Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-12-15

her attitude. seating himself once more
and facing her de~tcrmIncdly. II came
10 you In response to a strange adver-
tlSemcnt You trusted me 81 completely
rs TO Introduce me to your friends as
your fdn"e, and later cOniided to me
the special trouble you were in. |
pledged YOU my assistance, and It was
surely very natural that, under these
circumstances, | as a young man,
should have become rather deeply in
terested-"
I'm both tie case and the girl"
Yes; 50 much 50, indeed, hat ever
when ! was rather harshly dismissed,
! could not accept 1t without Il protest.
| had grown to feel that this was not
a mere business arrangement between
us, DO You understand now?"
II can see it from your standpoint.
But nevertheless, | am surprised, Cap
tain West. You-you mean you actual
~ fell in love with me?'
Il felt a very, very deep interest In
YOU" he admitted grayely, "a greater
interest than | have ever felt in any
other woman. That is my sole excuse
for becoming involved in your affairs.
! could rot bear to see you make q
mistake it might be in my power to
prey"nt,'
"What mistaken"
"Well, first Of all, trusting in this
man Hobart
She laughed, her eyes CHANGING up
quickly into his face.
"And why not, please? Remember
your confession; | may think this only
jealousy"
"You are not so silly as that
earnestly. "M0reover, l may as well be
perfectly frank. | did confess an in
tercSt In you, and in a measure, | still
feel eager to serve you in every pos
sibIe way; but you have changed so
greatly, Miss Natalie, that my conf
dence in you has been severely tried"
you no longer believer"
81 hardly know | fail utterly to I'M
derstand you of late; you seem an en-
tircly different girl. For M thing, you
have deliberately deceived me-"
"Indeed! in what?'
an your visit to Arch street with
PerCiyal Coolidge. That was no mis-
sion Of charity to a poor widow and
Children"
"What thcn?"
"An arranged conference with this
fellow Hobart. He rented that cottage
for no other purpose, and left It the
next day. You made a mistake when
you took me along"
She Strengthened up slightly in the
chair, yet spoke rather indifferently,
her voice cold.
mo doubt | did" she said tersely.
Indeed | have already discovered,
Captain West, that | made an even
greater mistake when | first took you
into my service. You have proven al
together too inquisitive. Now | will be
plain with you. Whatever need | once
supposed had for your services ended
with the explanation | received in that
Arch street cottage. l told you so very
distinctly after u return home. You
recall that Interview, no doubt?"
He bowed, waiting for her to 90 IN.
"You were then and there dismissed
from my service. That should have
been sufficient. l knew nothing of your
silly feeling of personal interest in
me; nor did realize any occasion for
discussing with you the reasons caus-
ing me to change my plans. You were
my employee, and | discharged you;
that was all. 1t Is true rercival
Coolidge took me to that cottage to
have certain mysterious things eX-
planned, and they We're explained to
my complete satisfaction"
"Ry Hobart?"
Eyes"
you knew the fellow herore?"
She hesitated slightly. although
there was no %perceptible change in the
answering voice.
"lfor several years; he was in
my fathers employ; the-the whole
trouble originated in a joke, and-and
was quite amusing. nee | understood.
OF course, after that, | had no further
need for you. Why did you persist in
annoying me|
West hesitated an instant, his mind
struggling with the situation. Was she
honest. truthful, in this statement?
Could he say anything which would
change her viewpoint? She must have
been deceived by these men, yet how
could he expose them SO she would
comprehend? He was so little certain
of the facts himself, that he had moth
ing but suspicion to offer.
"Why do you not answer, Captain
WeStf"
The girls eyes were clear, inSistent,
II little amused they somehow aroused
his determination.
II will cndeavor to make you under
stand, Miss Natalie" he explained
slowly. 81 would not have you feel that
| deliberately pushed myself into this
affair. When | left Fnirlawn after
your dismissal, l had no thought of
ever seeing you again. | have already
told you the interest | had felt in you
up to that time. but your ~abruptness
during our last Interview left me