Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-08-03

unafraid. gazing straight into mine,
With a challenge In their depths. Her
very attitude piqued me, aroused me
10 defense. / 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 a
political conspirator. Yet what else
could she be? How could account
for her presence In this place on any
other theory except that she came as
a representative OF Chilean intrigue1
As the trusted messenger OF that Sc
cret conspiracy az Santiago. under or
ders OF the revolutionary iunta al
Washington? | had heard her words
spoken boldly 10 this hand OF plot
tiers. words OF authorlty-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 a dangerous enemy TO
this government which protected her,
despicable snake crawling through
the dark 10 strike down n vlctim-a
thing 10 be crushed without mercy.
The very s0fmess. womanliness, only
made her the more 10 he feared. She
should cast no spell over me. would
harden my heart. and forget all ex-
cept the duty 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. as understand IL,
somehow does not tit I'm 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. II you
please-love her country and be will
Ing 10 sacrifice In it's behalfF"
"Not TO the extent OF treachery and
deceit; not TO the end that innocent
men and women suffer-" l returned
holly. forgetting caution.
sand is that my purpose here, you
thlnk?"
us II not? This is a neutral land.
yet what else can this conspiracy COM
template hut cowardly destructlon7"
81 refuse 10 answer-here and now,
az least. Nor do I know why you
should ask. Why are you here, and
how? DO you realize the ease with
which I could open this door. and give
you over 20 the mercy Of those men
in there? After what you have just
said. why do you suppose I fail to do
so7 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
Il no fit work for any true woman to
be engaged In. and yet myself be no
traitor 10 the cause"
"You still hold me a true woman
thenT"
ayes; I may be blind. but I retain
faith"
"That ia good-yet do not trust too
much in any woman. What is your
namef"
"D-Daly. Harry DAILY"
"You seem 20 have some difficulty
tonight In remembering names. Does
this mean you also possess a
varletyT"
She stopped. listening intently, her
head tilted back so as 10 better hear
what was occurring behind the closed
door
BE quiet" she whispered, one hard
held forth IN swift warning. "rhey
are through I'm there. think, and Alva
viii be ont I'm moment. Now listen !
Don't ask any. questions but listen.
WIN you pledge yourself to do what
ever I say?"
"withln any reasonable limits
yes"
sLImItsl Don't talk limits" impa-
tiently. "You say you are blind. but
retain faith. Act on that faith blind
IL. / cannot speak here; there Is nc
time. no opportunity. Tomorrow mt
two o'clock. come to 247 lie Compile
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"
l 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
.tortiaa 70 even think clearly. Ny
conception OF this woman. her nature
and her purpose. had been changed
dozen times during this brief CONVEX
sation. Even now / was utterly In
the dark. Did the woman know mel
or suspect the reason OF my presenter
That was manifestly impossible. She
was utterly strange to me, and she
was not one 20 be easily forgotten.
Why. then. did she trust me-if i was