The National tribune., 1894-07-26

LACED ONE TOUT ON THE RAIL
sponsibility. In token thereof, he concluded
that his life was worth that of two ghosts
and he straightway picked up and went on
again"
CRANKY clasped his hands behind his head
and looked lazily out through the dusk
That's just like you, Granny said Ber-
tie Barton. 81 thought it was going to be
regular ghost" He swung his guitar troub-
ador fashion and strolled to the stern singing
What became of the cousin?" asked
Thorpe.
Z" He was quietly transferred in a duel
with an impromptu count at Loisannes," said
CRANKY.
about her?"
"AssuredIy."
"And she?"
" Has returned more alluring and, doubt
not, more unreal than ever"
That sort of thing goes hard with fell
low, though" said Thorpe, with the air of
connOisseur
"Luckiest thing ever happened to him,
perhaps" replied Cranky; that is, if he
taught him to value his own life and that a
good woman is the best thing the Almighty
ever made. But | suppose it was bitter
while it lasted"
Yes, sir" Thorpe arose with yawn.
Worse than you can tell by theorizing, old
man; but you are so coy about the fair ones
that you'll never know by experience"
CRANKY smiled grimly, and the tarapatch
joined the guitar in the stern, from whence
TWO voices presently rang out together. Dusk
had fallen, and the green light on the star
board side CLEANED baleiully, like the eye of
moving sea-monster. By and by the moon
arose, making clear line across the black
water TO the figure of the Boy crOuching
alone in the bow. The Master of the Yacht
slept serenely with his face to the first stars,
and CRANKY sat watching the ghostly path
left behind them on the water the wake
of the color of the shrouds, when a sound
made him turn his head
1t was the Boy. He arose suddenly, with
swift look right and left, as If TO assure
himself that he was alone. He paused Just |
an instant, then placed one foot on the rail |
and swung himself upward, when an arm |
was thrown strongly around him, he was |
drawn back, and Granby's voice said, Don |
aid, my boy, thought you were asleep"
Dont!" exclaimed the Boy hoarsely He |
flung an arm outward, as If to throw CRANKY |
off, but that, too, was caught and held
Let me alone" he painted. His face was
turned to Granby's in the early moonlight,
which sharpened pitifully the wild pain
and rage making its beauty haggard and old.
intend TO let you alone after while"
Cranky spoke quietly. Just at present,
though, am particularly anxious for your
society,""
he looked steadily in the Boys eyes and
the wildness slowly died out of them. A
tremor shook the figure within Granby's
arm, and then, with q moan, the Boy
slipped down and dropped his head again
OH his hands.
Why did You stop me? It's no use "
he muttered, broksniy.
I" My dear boy, know you would rather
be alone just now, but l am seltisb.n
CRANKY spoke with his hand firmly OH the
shoulder OF the other. II feel like talking
\ ou needn't answer. I'll do it all. I'll be-
gin with the green and white ghost of
whom l was telling the boys when you
were asleep; the one for whom the man Was
fortunate enough not to blow his brains
out, and for whom the other fellow was
killed at Loisannes. A wonderful creature.
with no knowledge of the value of human
life, but who had a scientific way of dispos-
ing of it. Her name, Donald" ne paused
slightly, Il wish particularly to tell you.
Ii is Helene, and by the way, the Herald
says she is married to-day TO the man who
Won the Derriugton races"
Again q tremOr seemed to shake the Boy
It may have been sob. CRANKY was silent
There was only the sound of the PROV cut
ing through the water, and the guitar and
arapatch ringing i'll unison to waltz time :
seemed far behind.
Then, all of a sudden, CRANKY began in
ow tone to talk. Sometimes his hand
'ested on the Boys shoulder, sometimes on
lis bowed head. The moon grew brighter
md the port-light cleaned red--like a
bloody spear floating on the black water.
Now and then q rough voice from the crew
;alled aloud. Still CRANKY talked in way
hat would have astonished Thorpe. What ,
he said, or whether he himself ever remem-
,ered, is neither here nor there; but after {
ong time had passed the Boy raised his
lead. The wind blew the yellow hair out
If his eyes, and the wildness was gone.
he spoke YEARLY and another would have ,
aid irreleyantly, hut it was 10 the point.
Gran, you never lie, and-and it's all G
rue. know ii is--but you know q