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

feeling the sharp sting Of her words.
yet the comparison is hardly fair, is
III l am not a detective in the sense
with which you employ the term. You
knew was not serving you for pay"
did II"
u should hope you did" his voice
hardening slightly.
But for what other end did you
volunteer your Services?'
perhaps that Is not so easily ex-
| planned. 1t was a spirit of adventure
which first led me to answer your adj
vertisement, l presume. At least, l
can give it no other name. Then, when
we met, you appealed to me personal
ly; | felt desire to further our ac-
Iuaintance and - well, your story
aroused my interest.
as that aIl?"
ut might have been had not you
chosen methods Of procedure which led
me TO other thoughts"
She laughed.
"Oh, l see! All this has happened
because introduced you TO the others
as my tiance. 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 ~
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 q
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. l 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. l confess /
care for yOu-aS a woman"
Really you are quite fiattering. /
never dreamed I possessed such mar
veIous powers" She remained silent
moment, her eyes shaded by their
long lashes; then uplifted them again
to his face. "This makes it all the
more necessary that l now speak plain
~" she went on at length, THAT I
/ should explain to you II has all been
a mistake. That was why asked you
to come here now"
"All a mistake! Not the trouble
you were in, surely7"
"Yes. I must have dreamed most OF
1t, l think. ] have just had a 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 bis position without further ex-
PLANTATION.
"YOur words are certainly plain
enough" he said slowly, "yet I trust
l may be pardoned If I ask a question
or so. Do you mean the mystery is
already solved without my further
assistance?"
81 am convinced there was no mys
terry; that 1t was only Imagination,
Captain West. My calling you was a
mistake"
There Is no one impersonating
your
mo"
"The checks at the bank; the
strange person using your name; all
these were myths7"
She laughed.
'Of course. 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 ne. then. merely to
say I was dlsmissedT'
Eyes"
"And you told Coolidge, of course
how came &c be here7"
eyes"
"And the others7 What viii they
think?"
"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
ly amused at the idea.
But you, personality" he insisted.
She sobered instantly, also rising
and facing him.
Captain West, let US be sensible. |
invited you here for a certain pur-
pose. You were employed as much as
any Of my other servants. Is that
sufficient answer"
ut certainly is. I will depart at
once"
THANK you The limousine viii be
at the door. You will return to the
club, presumeT
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