Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-06-26
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you in some way--tOmOrrOw. l beg
of you, l implore you, do not desert
me. If l can only be sure that you
will"
"You may depend on me, no matter
what happens" said he, and, looking
into her eyes, was bound forever.
II have been thinking" she said.
yesterday l made the discovery that
THAT l am actually a prisoner here,
Mr.. Barnes, I-Smile! Say something
sillyw
Together they laughed over the
meaningless remark he made in re-
spouse to her command.
81 I'M constantly watched. If l
venture outside the house I am almost
Immediately Joined by n of these
men. You saw what happened yes
terday. I am distracted"
II will ask the authorities to step
in and"
mo! You are to do nothing Of the
kind. The authorities would never
find me if they came here to search"
ut was hard for him to smile at that y
1T must be sOme other way. If l
could steal out of the house-but that
is impossible" she broke off with a
catch in her voice.
suppose that I were to steal into
the house." he said, a reckless light
in his eyes.
"Oh, you could eve succeedw
"Well, I could try, couldn't ~
There was nothing funny in the re-
mark, but they both leaned back and
laughed heartily. Leave it to me.
Tell me where"
"The place is guarded day and night.
The Stealthiest burglar in the world
could not come within a stones throw
of the house."
eff it's as bad as all that, we cannot
afford to make' any slips. You think
you are in no immediate peril?"
81 am in no peril at all unless l
bring it upon myself" she said signif-
cantly.
"Then a delay Of a day or so will
not matter" he said, frowning.
Leave it to me. l will find a way"
"Be careful!", De Soto came loung-
ing up behind them.
"FOrgive me for lnterrupting, but I
AM under command from royal head
quarters. Peter, the king of chauf-
feurs, sends in word that the car is in
al amiable mood and champing to be
off. So seldom Is it in good humor
that he"
"TIl be off. at once" exclaimed
Barnes, arising. by Jove, it is half,
past ten. / had no idea-good night,
Miss Cameron"
He pressed her hand %reassuringly
and left her.
She had arisen and was standing,
straight and slim by the corner of the
fireplace, a confident smile on her lips.
'If you are to be long in the neigh
bOrhood, Mr.. Barnes" said his hostess.
"yOu must let us have you again."
"My stay is short, 1 fear. You have
only to reveal the faintest sign that l
may come, however, and I'll hop into
my seven-league boots before you can
utter Jack Robinson's Christian name.
Good night, Mrs. Van Dyke. I have
o all to thank for a most delightful
evening""
The car was waiting at the back of
the house. O'DOwd walked out with
Barnes, their arms linked-as on a for
mer occasion, Barnes recalled.
'Tll ride out to the gate with you"
said the Irishman. ats a winding,
devious route the road takes through
the trees"
They came in time, after many hair
pins" and right angles, to the gate
opening upon the highway. Peter got
down from the seat to release the pad
locked chain and throw open the gate.
O'Dowd leaned closer to Barnes and
lowered his voice.
"See here, Barnes, I'm no fool, and
for that reason I've got sense enough
to know that you're not either. l
don't know what's in your mind, nor
what you're trying to get into it If 1t
isn't already there. But III say this to
you, man to man.: Don't let your
imagination get the better Of your
common sense That's all. Take the
tip from me-"
:" am not imagining anything,
O'Dowd," said Barnes quietly. What
do you mean?"
II mean just what I say. I'm giving
you the tip for selfish reasons. If you
make a bally fool Of yourself, I'll have
to see you through the worst Of it
and it's a job I don't relish. Ponder
that,Swill We, on the way home"
Barnes did ponder it on the way
home. There was but one construc-
ton to put upon the remark: 1t was
O'Dowd's way of letting him know
that he could be depended upon for
support If the worst came to pass.
O'Dowd evidently had not been de-
ceived by the acting that masked the
conversation on the couch. He knew
that Miss Cameron had appealed to
Barnes, and that the latter had prom
ised to do everything in his power to
help her.
Suspecting that this was the situ-
alton, and doubtless sacrificing his own
private interests, he had uttered the
vague but timely warning to Barnes.
The significance of this warning grew
under reflection. Barnes was not slow
to appreciate the position in which
O'Dowd voluntarily placed himself. A
word or a sign from him would be suf-
fcient TO bring disaster upon the Irish
man who had risked his own safety In
a few irretrievable words. The more
he thought Of It the more fully con-