The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-07-27
her strolllng quietly outside the house.

forts to embraces her. and at last, an
gered by what he considered her per- ,
verse acting, he repr0aehed her openly.
"For heavens sake, PhilipDa, have
done with this absurd acting. Why do
you pretend not to understand"
She stared at him in amazement and
started to walk away, but Peter was
now aroused. He seized both her
wrists, and looking into the blue depths
of her now angry eyes he said tense
ly:
IF am mad it's your own fault.
demand that you tell me. Are you the
girl Of the double cross? Tell me, for
in minute ! shall see for myself"
Although she shrank away, Peter
was unabashed. They had backed I'M
til they were shielded by plot Of
shrubbery. Peter slipped his arm
about her waist, and in spite Of her
struggles was attempting to see If the
sign was on her arm, when there was
q parting of the bushes and masked
stranger holding gun close to Peters
head caused him to stop abruptly In
his effort to find the double cross.
His hands fell and Philippa fled.
Peter remained facing. the menacing
figure with the black bandage conceal
ing all but the eyes.
'You must never do that again." said
the Masked Stranger. "Philippa Brew
ster is not she whom you seek. Co."
And Peter lost no time in going.
More and more puzzled, he started for
his room, which was across the hall
from Philippa's. He paused to light
q cigarette, when he saw slender
young man slip into the apartment
without looking around. Peters an
ger was at once aroused. Who was
this intruder who thus boldly entered
the room of the girl he loved? He de-
termined to find out.
Peter knocked. Philippa herself
opened the door. She was clad in a
fascinating negligee and asked him In
some trepidation what he sought. Pc
ter was almost incoherent in his wrath
and anxiety.
THAT young man who came in here
Il saw him." and he began to dash
about the room to discover his hiding
place.
young man." echoed Philippa, mo
one has come in here" and she aided
him in his search. They looked every
where. Peter pulled the curtains aside
: peered behind portieres and at last
: baffled, faced the lovely Philippa, who
smilingly beckoned him to seat.
Peter in q sort of daze sank down
beside her. The magnetism of hel
presence was enough In a few short
moments to make him forget oil about
; his fears and the reason for his com
ing to her sitting room.
, Moreover, this was the loving Phil
ippa he had known for brief moment
when he first arrived at Mr.. Brewster:
grounds. The kiss which he had takeI
then, she now returned, and as hel
beautiful eyes looked into his, swim
ming with their wonderful message O
love. Peter crushed her to him ant
thought himself the happiest man IL
the world.
| Gently she took Peters face In he
hands and whispering the words "Yo'
love me, Peter7" waited for his an
swer.
| He was not slow in assuring her an
as she drew her lips away she sal
softly, "You know love you, too. Nv
i loved you ever since-never mind. VI
Il " trust me, Peter, no matter wha
Promise me you'll trust me-promise'
il Peter, with all the fervor OF hi
Il love, promised, and again their lip
II met. Then she pushed him away, an
u as he went, still vowing eternal d.
II votion, Philippa stood gazing after hin
Il The door closed and Peter, In
II blIssful daze, was just returning to nj
u room, when he beheld the door OF tn
room he had Just left open and II
same slender figure he had seen go
y slip cautiously out.
!, Forgetting everything, Infatuated
= what seemed to him trick, he dashe
- Sor the intruder intending to leal
= from his own lips what Philippa wou
~ ~ not or could not tell him.
- But the strange visitor was ready
- with a quick application Of the jiu jit'
he threw Peter before the latter WI
aware what was happening and tn
~ before the fallen man could recover b
u balance the intruder disappear
III through the window and vanished in
- the garden.
Peter picked himself Vp-not on
" angry, but Inundated, and started a
Il. or his rival-at this moment the do
at of PhiIippa's room again opened a
an annoyed young lady In neglig
faced him.
on "what is all this trouble about?" S
Nv ~, asked.
I'LL Peter advanced-his anger thoroui
" aroused-"I can't understand.
w. said, coldly, chow you could fool
so completely-no doubt you are US
It's to this kind of game, but want to
you see nothing amusing in 1T
sa- man comes into your room and Il
'as you assure me 1t is empty. no 500
leave It than out he comes and u
lad YOU calmly face me and ask what
'ne all about?"
OF The girl looked at him with blaz
eyes-"You must be mad" she 81
yer ~ have not been in that room all
'CeE ninQu