The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-07-01
unnfraid. gazing stralenr I.

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 cO%nspiratOr. Yet what else
could she be? How could I account
for her presence In this place on any
other theory except that she came az
a representative Of Chilean intrigue?
As the trusted messenger Of that se-
cret conspiracy at Santiago, under or
dcrs Of the revolutionary junta at
Washington? / 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 d~espicable snake crawling through
the dark to strike down a victim-a
thing tc be crushed without mercy.
made her the more to he feared. She
should cast no spell over me. I would
harden my heart, and forget all ex-
cept the duty l 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" l answered at last. "YOur mis-
sion here tonight. as I understand IT.,
somehow does not fit in with my nat
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 a woman
even a womanly woman, If you
riease-love her country and be will
ing to sacrifice in it's behalf?'
mot to the extent Of treachery and
deceit; not to the end that innocent
men and suffer-" l returned
holly. forgetting caution.
And is that my purpose here, you
thiDk?"
rs 1t not? This is a neutral lard,
vet what else can this conspiracy con1
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
how? Do you realize the ease with
which could open this door. and give
you over to the mercy of those men
in there? After what you have just
said. why do you suppose l fail to do
so? Because l am such a womanly
woman. perhaps"
Rather because you have no rea-
son to so act. / may denOunce your
connection with this affair, believing
1t no fit work for any true woman to
be engaged in, and yet myself be no
traitor to the cause"
you still hold me a true woman
then?"
Eyes; l may be blind, but l retain
faith
"That is good-yet do not trust too
much in any SONAR What is your
name?'
"D-Daly, Harry DAILY"
"You seem to have some difficulty
tonight in remembering names. Does
this mean you also possess a
~variety?"
She stopped, listening i%ntently, her
head tilted back SO as to better hear
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 l say?"
"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. l cannot speak here: there is no
time. no opportunity. Tomorrow at
two o'clock, come to PAT lie Compte
street. Will 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 CONVEX
| sation. Even now I was utterly in
| the dark. Did the woman know me?
or suspect the reaso Of my presence?
| That was m~anifestly impossible. She
was utterly strange to me, and she
was not one to be easily forgotten.
Why, then, did she trust me-if 1t was
| trust?
It 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
respectable boarding houses. And 1
was to ask for Miss Conrad" Who