The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-05-25

reliable to the last degree, his reputa-
tion for steadiness and discretion I'M
questioned, and he was marvelously eff |
ficient in his subordinate position. The |
colonel, having first tried him out, had |
advanced him rapidly after learning
his worth. He was now his private |
secretary. Shurtliff being an old bach
elor without kith or kin, and not orig
inally fond of women, found himself
suddenly in touch with one of the
sweetest and kindest, as well as the
youngest and most beautiful of sex
about which he knew nothing.
His new position naturally brought
him into close touch with the colonel.
The old man transacted a good deal
of his business in his own house.
Shurtllff was frequently there. Under
other circumstances Helen Illingworth
would have treated him with that fine
and gracious courtesy which she ex-
tended to everyone with whom she
came in contact, but she would not
have especially interested herself in
him. She would not have made him
the object of the delicate attention and
given him the careful consideration
which would have completely turned
the head of Il younger and more sus'
ceptible man.
There had been a prejudice in Shurt-
lifts mind against women in general
and Helen Illingworth in particular.
He had quickly realized that she above
all persons had the greatest interest
in disproying Meades statement and
his own and in laying the blame for
/ the failure of the bridge where 1t be-
/ longed, on the shoulders of the patron
to love whom had been the habit of his
life. Therefore the old secretary was
constantly on his guard lest he be
trapped into admissions or actions
which might be used to discredit the
older Meade and convict the two con-
spirators.
But Helen Illingworth was far too
clever to allow any inkling of such a
design to appear. Not the remotest
hint of such purpose did she betray.
She deliberately set about to win the
old mans regard and respect and per-
haps eventually his affection. She had
the ordering of her fathers household
of course. That was matter in which
, the colonel concerned himself not a.
all so long as things went smoothly
, as they always did. He was a LITTLE
astonished at her treatment of Shurt
lift, but the old secretary was at hear
q gentleman, and there was no reason
! why, If Helen chose to include hin
among her friends and invite him t
, dinner and otherwise make him wei
{ come in the house, she should not Oh
so. And in his dry precise way Shurt
lift was ratheI likable. He was touched
and fattered by her kindness, and II
+ spite of his suspicious, which gradu
z ally grew less, by the way, he exerte'
, himself to show his appreciation ant
a to bear himself seemingly in his neY
q life.
+ Colonel nlingworth had no suspl
cions whatsoever that there had bee
. any conspiracy to suppress the trutl
!. and shift the blame. True, his daugh
ter had protested on that fatal da,
!. that she did not believe Meade AM
Shurtliff, but that was in the excite
/, ment of the moment and understand
, able in view of her plighted trotf
; Helen had never discussed that wit
9 him; even the very name OF the eng
) neer being banned, she was silent. Sh
was wise enough not to try to worn
or bother her father with argument
on that point, to which, of course, h
would not have listened in any event.
r Accordingly the conferences wit
q Rodney had never been brought to hi
: notice. There was no use stirring u
= trouble and strife. There was no nece'
sity even to discuss it with her fathe
. until she had found more proof. )
he at least had no suspicious as to he
= treatment of Shurtliff. He could nc
9 see any end to be gained and therefor
he jumped to the conclusion that ther
!. was none.
q In course of time, as Miss Illini
y worth never referred to Meade in tn
q secretary's presence, all his mistru'
q disappeared. Finally he even brougf
a I'D the subject of Meade's whereabout
: of his own motion. Although the gil
: was fairly wild to talk and ask que
:, lions she had wit and resolutio
O enough to change the subject when
!. had been first preached and for man
i times thereafter.
Helen nlingworth was fighting f
/ the reputation of the man she love
= and for her own happiness, and 81
: was resolved to neglect no point in Il
/, game. She partook in large measul
. of her fathers capacity, but she ad
/. ed to his somewhat blunt and mi
!, tary way of doing things the infini
tact of woman, stimulated by groV
/. ing, overwhelming devotion to her a
: sent lover She cherished that feelir
: for him in any event and would ha'
!. done so but the whole situation was
charged with mystery and surcharg'
: with romance that it made the mo
! powerful and stimulating appeal
! her.
che llved to yindicate Meade al