Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

l anu HIPHhlUk W lllt UldH WHO udi
beat him to it." when some indefinable
thing about Bclknap's attitude made
| him hesitate. and then step backward.
within the window, where he stood
still, and observing.
He had not seen Bplknap about at
ing togs, the man appeared to be with
out intention of seeking the stables.
More than that, he was passing up
and down short stretch of pathway
in the vicinity of Katherinc's favorite
| rose bower, and glancing this way and
that, from side to side, in front Of and
behind him, furtively, and with rapid
motions, exactly as if he were on the
watch for something or for somebody.
Belknap had been there-and else
where among the paths-two hours and
more, if the senator had but known it,
and was both exultant and disappoint- E
ed both pleased and angry, both an
noyed and delighted; likewise, and
without the paradox, he was tired of
his vigil.
The long distance telephone convcr
sation to which the butler had sum :
moned him the preceding evening, had
in a measure upset many of his calcu =
lations, although he was inclined to
doubt the logic as well as the fact OF
the warning that had been transmitted
to him from Washington.
Nevertheless, he had passed a more
or less sleepess night, and with day
break, before the sun was up, he had
donned riding togs-as being the most
| appropriate and palpable explanation
for being about so early-and had gone
outside.
There was threefold purpose in
that: he wanted the air and the exer
else; he wanted to secure a saddle
early hour, to ride alone to meet 9
messenger at an appointed place as an.
nounced in the telephone talk the pre-
ceding evening; and, quite as impor
tant and imperative in case there were
logic and fact (and, therefore, danger
to himl in what he had been told anC
what the expected messenger was ye
| " lIllDull, it SltuIlJ htSlltu q bhOl
but uninterrupted conversation will
Katherine Harvard.
He knew that it was her habit to ris'
early, and to ride Daniel Boone, Sd
cross country, and alone, at sunrise ol
soon thereafter, over the extensive acres
of her own estate of inquest. BelknaI
had no notion of accompanying her-h,
had other fish to fry that morning
but he had determined that he woult
see her and talk with her before sht
started, and SO, he was watching ou
for her when the senator stepped from
the window and saw him.
He did not discover the nearness o
the senator-when the latter, grown
tired of watching him from the win
dow, pproached-until, close at hand
he heard the quiet deep toned voic
of the statesman greeting him.
Good morning, Mr.. Belknap," tn
senator said. Have you been riding s
early?"
"Ah! Good morning, senator,
Belknap replied in his imperturbabl
manner. mo; haven't been riding
yet. 1t was earlier than l supposed
when / came out. Nobody was abou
when | went to the stables"
"Youe were"-the senator smiled
searching for something? l have beel
observing you from the window. Hav
you dropped something, or lost some
thing, or'-again that inscrutable sen
atorial smile-''perhaps there is anothe
| ,l, .hn,
"You have guessed it, senator,
Belknap responded, returning the smil
in kind if inscrutability be the criterion
Mrs. Harvard, your daughter, is in tn
habit of indulging in early morning
rides, cross country. I thought T.
beg permission to ride with her, but
the men must be about by now, so
think I'll go ahead"
"Why not wait a little longer?
don't know if she intends to ride thi
} morning or not, but she is sure to com
out soon. She always gets up with tn
sun, no matter at what hour she retires
| And, by the way, since we have met g.
auspiciously this delightful morning,
am reminded of question that I hav
wanted TO ask you.
"Yes?"
"Are you, by any chance, related
. kin, we would call ito the Beldings
of Kentucky"
Bclknap, who had not lessened hi
| watchfulness over the approaches to tn
| house, and who was still casting furtiv
glances along the path that led to il
narrowed his eyes a trifie, and an al
most imperceptible crease showed be
tween his brows when the question wa
put to him. 1t was as if he wer
startled by it, although he replied in
stantly, and smiled as he did so:
mot by any chance in the world
senator" He laughed aloud, then
= Have you discovered fancied resem
blance?"
: "No. Not a resemblance-not. ia
e cial one, certainly"
i Belknap made no comment. The sen
ator continued:
: II should call the resemblance,
e there is one-a reminder, would be
a more appropriate rd-temperamental
5 trait, rather than a likeness. / am
er-pleased to know that you are nc
kin to the Beldings of my acquaint
e anCe, sir.
d Thank you. l assume that you ar
not favorably disposed toward them"