The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1921-07-07

Until you reach some final decision
yes; that Is my mission"
81 shall see to that at once we will
draw lots. You can wait either In this
room, or another just beyond. Prom
ise you will not go until | see und talk
with you again."
Il promise that-sO you are not too
long. / must make that train"
you shall make It. My car is only
two blocks away, and l pledge myself
to have you there on time. All this
business can be attended to In half an
hour"
He stepped back, partially closing
the door, while she turned, her own
hand on the latch, facing me- Her
eyes stared directly into mine, her
face whitening under the light, her
teeth shutting down close against the
red lips as though to repress a scream.
She was startled almost beyond 'on-
troll, yet mastered the fright instantly.
She glanced about at the partially
open door, and silently closed 1t tight
ly.
"What-what are you doing here?"
she gasped in English, her voice trem-
bling. "Listening?"
NO" l lied. seeing but one DOS
sible means Of escape, and hoping
thus to prevent her sounding an i'm
mediate alarm. 81 was waiting for a
friend who Is inside. just came into
this ROOM"
you actually belong here, then2
You are one Of these men?"
mot exactly" | had to admit. 81
know one of them very well, and he
stationed me out here"
She appeared puzzled, doubtful, yet
to my surprise still held the door tight
ly closed her eyes searching my face.
"WhO is the man you know-yOur
particular friend?"
| hesitated an instant, the name es-
Gaping me.
"horner."
"Oh, indeed; you were not very
prompt to answer"
"Well," l said, and managed to
smile, as though it was of little COnse-
quence, you see l have not always
known him by that name. There are
times when names need to be changed
occasionally"
True" she admitted soberly. do
you mind gratifying the curiosity of a
woman as to what his real name
might beY
Il could not, If I so desired. Ever
since l knew him he has been called
Harris. That is all l can say"
Harris Then he is not Chilean,
and never before pretended to be. l
thought that from the first. Is the
man American, English or Irish?"
shook my head.
"YOu won't answer. That may be
ignorance or it may be pretense. Never
mind. l recognize your face now. You
were the man eating in the saloon an
hour or so ago. Were you waiting for
this Horner-alas Harrls-then M"
1--WE met later"
Her lips smiled a little, and her
eyes.
did I merely dream that you ap-
peared somewhat interested in me at
the time, or was 1t true?"
1T was true" l answered honestly.
you did interest me. You didn't ap-
pear the sort to be making rem
devious out of a saloon, however re-
spectacle it might be. The proprietor
even volunteered the information that
you were his niece"
Did he, indeed? That was very
nice of him, wasn't it2 Rather odd, is
1t not, that you should later drop in
here, and find me again. What do
you think of me now?"
looked at her for moment before
! answered, unable to frame my words
to any satisfaction. What did she
mean? What exactly was she driving
at? Her whole manner puzzled me ex-
ceedingly Was she playing me for
fool? Was she attempting 10 lead me
on for some secret purpose of her
! own? Did she believe my eXplana-
| ton? and, If not, why did she fail to
throw open that door, and denOunce
me at once as a spy? There, in that
soft light she appeared more attrac-
| tive than ever, and so peculiarly wom-
anly as to seem utterly out of place in
this scene of plot and crime. It was
young face, bright, animated, which
| frOnted me, the dark eyes smiling and
| unafrald gazing straight into mine
with a challenge in their depths. Her
very attitude plqued me, aroused me
! to defense. l desired to hold her re-
| spect, her interest; nothing she might
say, or do, served to lower her In my