Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III DARK TIDINGS The news I bring Is heavy In my tongue.Shakespeare. The second day thereafter Shirley Claiborne went into a jeweler's on the Grand Quai to purchase a trinket that had caught her eye, while she waited for Dick, who had gone off in their carriage to the post-office to send some telegrams. It was a small shop, and the time early afternoon, when few people were about. A man who had preceded her was looking at watches, and seemed deeply absorbed in this occupation. She heard his inquiries as to quality and price, and knew that it was Armitage's voice before she recognized his tall figure. She made her purchase quickly, and was about to leave the shop, when he turned toward her and she bowed. "Good afternoon, Miss Claiborne. These are very tempting bazaars, aren't they ? If the abominable tariff laws of America did not give us pause" He bent above her, hat in hand, smiling. He had coneluded the purchase of a watch, which the shopkeeper was now wrapping in a box. "I have just purchased a little remembrance for my ranch foreman out in Montana, and before I can place it in his hands it must be examined and appraised and all the pleasure of the gift destroyed by the custom of- fleers in New York. I hope you are a good smuggler, Miss Claiborne." "I'd like to be. Women are supposed to have a knack at the business; but my father is so patriotic that he makes me declare everything." "Patriotism will carry one far; but I object both to being taxed and to the alternative of corrupting the gentlemen who lie in wait at the receipt of customs." "Of course the answer is that Americans should buy at home," replied Shirley. She received her change, and Armitage placed his small package in his pocket. "My brother expected to meet me here; he ran o...