Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-07-30

Tell me where
The place Is guarded day and night.
The stealthiest burglar in Che world
could not come within a.stone's throw
Of the house."
!. IF it's as bad as all that we cannot
afford to make' any slips. Yon think
you are in no immediate perilf"
II am in no peril at all unless ]
bring it upon myself" she said signia-
cantly.
~Then a delay Of q day or SO will
not MATTER" he said, frowning
'Eeave. it to me. Il will find a way"
"Be careful!" De. Soto came loung.
ing up behind them. -
Forgive metfor ,nterrupting, but !
ana under command from royal head
quarters. Peter, the king Of chauf
feurs, sends in word that the car is In
an amiable mood and champing to be
of. SO seldom Is it in good humor
that he" =
I'll be of at onae," exclaimed
Barnes, arising. by Jove. it is half.
past ten. I had no idea-good night,
Miss Cameron
He pressed her hand reasSuHnsly
and left her.
She had arisen and was standing,
straight and slim by the corner of the
fireplace, q confident smile on her lips
III 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; fear. You have
only to reveal the faintest sign that
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. have
you all to thank for most delightful
evening" =
The car was waiting at the back Of
thethouse. O'Dowd walked out With
Barnes, their arms linked as on a for.
mer occasion, Barnes recalled.
It'll ride out to the. gate with you"
said the Irishman. "It's 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 I
don't know what's In your mind, nor
what you're trying to get into It If It
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
II am not imagining. anything.
O'Dowd," said Barnes quietly. .What
do You meanF
Il mean just what say. I'm giving
you the tip for selfish reasons. If you
make bally fool of yourself, I'll have
to see You through the worst Of it
and It's job 1 don't relish. Ponder
that, will We, on the way homer
Barnes did ponder it on the way
home. There was but one construc-
ton to put upon athe 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.
AODOwd 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
Used to, do everything in his power to
help her.
Suspecting that this was the stu
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
tO'Dowd voluntarily placed himself. A
word or sign from him would be suf-
ficient to bring disaster upon the Irish
man who had risked his own safety In
few irretnevable words. The more
he thought Of It. the more fully con-
vinced was he that there was nothing
to fear from O'Dowd
Peter drove slowly, carefully over
the road down the mountain. Respond
ing to a sudden impulse, Barnes low
cred one Of the side seats in the tom
neau and moved closer to the driver.
"How long havs you been driving
for Mr.. Curtis!~
ITO BE CONTINUED.)