American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-06-17
"You Did Interest Me-"

you OtU fnkcFCSb me-.
very ATTITUDE piQued me-, aroused me
to defense, l desired 10 hold her re
spect, her interest; nothing she might
say. or do, served 10 lower her in my
estimation to the hideous level of n
political conspirator. Yet what else
could she be7 How could ! account
for her presence In this place on any
other theory except that she came as
a representative of Chilean i~ntrigueH
As the trusted messenger of that se-
cret conspiracy at Santiago. under or
ders of the revolutionary Junta at
Washington l had heard her words
spoken boldly to this band of plot
ters. words of acknowledgements
they dare not ignore. No, there was
no DOUBT as to who she was, or what
she was. In spite OF her face, her
pleasing manner, her attractiveness of
person, she was a dangerous enemy TO
this government which protected her,
a despicable snake crawling through
the dark 20 strike down a victim--a
thing to be crushed without mercy,
The very softness, womanliness, only
made her the more to be feared. She
should cast no spell over me. | would
harden my heart, and forget all ex-
cept the duty I owed my country, and
that neutral nation TO the south with
whom we were at peace.
Frankly. / do not know what to
think" | answered at last. "Your mis-
sion here tonight. ms ! understand II,
somehow does not fit In with my mt
ural conception of you as a woman
She laughed, but so low as to be In
audible to those beyond the closed
door.
you amuse me. Cannot n m
even a womanly woman, II You
please-love her country and be will
ing to sacrifice In Its behalfr
mot TO the extent OF trenchery and
deceit; not to the end that innocent
men and women suffer" I returned
holly, forgetting caution.
And is that my purpose here, you
think? 2"
us 1t notf This is a neutral land,
yet what else can this conspiracy com
template but cowardly destruction
81 refuse TO answer-here and now,
at least. Nor do I know why you
should ask. Why are you here, and
how7 Do you realize the ease with
which I could open this door, and give
you over to the mercy Of those men
In there7 After what you have just
said. why do you suppose / fail TO do
so2 Because I am such a womanly
woman, perhaps"
Rather because you have no rea.
son to 50 act. I may denounce your
connection with this AFFAIR, believing
II no fit work for any true woman to
be engaged in, and yet myself be no
traitor to the cause"
you stiIl hold me a true woman
Them"
"Yes; I may be blind, but I retain
faith"
THAT is good-yet do not trust too
much In any oma What is your
nnme7"
"D-Daiy, Harry Daily"
you seem TO have some difficulty
tonight in remembering names. Does
this mean you also possess a
varietyT'
She stopped, listening ~intentiy, her
head tilted back 80 as to better hear
what was occurring behind the closed
door.
BE quiet" she whispered, one hand
held forth In swift warning. "They
are through in there, ! think, and Alva
viii be IL In a moment. Now listen F!
Don't ask any questions, but listen.
WIN you pledge yourself 10 do what
ever I snyT'
within any reasonable limits
yes"
Limits! Don't talk limits" impa-
tlently. You say you are blind, but
retain faith. Act on that faith blind
ly. ] cannot speak here; there is no
time, no opportunity. Tomorrow at
two O'Clock. come 10 PAT lie Compile
street. WIN your
Yes"
"Do not mistake the number. Ask
for Miss Conrad. Now 10 back there
and wait for Homer. Quick-they are
coming"
plunged hastily into the passage,
and CROPPED my way back between thu
narrow walls to the secluded room in
the I was too confused, too
startled, 10 even think clearly. Ny
conception Of this woman, her nature
and her purpose, had been changed a
dozen times during this brief CONVEX
sation. Even now ] was utterly In
the dark. Did the woman know ms7
or suspect the reason Of my ~presencel
That was manifestly impossible. She
was utterly strange to me, and she
was not n TO be easily forgotten.
Why, then. did she trus me-if II was
.-s~~s