Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-08-21

Barnes that they had Knockout
gold mine, and that never In all hfs
career had he known a season TO start
IN 50 ausplciously as this one.
Three days later Barnes and aAfiss
Jones" said farewell to the stroliers
and boarded day train for New YORK
city. They left the company in q con
iition Of prosperity. The show was
averaging two hundred dollars nightly
and Mr, Rushcroft was already book
ing return engagements for the early
AL. He was looking forward to d
tour Of Europe at the close of the war.
Barnes sister. Mrs. Courtney, met
them at the Grand Central terminal.
IT'S now quarter to Eve" said
Barnes after the greeting and presen-
.afion. drop me at the Fifth Avenue
bank, Edith. want to leave some
thing In my safety box downstairs.
Sha'n't be more than FIVE minutes"
He got down FROM the automobile
NJ Forty-fourth street and shot across
the sidewalk into the bank, c.4sting
quick. apprehensive glances through
the i've O'Clock crowd on the avenue
as he sprinted. In his hand he lugged
the heavy, weatherbeaten pack. His
sister and the countess stared after
hiI1 In amazement.
Presently he emerged from the bank.
still carrying the bag. He was beam
ing. A certain worried, haggard ex-
preston had vanished from his face,
and for the first time in eight hours
he treated his travelling wardrobe with
scorn and indifference.
THANK God. they're or my mind
at last" he cried. ssThat is the first
good long breath I've had I'm a week.
No. not now. It's a long story and
can't tell It In Fifth avenue. II
would be extremely annoying to have
both OF you die of heart failure with
all these people looking on"
He felt her hand on his arm, and
knew that she was looking at him
with wide. Incredulous eyes, but he
faced straight ahead. He was ter
ribly afraid that the girl beside him
was preparing to shed tears Of Joy
and relief. He could feel her search
ing in her jacket pocket for a hand
| kerchief.
Mrs. Courtney was not only curl
Gus but apprehensive. She hadn't the
faintest idea who Miss Cameron was,
nor where her brother had picked her
| up. But she saw at a glance that
she was lovely, and her soul was Filed
with strange misgivings. She was like
all sisters who have pet bachelor
brothers. She hoped that poor Tom
hadn't gone and made a fool of him.
self.
| The few minutes conversation she
had with the stranger only served to
Increase her alarm. Miss Camerun's
voice and smile-and her eyes were
positively alluring.
She had had night letter from Tom
that morning In which he said that he
vas bringing a young lady friend down
from the nOrth-and would she meet
them at the station and put her up
for a couple OF days? That was all
she knew of the dazzling stranger up
to the moment she saw her. Immedi-
ately after that she knew by Intuition
q great deal more about her than Tom
| could have told in volumes of CORE
spondence. She knew. also, that Tom
was lost foreveFi
snow tell me-" said the countess the
instant they entered the Courtney
apartment. She grippcd both of his
arms with her firm little hands and
Ooked straight into his eyes, eagerly.
hopefully. She had forgotten Mrs.
COurtney's presence, she had not
aiken the time to remove her hat or
Jacket.
Lets all sit down." said he. my
knees are unaccountably weak. Come
along. Eide. Listen to the romance of
my life"
And when the story was finished the
countess took his hand In hers and
held IL TO her cool cheek. The tears
were still drowning her eyes.
"Oh, you poor deari Was that why
you grew so haggard and pale and
hollow-eyedT'
Partly" said he with great signIfi-
canoe.
"And you had them in your pack
all the timer YOU"
81 had Sprouse's most solemn word
not to touch them for a week. He is
the only man / feared. He is the only
one who could have"
May I use your telephone, Mrs.
CourtneyT" cried she suddenly. She
sprang to her feet, quivering with ex-
:itement. "Pray forgive me for being
80 ill-mannered, but II must call up
one or two people at once. They are
my friends. You will understand, I
/ am sure"
Barnes was pacing the floor nerv-
cusly when his sister returned after
conducting her new guest to the room
prepared for her. The countess was
at the telephone before the door
closed behind her hostess.
II wish you had beep a little more
explicit in your telegram, Tom" she
said peevishly. IF had known who
she Is wouldn't have put her In that
room. Now l shall have to move Aunt
Kate back into It tomorrow and give
Miss Cameron the big one at the end
of the hail." Which goes to prove
hat Toms sister was n bit OF n snob
In her way. .Stop walking like that
and come here" She faced him &C
:usingly. "Have you told all there is
to tell. sirT'
Cant You see for yourself, Eide.
hat I'm In love with her? Desperate
" horribly, madly In love with her.
Don't giggle like that couldn't have
told you while she was present, could
IT.
NThat isn't what want to know. Is
she In lOye with your That's what I'm
| AFTER"
"Yes." said ne, but frowned anx-
Iously.
"She Is perfectly adorable" said she,
and was at once aware of guilty,
tagging impression that she would not
have said IL to him half an hour ear.
Her for ANYTHING I'm fha xrarsd