The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-10-06

III hOt, that you should later drOp IN
here. and find me again. What dc
you think of me now2"
looked at her for a moment before
] answered. unable to frame nv word.
to any satisfaction. What did sht
mean What exactly was she driving
atf Her whole manner puzzled me ex
ceefingIy. Was she playing me for a
FOOL? Was she attempting to lead me
on for some secret purpose Of hel
ow.l2 Did she believe my explana
ton arr IF rot. why did she fail tc
thrS-. .teT that door, and denounce
m" ~ o'ce as n spy? There. In tina,
SOFT light. she appeared more attrac-
i've than ever, and 80 peculiarly woln
anly as 10 seem utterly out of place In
this scene of plot and crime. 1t was
young face, bright, animated, which
fronted me, the dark eyes smiling and
unafraid. gazing straight into mine,
with a challenge In their depths. Her
very attitude piqued me, aroused me
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 a
political .conspirator. Yet what else
could she be2 How could account
for her presence in this place on any
other theory except that she came as
representative of Chilean intrigue ?
AS the trusted messenger Of that se-
cret conspiracy at Santiago. under or
ders 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 dangerous enemy to
this government which protected her,
deSpicable snake crawling through
the dark to strike down victim-a
thing to be crushed without mercy
The very softness, womanl'ness. only
made her the more to be 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. I do not know what to
think" I answered at last. "Your mis-
sion here tonight, as I understand 1t.
somehow does not fit in with my nat
ural conception of you as woman"
She laughed, but so low as to he in
audible to those beyond the closed
door.
'YOu anuIse me. Cannot q woman
even womanly woman. II yon
please-love her country and be will
Ing TO sacrifice In its behalf?
mot to the extent Of treachery and
deceit; not to the end that innocent
men and women suffer-" I returned
hotly, forgetting caution.
"And II that my purpose here, you
thinkr'
"Is 1t not9 This Is a neutral land,
yet what else can this conspiracy COM
template but cowardly destruction2"
81 refuse &c aaswer-here and now.
at least. Nor do I know why you
should ask. Why are you here, and
how? DO you realize the casa 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 fail to do
so7 Because 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 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; I may be blind. but I retain
faith"
''That is good-yet do not trust too
much In any woman. What is your
manner"
"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, think, and Alva
will be out in a moment. Now listen |!
Don't ask any questions, but listen.
VIII ysu pledge yourself to do what
ever ssy7"
"Within any reasonable limits
ves."
Limits! Don't talk limits" impa-
tiently. you say you are blind, but
retain faith. Act on that faith blind