The Ordway new era., 1922-12-29


| refer to our long friendship, 1t would
be extremely awkward not to even be
able to mention your name
MY name! Why, of course, you
do not know what it is. Well. really l
am not altogether certain that l do.
either. We VIII therefore compromise
on the one 1 am known by, which VIII
be safer Allow me. Captain West, to
present to you Miss Natalie Coolidge.
She held out frankly a neatly
gloved hand. which he as instantly
took, and retained In his own, the girl
making no immediate effort to with
draw It,
"This is very kind OF you, Miss
Coolidge" he acknowledged, adapting
himself to her present mood. but 1t
seems there is no necessity for me
TO present myself. Apparently my
Identity is already known"
Otherwise you would not be
among those present" she admitted
frankly.
"Then. judge you have not ac-
cepted me blindly7'
NO, l have not" earnestly, and
now releasing her hand, Il do not
think we ever really know any one
except through personal intercourse:
but 1 do know who you are, and some
thing of what your life thus far has
been"
But how could you, I signed no
name"
She smiled. again quite at her ease.
THE box number at the club was
amply sufficient. l have friends there;
once possessed OF your name and
army rank, the department records at
Washington furnished all further in
formation. SO you perceive, Captain,
I am not altogether reckless. Are you
Interested in learning what know7"
81 am; will you tell me7"
"Willlngly," and she checked the
points off on her gloved fingers. "You
are Matthew West, the only son of
Judge Robert Peel West, of Atlanta,
Georgia. Your mother, who was of
the well-known Bullock family, died
when you were about fifteen, and her
widowed sister has since been the
iipuSOhNtPtl. iou VI
the University of Virginia, being
fourth in your class in scholarship.
Your engineering course was COM
pleted In Massachusetts, and you later
became connected with the Wyant
Contracting company, of Chicago. You
were here, however, only n very brief
time, making but few acquaintances,
,yhA ha L.,
mediately entered the first officers
training school at Fort Sheridan, grad
uating with the rank of first lieuten.
ant, and We're assigned to a regiment
of engineers, among the earliest to
sail for France. While there you were
wounded twice, and cited once for
special gallantry in the rescue of
seriously injured private. Your last
wound caused your return to the
United States on a special mission,
and also won you the rank of captain.
Since then you have been honorably
discharged, but have made no effort
to resume professional work. You
are twenty-six, and unmarried Is
there anything else you care to
known
II think not really your agency has
been most efficient. And so this re-
view satisfied you that was really the
man you sought?"
mo, it did not wholly satisfy, but 1t
looked promising. You were evidently
courageous. and gentleman. These
qualities were essential whether in
other respects you measured up to my
purpose, could only be ascertained
through a personal interview. There
was no other way"
"And nowi" he persisted.
"Still encouraging, 1 must admit.
although the test is not yet complete.
| However, we are now approaching the
end of our journey. Before we turn
in I am going to ask favor of you
call me Natalie"
| Natalie; that will be easy"
'And also forgive me II I fail In
always addressing you formally as
Captain West. 1 presume your friends
say Matt, do they not?"
"Some have that habit"
"Then i claim also the privilege"
She bewildered him, left him In won-
derment as to what she would do next,
but there was scarcely time In which
to answer before the speeding limou-
sine turned abruptly into private
driveway. curving gracefully to the
front of a rather imposing stone man.
sion, set well back from the road.
Soon they were at the side entrance,
and servant. in the same unobtrusive
livery as the chauffeur, was quietly
opening the door. He turned and
helped his companion to emerge.