The Forrest City times., 1891-05-01
IA MAIDEN AIR.
BY CHARLES GIBBoN.
CHAPTER XI. CONTINUED.

II dinna want to gie you ony false hopes, missy, but if l be ma far wrang, Bob Ross will soon be put right"
 You have found out how it was doneT
 'I jaloused 1t as soon as Bob let me ken what had happened. You see what comes O reading the papers. 1 would hae been like the lave O you, maybe, if hadna read that"
 He handed her the scrapof paper. It was the report of a common enough police case; {; ] man enticed into house, drusged. rob- l bed, and turned out into the street in state of apparent drunken stupefaction.
 'This is what he has donew p she cried ex- citedly.
 Ride minute. missy. You hae heap to answer for; if 1t hadna been for you, the gowk would never hae thought O sic daft like thing. Hows'ever, we want to clear Bob. You say naething about this, no even to your father, and I'll satisfee him that he !, was mista'en. Whan do you start?' "To-morrow morning." "Weel, as soon s hae told Jeems what his mother wants, I'll gang hame again by train the-day. But would like you to tell me ane or twa things first"
 The ''ane or twa things" included the whole of her conversation with Cargill about INOSS, dllu tlic Sllt udu RdLutTPQ from the men separately that not one had observed the slightest sign of anything be- ing wrong with the pilot unti, they found him lying by the wheel.
 Its just wonderful how you thought about seeking out a that" said Dick admir- ingly; but you were aye clever lass, missy. l canna understand how the cap- tain should be sac ready to think i'll O Bob" Ia h hai ba bod ] been drinking before."
 "Aweel, that'll a be set right afore lang. You and me maun keep a calm sough for a wee while. Just you keep on as you hae been doing-keep frien's wi him and may be we'll get mair out O him."
 When Cargill returned he was annoyed exceedingly to find his bugbear, Dick Bax- ter, waiting for him. and almost started in- to rage when he heard the well-known salutation, "Weel, Jeems, how's a wi you | the-day?"
 He would have turned away at once from this pest, but he was detained by tho next words.
 Your mother sent to you ance errand. She wouldna believe in the post or the tele- graph; the matter was sac particular that naething would serve her but l maun come wi her message"
 What is it she wants nowT' was the surly and impatient query.
 "She doesna want you to break your trip; but she commands you to gang straight to | her the minute you land. She bade me say that you would hurt yourself mair than you i can fancy, If you didna do her bidding."
 "Very well.'
 You'll come the minute you land"'
 eip chai icc ,ortin npIa al hnuf it."
 "I'll tell her to expect you, for Pm gaun i back by train the-day."
 That evening in the gloamlng, work over and all quiet ill the harbor, Captain Duncan was sitting on deck smoking. Annie was walking up and down, occasionally halting beside him. During one of these halts, he said abruptly
 Annie, 1 want you to be kind to Jeems Cargil."
 This was the first time he had referred to the subject of the proposed union since that evening in the cottage. What for in especial, father?" He puffed slowly, and looked over the bulwark into the clear blue water which was plashng gently against the sides of the l Me,moid He was perplexed; what especial reason was there for asking her to be kind to Cargil? He himself had no especial re- gard for the man, and but for his fortune would have little to say to him.
 It's this way, Annie; you see he's man that has a great notion O you; he's weel-to- do in the world; there's naebody has ony particular ill to say against him; and he asked me to put in a word for him wi you. said would, and I'm doing it. You might do hantle waur than agree to be Mistress 1 Cargll."
 She laid her hand on his shoulder: she could feel the awkwardness with which he spoke. At another time she would have re- lieved him by laughing at the whole affair. At present she had too many anxious thoughts weighing upon her for laughter to find vent.
 Il told you my mind about this, father, when you mentioned It before l am of the same mind yet, and will never change"
 She felt glow of pleasure in thus echo | ing her lovers words.
 "Aweel, aweel I'm na gaun 10 force your will. 1 was meaning you for another man a the while; but hae done what promis- ed and nae mair need be said. You would hae loupit bitherly enough at-but that's a by and nae mair need be said"
 He got up and leaned over the bulwark now pulling vigorously. A vague suspicion of his meaning flashed across her mind making the heart leap quick with surprise and joy.
 Who are you speaking about now, fath- er%' she asked, her voice low and not quite so steady as usual.
 Never heed, never heed. It's a by noo the big foolv'
 Then there was silence. She was tremb- ling and afraid to speak lest she should find that she misinterpreted herfather's thoughts.
 But it must be him he referred to; and this was the meaning of all his curious little jokes and grins which had often puzzled her when he was speaking about her marriage. Could it be?
 "I'm sair put about wiz Bob Ross" he said by-and-by, half angrily, half regretful- ly. What hypocrite he maun hae been --I would as soon hae thought O doing sic a thing myseP as him. Ed 1t ma been for that, he was the man for you and the Mer> mdtd tae."
 "AAnd will be, father,' she cried gleeful- ty.
 Ma, that canna be noo-it's a' by. I'd sooner see you maerrit to Jeems Cargill."
 "Oh, father, you will find that you are mistaken about poor Bob"
 That's impossible"
 In the midst of her great gladness there came that cruel thought-everything had been lost by that one blunder She kne,c what Cargill had done; Dick Baxter knew 1t; but how could they prove it?
 
 As soon as the Mermaid arrived at Lelth, Cargill took his leave of Annie. He was dis appointed; all his powers of persuasion had failed to move her. She had been civil to