.
 She managed to make the speaker understand that she was Patria.
 'Peter Ripley speaking-your guar dian. The nations welfare rests with you. And am dying"
 On the echo of that last word the report of a pistol shot reverberated over the wire, so loudly and seemingly SD near at hand that it might have been fired in the room adjoining that wherein Patria stood. Almost instantly it was echoed by another report. Thereafter-Silcnce