Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-03-26

ton she was wearing.
"You were to wear one, too"
81 don't understand" l answered.
Didn't you," she asked hesitating-
ly, didn't you come here about the
papers"
"What. papers?"
"You know"
81 don't know" I replied. 81 know
nothing about any papers. You must
have mistaken me for someone else"
But this was the place-this bench
the first bench?"
81 sat down here quite by accident"
"Oh!" she exclaimed with a sigh of
relief. "And you're not wearing a
red carnation, either"
1 recalled then with misgiving that
the ill-favored youth who just a mo-
ment ago had disputed the bench with
me had been wearing red carnation.
and that he had muttered something
about having a date. Yet it did not
seem possible that girl of this sort
would be having a rendezvous with
scamp like him. l determined if
possible to ascertain the girls mis-
sion.
ST am merely waiting here" hast
ened to explain, until it is time for
me to keep dinner engagement with
some relatives in the apartment house
from which you came"
AS I spoke I noticed that the fear
and loathing had vanished from her
eyes and that she was looking with
relief at a little, college pin I was
wearing. She was blushing now from
confusion at her mistake, and the ris-
ing red in her cheeks added greatly
to her exquisite loveliness.
81 was to meet someone here" she
faltered; you quite understand, don't
you"
81 understand perfectly" l. answer
ed, and recalling the scar-faced man
who had been lurking in the bushes,
1 hurried on to say, ''but if can be
of any service"
"No, no. she sobbed, apparently
overwhelmed by whatever it was that
was besetting her. Its nothing
nothing anyone can help"
"Tell me about the man you were
to meet here"
"Who are you?" she demanded, her
suspicion suddenly rising at my ques-
ton. you're not a detective?"
''Far from it." I answered amused.
ly. "rm just plain Spalding Nelson
on my way to dine with my great.
uncle Rufus CASTOR"
"Oh!'' she said, relieved, 'their
apartment is on the same floor as
ours"
"Tell me about the man you were
to meet" insisted. ST may have seer
him."
"Did you? What was he like?" she
demanded eagerly.
"Don't you know him?' I countered
"No, 1 never saw him. 1 don't ever
know who he is. I only know thai
there was to be man waiting here
!, on this bench this evening. We were
both to wear red carnations. I wa!
|, to come here alone, to see him ant
, to get the"
She stopped abruptly and tearing
off the flower she was wearing
!, trampled it viciously under her foot
"Not so loud" / warned her, fear
, full lest they might still be lurkin.
7 about and overhear us. 'eThere wer,
two Of them"
"Two," she whispered, turning pale
n Eyes, one waiting here on this bench
, and the other, a villainous scar-face,
fellow, hiding in the bushes yonder.
o 81 dare not go on with it," sh
q sobbed, 81 dare not dare not ! OF
o what shall 1 do?"
+ "The thing to do now," 1 replied, 81
n for you to let me accompany you bac
4 to your home. They will make IN
i further attempt to meet you this eve
n ming, since my presence has spoile
d their plans. Come, let me escort yor
f Miss :"
J. AS I hesitated over the name sh
e answered simply:
d Bradford-Barbara Bradford"
: She pondered for moment over m
d suggestion and then turned to wal
d with me toward the apartment house
). 'What were the men like?" sh
D asked. :
s described them as best / coul(
d though really the impression that th
youth on the bench had left was vagu,
:, His voice, an insolent, hoarse, uncu
tivated one. was almost all could n
d call about him.
Il wonder who they were? I wor
% der how they knew?"
g "Knew what?"
b Her lips tightened into a straigf
n line
e. 81 can't tell you. I daren't. 1t ism
e my secret"
By this time we had reached he
'e home and the bowling doorman Wa
q swinging back the great iron doc
for us. 1t had been my intention I
IL announce my arrival, but recallin
e that Miss Bradford had said that til
1 CASTOR apartment was on the san
" floor as hers, 1 stepped with her int
the elevator. When it had descende
- leaving us together in the corrido
d she turned to me and offered her han
y THANK you so much, Mr.. Nelson
II 81 wish you'd let me help you,"
Is cried.
~ She shook her head.
u "Well, promise me one thing" Il
le sisted.
what is it?''
- 'That you never again will go alo1
= to the park to meet those men,"
A tremor shook her body, and on,
- more a look of terror crept into h
20 eyes.
70 81 can't promise that. I must me
- them. I must! I must!''
n l reached out and took her hand.
Promise me, then, that before "
- go again you will let me know"
- "You must not try to stop my 9
- ing" she cried desperately and fire
~ ing her hand turned quickly and u
= locking her door left me standil
- there alone, staring after her.
- Perplexed beyond measure as