The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-23

L~Hopart Is ool to Do Such ThinQ"
such thing. Why. what has caused
him to become so frightened? Tell me,
Captain West, how all this occurred?"
"YOu know nothing"
"Only what has been said since I
entered the room. Mike simply told
me they had man here who Hobart
thought was detective, and he wanted
me to come In q moment. l came, and
found you. New, please, what does 1t
all mean2"
She slipped back to her seat again,
her eyes on his face, as he arose and
stretched his limbs to restore circula.
tion. To his quick glance her face ex.
pressed only sympathy, and innocent
Interest. Any doubt he may have felt
as to the sincerity Of the girl vanished
instantly; whatever Of crime was con.
cealed here, she had no suspicion. He
could tell her the whole story without
fear.
"Ill try and explain, Miss Natalie"
he began rather lamely, although per.
haps, Jca may not wholly understand
the motives which have prompted me.
This, OF course, Is really no business of
mine. and the only thing that has In.
volved me is the deep interest I have
felt In you"
"In me! Why, that Is rather inter.
esting. 1t was to serve me you came
heref"
'At least I thought so. Shall 1 make
1t more definite? No doubt you are
aware that you are an unusually pretty
woman. Well, at least, I think so for
one, and our first meeting, with It's sub.
sequent adventures, was romantic
enough to shake me out Of common.
place existence. In fact, I became
quite deeply interested in you"
"Why, really, Captain" she inter
rupted, slightly puzzled. 81 perhaps do
not fully comprehend to what you re.
fer. DO you mean there was sometime
between us? Some special intimacy?T
"Oh. no; not that; probably nc
dream Of what WAS occurring in your
mind. Yet the circumstances of oui
meeting were peculiar; they rendered
very brief acquaintance into what
promised to become Il real friendship"
How do YOU mean?
Surely you cannot have forgotten
80 sOon," he explained in surprise at
her attitude, seating himself once more
and facing her determinedly. 81 came
to you In response to strange adver-
tisement; you trusted me so completely
as to Introduce me to your friends as
your fiance, and later conlided to me
the special trouble you were In. I
pledged you my assistance, and II was
surely very natural that, under these
circumstances, 4 rs young man,
should have become rather deeply in
terested-"
I'm both the case and the girl"
"Yes; so much so, indeed, that even
when I was rather barshly dismissed
I could not accept It without n protest
] had grown to feel that this was not
q mere business arrangement between
Us. Do you understand now?"
II can see 1t from your standpoint.
but nevertheless. am surprised, Cap
tain West. You-yOu mean you actual
~ fell In love with me?"
II felt 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.
i could not bear to see you make a
mistake 1t might be In my power to
prevent"
"What mistaken.
swell, first Of all, trusting In this
man Hobart"
She laughed, her eyes giancing up
quickly into his face.
And why not, please7 Remember
your confession; I may think this only
jealousy"
You are not 70 silly az that
zneP a. ven a