The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-23


she jumped to the conclusion that l had
gone out for the purpose of following De
Louvisan. She wouldn't leave me until
promised her on my word of honor that
would make no effort to find him. When
did that, she was satisfied and went back
home"
~ suppose it was her speaking Of you
that put the idea into my head" Geoff went
on, land impelled me to walk over to the
place where we had once been SO happy.
That's why / went. That's how I came to
meet you there"
"You did not meet me there"' she flung
back Indignantly. Really, this is past
jestr'
"a jest? You think I'm likely to jest over
it? A thing that threatens the life Of the
girl love! In the name of heaven, Kathie,
put an end to this nonsense! Say l muir
dered him; but, for Gods sake, don't say I
jest with you when have come here merely
to, show you how much love you-how
ready am to fight the whole world for
you. Come back into my arms, and let me
tell you what l want to tell, dear. They
sha'n't touch you; they sha'n't lift finger
to harm you, say one single word against
you; and God help the first that tries it,
that's all!
"That's how 1 love you. Better today
than have ever loved you in all the days
CDdL WGT0-DSLCeT tUdl L Sllc1A CNCi AoNO
anything in the days that are to be. l
don't care if you are red it'll bloc of
hundred men, you are the girl love-the
girl / mean to marry-the girl I'm gong to
stand up and fight for as long as there's
breath left in my body!'
'Marry-marry?" Her voice struck
through his even before he had finished
speaking, and there was sting in it that
Bit Do you think for one instant that
would marry you when you make such
charge as that against me? I'd no more
marry you than / would cut off my right
band.'
"Kathie darling"
mo, no; don't-please don't! 1t would
be wicked to touch me when am suffering
so much. / want to get back to my room.
Please do not follow me please stay where
you are. 1 won't say word to anybody;
I promise YOU l won't. I'll try to bear it;
I'll try to forget it. Good-by," and she
went across the drawbridge to the darken-
ing gardens, and was gone.
For minute the man made neither move
nlent nor sound till of sudden there came
something so totally unexpected as to cause
him to literally jump. Some one had given
a none too perfect representation Of nut-
fled sneeze.
"Who's there? Who are you?" he cried
in an excited whisper. But nobody an
swered.
He funbled in his pocket, flshed out MS
matchbox, and struck vesta. The glim-
mering light showed him the gap in the
floor and the slab laid back on its hinges,
with the way to the stone staircase in full
view. And in the very instant he made this
discovery there rolled up from that gap the
sound of somebody running away.
In a sort of panic young Clavering made
a dash for the trap, and was through it and
down the stone steps in almost no time.
Anybody the1e?" he raped out sharply:
Yes, Cleek of Scotland Yard!'' answered
a bland voice Immediately in front of him;
then there was a sharp spring, swift rus
tie, metallic click-clickiz. -
Good Lord! You've. put handouts on
me, you internal seoundrel! Clavering
out Indignantly. what are you doing to
Same thing as I've done to your wrists"
replied Cleek serenely. "Sorry, but you are
going to spend the night here, my friend.
/ suppose you realize that heard all that
passed between you and Lady Katharine
Fordham this EVENING""
"And you know that lied, don't you?"
put in Geoff eagerly. "You know that she
wasn't there last night, after al?'
ITO the contrary, my friend, know that
she was"
IL Il.