The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-06-30

son to so act I may denounce your
connection with this affair, believing
| It no fit work for any true woman to
he engaged in. and yet myself be no
traitor to the cause"
"You still hold me a true woman
then?'
eyes; may be blind, but I retain
| faith.'
"That is good-yet do not trust too
much in any woman. 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 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, I think, and Alva
will be out in a moment. Now listen
Don't ask any questions, bat listen.
Will you pledge yourself to do what
ever I 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
". I cannot speak here: there is no
time, no opportunity. Tomorrow at
two o'clock, come to 247 LIE Compte
street. Will you?'
Eyes"
'Do not mistake the number. Ask
for Miss Conrad. Now 60 back there
and wait for Horner. Quick-they are
coming"
I plunged hastily into the passage,
and groped my way back between the
narrow walls to the secluded room in
the rear. I 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 conver-
sation, Even now / was utterly in
the dark. Did the woman know me:
or suspect t1e reason Of my presence
That was manlfestiy 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?
It must be either that, or treachery
of the fou!est type. "247 LIE Conpte
street, could not recall tine neigh
| borhood, only a vague conception OF
red brick buildings Of exactly the
same general style-probably fairly
respectable boarding houses. And l
was to ask for "Miss Conrad" Who
might she be? Not the lady I had just
left, surely, 1oc she was scheduled to
take the midnight train for Washing
ton. Miss Co2.ad" might be any
! thing-a strange woman, An accom-
plice, even disguised policeman. It
! masked some trick surely, of which I
was quite liable to be the victim; be-
hind my lady's smiling eyes, and
| cheerfulness, there was surely some
marked purpose. This was the i'm
preston with which I ended-that for
some end unknown she was coldly
playing with me, leading me on.
I began to thinF Harris had gone
away With the Others, and left me
there alone. I heard voices speaking
earnestly in the distance, but without
eenturing forth from my hiding place.
Then he appeared suddenly, bringing
| in his arms a bottle and a box Of
cigars.
"Touch a match to the gas-jet,
DAILY" he said, feeling for the table in
the dark. "Tnat's better. l hung
around until the gang all got out, so
as to be sure we were safely alone.
Have drink, and light up, old man.
We are as secure here as we would be
at the bottom Of the sea. This Is
Alva's whisky, but good sampled it
! before"
He sat on the table, nursing his
knee, rather pleased with himself, l
! thought, a cigar thrust between his
! lips, the blue smoke curling up before
| mis- face. 1 ignored the invitation to
drink, but helped myself to weed,
waiting for him to open conversation.
"Wen," he said finally, "everything
| is going according to Hoyle, but there