Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-08-12

to defense. desired to hold her re-
spect, her interest; nothing she might
say. or do, served to lower her In my
estimation to the hideous level of q
political conspirator. Yet what else
could she be? How could account
for her presence in this place on any
representative Of Chilean intrigue3
As the trusted messenger Of that &C.
cret conspiracy at Santiago, under or
ders Of the revolutionary junta at
Washington? I had heard her words
spoken boldly to this band OF plot
ters, words Of authority-demand
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 dangerous enemy to
this government which protected her,
a despicable snake crawling through
the dark to strike down victims
thing to he 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 fee..Sse; all ex-
cept the duty I owed my country, and
that neutral nation to the south with
whom we we're at peace.
Frankly. I do not know what to
think" answered at last. "Your mis-
sion here tonight. as 1 understand It,
somehow does not fit in with my nat
ural conception of you as woman"
II, -. fx,
audible to those beyond the closed
door.
you amuse me. Cannot u woman
even womanly woman, II you
please--love her country and be WILL
ing to sacrifice in its behalfT
mot to the extent of treachery and
deceit; not to the end that innocent
men and women suffer" returned
hotly. forgetting caution.
"And Is that my purpose here, you
think7"
rs II not? This is neutral land.
yet what else can this conspiracy COM
template but cowardly destructlon7'
81 refuse to answer-here and now,
at least. Nor do I know why you
should ask. Why are you here, and
how? Do you realize the ease with
which 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 fall to do
sof Because I am such a womanly
woman. perhaps"
Rather because you have no rea-
son to SO act may denounce your
connection with this affair. believing
It no at work for any true woman to
be engaged in. and yet myself be no
traitor TO the cause"
You still hold me true woman
them"
"Yes; l may be blind, but l retain
faith"
THAT is good-yet do not trust too
much in any woman. What is your
namef
''D-Daly. Harry DAILY"
"You seem to have some difficulty
tonight In remembering names. Does
this mean you also possess
varietyT'
She stopped. listening intently, her
head tilted back so 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. l think. and Alva
will be out in a moment. Now listen
Don't ask any questions, but listen.
VIII you pledge yourself to do what
ever I sayf"
within any reasonable limits
yes"
Limits Don't talk limits impa-
tiently. "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
street. VIII your"
Yes"
do not mistake the number Ask
for Miss Conrad. Now go back there
and wait for Horner. Quick-they are
coming"
/ plunged hastily into the passage,
and CROPPED my way back between the
narrow walls to the secluded room in
the rear. ] was too confused, too
startled, to even think clearly. My
conception of this woman, her nature
and her purpose, had been changed a
dozen times during this brief conver
sation. Even now was utterly in
the dark. Did the woman know me? :?
or suspect the reason of my presence?
That was manifestly impossible, She
was utterly strange to me. and she
was not one to be easily forgotten.
Why, then, did she trust me-if It was
trust?
1t must be either that, or treachery
of the foulest type. '247 lie Compile
street, could not recall the neigh
borhood, only a vague conception Of
red brick buildings of exactly the
same general style-probably fairly