The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1901-03-23

Have you tola hsr / am herr? II not
1 think-you will understand should
prefer
mods as good as a wink, captain
Never a word has she got from me as
to your being On board, and she shan't
Whether she a any suspicion OF 1t sol
not l cannot say. But / don't know
why she should. and IL she did car,
ropes wouldn't hold her. / reckon. But
maybe I am making too free
| am not ashamed to confess that fol
the rest of that day. so long as Frida
kept the deck. I staid In the place from
which L could see her, and I borrowed
a pair of glasses from Rossiter to spy
the better on her beautiful .ace. I saw
that many emotions agftated 1t insturn
1t was wistful. expectant, sad, down
cast, now flushing bright with some
vague hope, now tender with soft mem
cries, with thoughts of me, as l was
conceited enough to believe, and right
~. to judge by the glad welcome she
gave me when 1 was once more by hel
side.
How the time passed I cannot say
We sat there hand In hand gazing Out
across the long track of the steamer
as 1t sparkled and foamed under the
moonlight and taking no thought Oft
OF why we were there, what might be
in store for us or whar5sI should do
ext. We should have sat OH far into
the night, I believe, perfectly uncon-
scious and unconccrned, except witt
ourselves, had not a tall figure sudden.
ily thrown Its shadow over us, and WI
were addressed in a low, eryo fe-
male voice:
Pardon me, but I knew 1 could moi
be mistaken. It's Captain Wood!n q
Il could net rest till i had spoken t.
Vol ~ q want NJ, I, u, rxs ia l,,A- =
felt de trop. 1 did not like to disturb
you. to interrupt you. May / ask one
word? You escaped? -
AS Q see. duchess-uHiniured. too
except for the discomfort and rough
handling. You shall! hear the whole
story some day"
y would gladly have spared you this
sulIering from the very first. 1 tried
hard. 1 did indeed, even that first NIGH
IN the opera box, and afterward i
would have warned you, but I dared
pc more precise. Again, In that
terrible house I vas on your side"
Indeed. Duchess" broke In Frida,
you have made us yollS friends. We
are grateful, and we shall show 1t vet
L hope"
But why are you hereg. went or
the other woman impatientiy. "How
did you come? / have never seen you
during the voyage nor have the-the
others. 1t is fortunate. They would
certainly try to do you an injury"
They lave done 81 already-an in.
jury that may be ~irreparable. They
have robbed me-"
Yes. yes, that I know" she said
abut it will be a small matter. and
you would have your redress. You
could protect yourself against worse
now you are free. IL you were only
careful. I cannot think why YOU should
risk so much nov You are within
their reach again."
I laughed. THAT has never weighed
me, nor do | care for the money,
IT Is my honor that Is at stake. Ouch
ess. i must recover certain papers that
you--your people have stolen or I shall
be eternally ~disgraced."
Papers? Are they yours? / have
heard of hem. State papers, belonging
70 your government and worth a for-
tune to anyone who will give them t.
ours. You are c-oncerned?"
Closely. would give a large sum
any sum-to get them back
II need no brides, Captain Wood
She spoke with dignity. you canno,
mean to offer me money surely! j
have not fallen so low as that hone
i am ready to make restitution. 1t is
the least I can do fol you. You shall
have the papers. I will fetch them"
You are a good woman. I feel for
you. indeed 1 do" Frida said as she
stayed her a moment with a EestIlre
as though to kiss her. but the duchess
brushed past and hurried away.
Yes, she Is a good woman.n + re-
peated, echoing Frida, only to find that
the remark was not exactly pleasing t.
But why need | set down in words
the gleeful badinage of a pair of silIv
lovers? And it ended abruptly when
the duchess returned. 49,
Here, take them, IL they are yours,
/ leave that to your honor. I knew
where he kept them, ana / have Sc
cured them-no matter how
A single glance under the neares
electric light satisfied me that these
were the missing papers. They were
still in their official Jacket" a broad
band of bright green paper, on which
was printed the label. Strictly conf
dential.,'
BE on your guard, / implore YOU
she went on. There may be trouble
about them. IT your identity is discov-
cred. they will suspect YOU, ana it will
be another reason to attack you. Put
them by. Lock them up securely,
Let me have them %interposed
Frida. mo one would think of mixing
me up with the business, and I'm not
afraid OF anything theyac can do to me-
You shall run no such risk. Frida,'
/ protested. 1T is entirely my affair.
l came for them, 1 have got them, and
will keep them against all corners. IN
overheard. They are of no actual value
except in the wrong hands. We have
copies of them.
1t was go settled. and the party broke
up. I was&the last to leave the stern,
having given my dear girl a rendez-
vous in the same place at the same
time the next evening. But as L was
making for the companion ladder that
led to my second-class quarters, / was
met by the quartermaster in the full
light Of an electric lamp, who hailed
me roughly.
Hello, my hearty! Vast heaying
and run alongside. What brings you
in these waters? You've no right here
aft, and you know 1t. I am gcing to
bring you in front of the officer OF
the watch. He want you"
"If he does, he knows where to find
ime-in the second. saloon forward
Aye. aye. that's where you berth.
We know that much and more-that
you won't stay there. What takes you
cruising around the first-class deck?
That's what you've got TO answer for
S I will, to the right person, the
t~NF GsAAt ~ = clolIo ~ RI
4 cried, for I was nettled by the mans
surly speech. eDon't dare to interfere
with me! I've good reason, the best
reason, for what I've done. andIlt give
1t, but not to you. Clear out, or I'll
put you on your back double quick!''
He ~retorted angrily, and we should
soon have fallen to blows, but a skiarr
voice interposed. that of the. csdptaiI
himself. for the alteration Md oc.
CURED just outside his cabin.
Whats this OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
reling with the passengers? And swht
are you, sir, who talk 10 big?"
IA second class, sir, who's been a.
trespassing up here Constant, and Ii
my orders, sir, sfronnthe chief officer Il
watch HIM
What do you cnllSyourseIf?"
"Hardcastles is my name on the list
but Nss
IA purser's nniae, eha Tishy on thu
face OF 1t. I'll see 3 tomorrow for.
ward in the second cabin. Take him
there. quartermaster, and tell the stew.
ard to have an to him; not that he
ear get very far"
AYE. aye, sir. Now, lleaye ahead
Will You, or must I make your Nc
doubtghe felt annoyed by the sunpor,
iof the "told an. Now I had -ecoyer
ed my ternpar ! did not resent his tone.