Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-21


objected.
"She wasn't brooding-at least she
had ceased TO brood. You have Mr..
Royce's word and the buffers word
that she was getting better. brighter
quite like her old self again. Why
should she relapscf'
II don't know" said helplcssly
That affair last night has upset mo so
that can't think clearly. I feel that
was careless--tlat wasn't doing my
duty"
II shouldn't worry about 1t; though,
Of course" she added little severely,
you've realized by this time that you
alone are to blame for Martigny's pres
cnce OH the boat"
"But I had to 60 TO the Jorrdains."
| protested, "nnd I couldn't help their
going to him. TO have asked them not
to 60 would have made them suspect
me ut once
ooh. yes: but Mt least you needn't
have sent them. They might not have
gone ut all-ccrtninly they wouldn't
have gone so promptly--if you hadn't
sent them"
Sent them!" I repeated, and stared
ut her in amazement, doubling II l
had heard Alright.
Yes, sent them" she said again en-
phatically. "Why do you suppose they
went to the hospital so early the next
morning."
II suppose they had become suspi-
cious of me-
Nonsense, What possible reason
could they have for becoming sus-
piciOus of you! On the contrary. they
went after the key to those padlocks
Oh the window shutters. or course
Martigny had it"
For a moment was too nonplused
to speak. could only stare at her.
well, ! was fool. wasn't II" de-
manded finally. TO think that |
shouldn't have foreseen that. | was
so worked up over my discovery that
night that couldn't think of anything
else. or course. when they asked for
the key, the whole story came out
Il shouldn't blame myself too severe
IT," laughed Miss Kendall as she
looked at my rueful co,lntrnancc. II
myself think it's rather fortunate that
/ he's OH the boat.
"Fortunatc You don't mean that"
"Preciscly that. suppose the Jour
dams hadn't gone to him. He'd have
left the hospital anyway in two or
| three days. He isn't the man to lie
I inactive when he knew you We're
! searching for the fugitvcs. He'd have
returned then TO his apartment next
TO yours; your laudlady would have
told him that you had sailed for Eu-
rope. and he had only to examine this
boats passenger list to discover your
name"
But. at any rate I pointed out.
'hc would still have been in America.
lie couldn't have caught us"
"He couldn't have caught you. but IL
cablegram would have passed you in
midoccan warning his confederates
II they have time to conceal their pris-
Oner. you'll never find her. Your only
hope Is in catching them unprepared.
And there's another reason-since he's
on the boat, you've another oppOrtuni-
ty. Why not so and have talk with
him that battle of wits YOU were look
ing forward to-"
I'D Thought Of that" said. "but
I'm afraid couldn't play the part"
THE part?"
too great risk
1.-The advantage would be on your
side" she pointed out. "You could tell
him so many things which he already
knows and which he has no reason Il
suspect you know he knows Ii sounds
terribly involved, doesn't it: lut YOU
understands"
"Oh. yes: l understand"
And then It would he the natura
thing for yOI 10 look him up as soOl
as You learned he was ill., To avoi,
him will be to confess that You suspec
him"
But his name isn't on the passenge
list. If ! hadn't happened to see hin
as he came on board I'd probably no
have known II at ALL"
perhaps he saw you at the SAM
time"
"Thcn the fat's in the fire." I said
'1f he knows | know he's on board
then he also knows that ! suspect him
II he doesn't know. why. there's IL
reason for him TO think that I'll find
out. unless he appears in the cabin
, which doesn't seem probable"
, "Perhaps you're right she admit
, ted. There's no use taking any I'm
necessary risks. The thing nppcale,
. 10 me. ! think I should enjoy hal
, hours talk with him, matching IN
wits against his"
But yours are brighter than mine.
pointed out. You've proved it prett
cffectually in the last few minutes"
: mo, ! haven't. I've simply show
you that you overlooked one llttl
, thing. And think you're right ab0u
, the danger Of going to Martigny. Gu
first duty IL to Miss Holiday. w
must rescue her before he can war
= his cOnfederates to place her out Of Ou
reach"
, The unstudied way in which she sal
, "Our" filed me with an unreasonln
, happiness.
I But why should they bother with
|. prisoner at all: They didn't shrin
). from striking down her father"
"And they may not shrink from stril
r Ing her down at a favorable moment