Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-03-04

10 AhlA- iOu italy euedSCu
room, you know: you've only written
for one
There's no other hotel on the island
Of course. 1 remember the place well
enough, though l was there for only
day."
They sat together until Tom came aft
to tell them that the sun had touched
the hills and that Clavering's WIS only
half mile away.
Haven helped Carol to rise, and they
both looked forward over the top of the
awning. They saw steep, high bank
heavily wooded with evergreens and at
its foot a tiny pier for small boats,
though none was there at the mo-
ment.
Where's the hotel?' demanded Ha-
ven.
''Rehind the trees said Carol. ''This
is the back of the island. The landing
is on the other side
q told Captain Haskell that you'd
probably prefer to land here said
Tom. Your arrival will be beautifully
inconspicuouS, whereas if you go to the
wharf,
npDOu tnIl MIS-. JdIle MOilu RO
with me Just for moment" said
Carol. until l find grandma
Nov, why should we put Mrs. Earle
TO this Inconvenience and delay her
from her supper?" protested Haven.
''In this unconventional region will
anybody question:
'Of course not" exclaimed Gladys.
You will stroll up through the pretty
path, and no one will know that there
are not forty chaperons at your heels.
Still, if you'd rather, we'd take you
around to the wharf
Not for the world" said Jack Ha-
ven.
So they We're set ashore upon the lit
tie pier, where they waved farewells as
the launch drew away.
1--WE may row over after supper"
called Gladys. "Come down to the
wharf"
She had Tom by the arm, and both
of them were struggling with mysteri-
Gus mirth. Haven exchanged a ques-
tioning glance with Carol.
TOO deep for me-" said he. 81 don't
know what's the matter with them"
Carol answered with a shake of her
head as they began to ascend the path
which ran diagonally up the side of
the bluff. The evening seemed to close
upon them suddenly among the tall
and somber trees.
eve must hurry" said Carol as they
reached the top. yet it's only little
way, and it will be light again when
we come to the end of the path"
Il hope we shan't meet a lot of peo-
ple''
They'll all be on the other side of
the house or on the tennis court.
wonder we don't hear voices"
The path sloped downward and made
n sudden turn. They saw an arch of
green as sharply outlined as the mouth
of tunnel
why, where's the house?" cried the
girl. And she began to run.
Haven overlook her in stride or
two and helped her mount n knoll at
: etge of The grove. The green ores
cent OF the wood curved TO the shore
on either hand. embracing a little bay.
with pier and boathouse, the roof
OF which was blackened am partly
stripped of shingles. In the middle of
this picture heap of ruins marked
the place where Clavering's hotel had
stood. 1t had been consumed like bit
OF paper, and its ashes scarcely suf-
feed TO fill the shallow cellar.
Haven whistled softly.
This is indeed merry jest" said
he.
But I had telegram from grand
father this forenoon exclaimed Carol
bewildered. HE said: Shall EXPECT
you this evening. We are very nicely
located l thought that last sentence
was odd"
This house burned down yesterday"
said Haven. "Your grandfather sent
you word of it to Toronto. not knowing
that you had gone on to Annandale.
Your mother had the message forward
ed, but il missed you. And Tom learn
ed all this at Muskoka after / appear
ed, and he and Gladys put up this job"
but surely Mrs. Earle
"You may depend upon it that she
doesn't know. Tom bribed that old
villain, Haskell This is why we were
set ashore on the back of the island.
It's why we took the launch, in the
first place"
They can't mean to leave us here
long"
''No, indeed" said he. you'll see
the launch come around that point in
minute or two. At the worst, they'll
send it for us after it has put them
ashore at The Bluffs, and that won't
be more than twenty minutes to wait"
They waited twenty minutes by Ha-
ven's watch and then ten more for
good measure, but the launch did not
appear, In the meantime they had
visited the ruins and the wharf and
had made up their minds that the is
land was entirely deserted except for
their own unwilling presence.
DO You suppose that Gladys really
meant TO leave us here until after
SUPERB asked Carol. "You remember
what she said
Haven answered in vaguely reassur-
ing manner. for his real opinion was
too alarming for expression. He per-
ceived clearly enough that this jest
had gone beyond the intention of the