Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-12-30

pear the sort to be making a 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 1t? Rather odd, is
it not, that you should later drop in
here, and find me again. What do
you think of me noW?"
I looked at her for a moment before
l 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 a
fool? Was she attempting to lead me
on for some secret purpose of her
own? Did she believe my explana-
tion? 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. 1t was a
young face, bright, animated, which
fronted me, the dark eyes smiling and
unafraid gazing straight into mine,
with challenge in their depths. Her
to defense. l 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 be? How could / account
for her presence in this place on any
other theory except that she came as
a representative of Chilean intrigue?
AS the trusted messenger of that Sc
cret conspiracy at Santiago, under or
Washington? | had heard her words
spoken boldly to this band of plot
ters, words Of uthority-demands
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,
a despicabIe snake crawling through
the dark to strike down victim-a
thing to be crushed without mercy.
The very softness, wOmanllness, only
made her the more to be feared. She
should cast no spell over me. l 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 1t,
somehow does not fit in with my nat
ural conception of you as woman"
She laughed, but so low as to be in
audible to those beyond the closed
door.
"You amuse me. Cannot woman
even a womanly woman, If you
please-love her country and be will,
ing TO sacrifice in its behalf?''
"Not to the extent of treachery and
deceit; not to the end that innocent
men and women suffer-" / returned
hotly, forgetting caution.
"And is that my purpose here, you
think?"
"Is it not? This Is a neutral land,
yet what else can this conspiracy COM
template but cowardly destruction"
II refuse to answer-here and now,
at 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 to the mercy Of those men
In there? After what you have just
said, why do you suppose fail to do
SO? Because l 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 true woman
then"
"Yes; may be blind, but retain
faith"
"That Is good-yet do not trust too
much in any woman. What is your
nameW
"D-Daly, Harry DAILY"
"You seem to have some difficulty
tonight in remembering names. Does
this mean you also possess
varietyY'