Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-31
CHAPTER xxi.

mind him, the sacrifice was made. He
called hanson cab and drove straight
to Tyars' club. He found his friend az
work among his ships papers, folding
and making up in packets his receipted
bills.
Morning said the Englishman.
These papers are almost ready TO be
handed over to you. All my stores are
on board"
"AhI"
Tyars looked up sharply, and as sharp
ly returned to his occupation. Easton
was grave, and Tyars knew that he had
come with news of some sort. He waited,
however, for the American to begin, and
continued to fold and arrange his papers.
Il have" said Easton, sitting down and
tapping the neat toe Of his boot with his
cane, hit quite accidentally upon a dis
covery-"
Poor chap!" muttered Tyars, abstact-
eddy.
Which will make difference in your
crew"
WHAT" exclaimed Tyars, pausing in
the middle of knot.
Zone rule" continued Easton, his queer
little face twisting and twinkling with
some emotion, which he was endeavoring
to conceal, was that no sweethearts or
wives were to be left behind"
What are you driving at?" asked
Tyars, CURLY, in q singularly lifeless
voice.
"Wen, old man, I have discovered a
sweetheart"
Tyars threw the papers in heap and
roSp C1I66pD1v from his He ak ed
to the mantel piece.
'Of course" he said, your discovery
can only relate to one person"
Yes; you know whom l mean"
Tyars nodded his head in acquiescence
and continued smoking The little Amer
lean sat looking in a curious way at this
large, impassive, high-bred Englishman,
as if gathering enjoyment and ediication
from the study of him.
Well" he drawled, at length, you say
nothingr'
There is nothing to say"
'On the contrary" returned Easton,
there is everything to say. That is one
of the greatest mistakes made by your
people. ! have noticed it since l have
been in this country. You take too much
for granted You let things say them
selves too much, and you think it very
fine to be impressive and apparently indif-
ferent But it is not a fine thing, it is
silly and unbusiness like. Do you give
up Oswin Grace"'
certainly; if you can get him to stay
behind"
HE will run his head against a wall if
he can. That is to say, is there is a thick
enough wall around
Tyars hesitated. II am not quite sure
that it is my business" he said. Il hate
meddling in other peoples affairs, and,
after all, | suppose Grace knows best
what he is doing"
Men rarely know what they are doing
under these circumstances" observed Eas-
ton.
He waited patiently, hat in hand, to
hear what Tyars had to say. While he
stood there, Muggins, the bull-terrier, rose
from the hearth rug, stretched himself and
looked from one to the other in an in
quiring and anticipatory manner. He
took it TO be a question of going for
a walk, and apparently imagined that the
casting vote was him.
'All right" said Tyars, suddenly, 81
will speak to him again"
Today" pursued Easton. following
up his advantage, "or tomorrow at the
latest"
Yes; tomorrow at the latest"
Then the American took his departure,
and Muggins curled himself up on the
hearth rug again with a yawn of disap-
pointment.
Oswin Grace was seated in the bright
little cabin at table writing out lists of
stores. Many of these same stores were
piled on the deck around him, and there
was a pleasant odor of paraffine in the
air. Tyars closed the cabin door with his
elbow.
Il do not see," he said, slowly and I'M
comfortably, "how you can very we'll go
with u.s."
Grace laid aside his pen and raised his
keen, gray eyes. His brow was wrinkIed,
his lips set, his eyes full of fight.
Because" suggested Grace, in hard
voice, Il am in love with Agnes Win
ters?''
Tyars nodded his head and stopped to
pick up his gloves, holding them subse-
quently close to the bars of the stove,
where they steamed gayly. There was a
silence of some duration, and every sec
ond increased the discomfort of Claud
Tyars.
And you," continued Grace, at length,
very deliberately, love Helen!' y
Tyars stood upright, so that his head
was very near the beams. He thrust his
gloves into his pocket and stood for some
seconds, grasping his short pointed beard
meditatively with the uninjured hand.
Yes" he said, Il do"
Grace returned to his ship chambers
bills with the air of a barrister who.
having established his point, thinks it
prudent to allow time for it to sink into
the brains of judge and jury.
II do not mind telling you." he added.
carelessly, almost too carelessly. that
Miss Winters is perfectly Indifferent on
the subject"
do you know that for certain?' asked
Tyars, sharply.
''She told me so herself" answered
Grace, with a peculiar little laugh which
was not pleasant to the ear.
He waited obviously for a reciprocal
confidence on the part of Tyars; but he
waited in vain.
of course he said, Il have no desire
TO NEEDLE with your affairs. l ask no
questions, and l look for no spontaneous
condolences. 1t will be better for you to
lose sight altogether of the coincidence
that l am-her brother
TyarS had seated himself on the corner
of the cabin table, with his back half
turned toward his companion. He had
picked up a piece of straw, of which there
was a quantity lying on table and floor,
and this he was biting meditatively. It
was as yet entirely puzzle to him, and
this was only new complication. He
could not understand it, just as better
men than Claud Tyars have failed to I'M
derstand it all through For no one.
take it, does understand love. and no man
can say whittier it will lead.
There need" continued Oswin Grace.
perforating a series of small holes in his
blotting paper with the point of a cedar
wood pencil. BE no nonsense of that sort.
! am going TO take it upon myself to
watch over Helen's interests; they are
much safer in your hands than in mine
Still Tyars said nothing, and after a
little pause. Grace went on, in measured.
thoughtful tones, carrying with them the
of