Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-12-16


Yet the comparison is hardly fair. is
It? l am not a detective in the sense
with which you employ the term. You
knew was not serving you for pay"
did ~"
81 should hope you did" his voice
hardening slightly.
"But for what other end did you
volunteer your services? ?"
perhaps that is net so easily ex-
planned. 1t was a spirit Of adventure
which first led me to answer your adj
vertisement, presume. AT least, |
can give it no other name Then. when
we met. you appealed to me personal
ly; felt a desire TO further our ac-
Iuaintance and - well, your story
aroused my interest.
rs that aI?"
1T might have been had not you
chosen methods of procedure which led
me TO other thoughts"
She laughed.
"Oh, seel All this has happened
because introduced you to the others
as my fiance. Why, that is positively
| funny. Didn't you know that was
only part of the game being played7"
Yes" he said, ignoring the humor
Of 1t, and feeling oddly sober, 81 IN
derstood, and was playing, the same
as you. Only both of us, / think, for
get an important fact"
"What, please?"
THAT We were young. socially on a
level, and that you were an exceed
ingly charming young woman"
She laughed again, yet this time with
more restraint.
THAT is quite ridiculous, Captain
West Surely, you are not actually
making love to me?"
mo, am not. / am merely facing
the situation very frankly. 1t would
! be useless for me TO claim lack of in
terest In you. From our very first
meeting you have appealed to me
strongly-more so than any other wo-
man of my acquaintance. confess /
| care for yOu-aS woman"
Really you are quite hattering.
never dreamed I possessed such mar
velous powers" She remained silent
moment, her eyes shaded by their
long lashes; then uplifted them again
to his face. ''This makes il all the
more necessary that now speak plain
l ly," she went on at length, THAT
should explain to you II has all been
mistake. That was why l asked you
to come here now"
"All mistake! Not the trouble
you were In, surely2"
ayes. ] must have dreamed most OF
It, | think. ] have just had long.
confidential talk with Percival Cool
idge, and we understood each other
perfectly. Everything has been ex.
planned. So there Is no necessity for
our pretending any longer"
West rose TO his feet, comprehend
ing her full meaning. yet unwilling to
yield his position without further ex-
PLANTATION.
'Your words are certainly plain
enough" he said slowly, "yet trust
l may be pardoned If / ask a question
or so. Do you mean the mystery is
already solved without my further
assistance?"
Il am convinced there was no mys
terry; that 1t was only Imagination,
Captain West My calling you was &
mistake"
There is no one impersonating
your"
mo"
"The checks at the bank; the
strange person using your name; all
these were myths3"
She laughed.
"Of course. I really believed all
said to you at the time. but everything
has been explained since, and : real
ize how very foolish have oeen."
You sent for noe. then, merely TO
say was dismissed?"
eyes"
"And you told Coolidge, Of course
how I came to be here7"
ayes"
"And the Others9 what viii they
think2"
"Why, that cen make no difference.
Let them suppose we had a quarrel,
and that our engagement Is broken"
and she laughed again, evidently vast
~ amused at the idea.
'But you, personality" he insisted
She sobered instantly, also rising,
and facing him.
Captain West, let us be sensible. 1
invited you here for a certain pur-
pose. You were employed as much as
any Of my other servants. Is that a
sufficient answer?"
! 1T certainly Is will depart at
once"
Thank you. The limousine win be
at the door You will return TO the
club. / presume?"
Temporarily. until other arrange
ments are made"
He bowed and left her standing
there In the shadows. the expression
Of her face yelled. but there seemed
no response, no softening IN the rigid
attitude Of her figure She did not