The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-07-23

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" I answered at last. "Your mis-
sion here tonight. as | 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 woman
even wOmanly woman. If you
FleaSe-lOve her country and he will
ing To sacrifice in It's behalf?"
Not to the extent of treachery and
deceit; not to the end that innocent
men and women suffer-" l returned
holly. forgetting caution.
"And is that my purpose here, you
Think"
rs it not? This is a neutral land,
yet what else can this conspiracy con-
template but cOwardly destruction"
81 refuse to answer-here and now,
at least. Nor do / 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 mem
in there? After what You nave jus
said, why do you suppose fail 70 %
so? Because l am such Il wonapy
woman. perhaps"
Rather because you have no :ea-
son to so act. l may denOunce gouf
connection with this affair, belevhg
it no fit work for any true wOuaU 10
be engaged III, and yet myself be no
traitor To the cause"
you still hold me true yoman
tEen?"
ayes; l may be blind. but I retain
faith
"That is gOod-yet do nottrust too
much in any woman. WHIT is your
name?"
"D-Daly, Harry DAILY"
You seem to have 81 ne difficulty
tonight in remembering James. Does
this mean you al7 possess
variety?"
She stopped, listentg intently, her
head tilted back so + to better hear
what was occurring behind the closed
door.
BE quiet" she shispered. one hand
held forth in swift warning. "They
are through in tBere, think, and Alva
will be out in amOment. Now listen!
Don't ask any questions, but listen.
Will you pledge yourself to do what
ever l say!"
within any reasonable limits
yes"
"Limitsy Don't talk limits" impa-
tiently. You say you are blind, but
retain fifth. Act on that faith blind
ly. / annOt speak here; there is no
time. 20 opportunity. Tomorrow at
two O'Clock, come to 247 lie Compile
street Will you?"
Yes"
DO not mistake the number. Ask
for Miss Conrad. Now go Dack there
a1f ait for Horner. Quick-they are
con inss%
/ plunged hastily into the passage,
and CROPPED my way back between the
narrow walls to the secluded room in
the rear. Il was too confused. too
startled. to even think clearly; My
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 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 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
might she be? Not the lady l had just
left. surely, for she was scheduled to
take the midnight train for Washing
ton. Miss Conrad might be any,
thing-a strange woman, an accom-
plice. even a disguised policeman. 1t
masked some trick surely, of which l
was quite liable to be the victim; be-
hind my lady's smiling eyes, and
there was surely some
marked purpose. This was the i'm
preston with which l ended-that for
some end unknown she was coldly
playing with me. leading me on. II