"Ah!" he exclaimed, in open triumph; "and have I, then, at last made
fair capture of your secret? You are Miss Phoebe Spencer."
She drew back still farther within the recesses of the bushes, at his
single victorious step forward.
"I? Why certainly not. I am merely Miss Spencer's 'star' pupil, so
you may easily judge something of what her superior attainments must
necessarily be. But I am really going now, and I sincerely trust you
will be able to secure a ticket for to-morrow night; for if you once
meet this Miss Spencer you will never yield another single thought to
me, Mr.--Mr.--" her eyes dancing with laughter--"First Lieutenant
Donald Brant."
CHAPTER IV
SILENT MURPHY
Brant sprang forward, all doubt regarding this young woman instantly
dissipated by those final words of mischievous mockery. She had been
playing with him as unconcernedly as if he were a mere toy sent for her
amusement, and his pride was stung.
But pursuit proved useless. Like a phantom she had slipped away amid
the underbrush, leaving him to flounder blindly in the labyrinth. Once
she laughed outright, a clear burst of girlish merriment ringing
through the silence, and he leaped desperately forward, hoping to
intercept her flight.
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