Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-06-01

ed In chagrin and perplcXity. Just ther
the captain came up. and the two step
ped aside for consultation In voices
so low that only an excited word OF
French was now and then audible !
turned to Miss Kendall. who was lean
ing against the rail with white face
and eyes large with terror.
"But 1t was not an accident, Mr.
Lester" she whispered. II saw a mar
leaning over the spar"
I nodded. Il don't doubt 1t in the
least. But don't tell your mother. Il
will only alarm her needlessly. Wei
talk 1t over IN the morning"
She said good night and led her moth
er away toward their stateroom. ]
went at once In search of the ships
doctor and met him ut the foot Of the
saloon staircase.
How is Martigny. doctor?" I asked.
"Worse. fear" he answered hur
riedly. HE has Just sent for me-"
(Which room has hep
Hes in 1915. an outside room on ths
upper deck"
l went forward to the smoking room
and looked over the colored plan Of the
ship posted there. A moments inspec.
ton Of 1t showed me how easily Mar.
tigny had eluded pursuit. He had only
to walk twenty feet, open a door and
get into bed again.
When l sat down next morning be
side Miss Kendall she closed her book
and turned to me with a very deter.
mined air.
'Of course, Mr.. Lester" she began
III you think any harm can come from
telling me, l don't want you to say q
word. but really think I'm entitled
to an explanation"
$50 do l." agreed. You've proved
yourself a better guard than l. I'd for.
gotten oil about Martigny. was
thInking-well, Of something very diff.
ferent. had no thought Of danger"
Nor had l." she said quickly. but
l CHANGED to look up and see that dark
figure bending over them, and l cried
out, really. before ] had time to think"
1T was just that which saved them"
"Yes: but, oh, could think after
ward! I'd only to close my eyes last
night to see him there yet. peering
down at us. waiting his opportunity.
And then. Of course. l puzzled more OF
less over the whole thing"
You shan't puzzle any more" said.
Then laid the case before her, step by
step. She listened with clasped hands
and intent face, not speaking till
had finished. Then she leaned back In
her chair with long sigh.
why. it's horriblew she breathed.
But you haven't given me your ex-
PLANTATION yet, Mr.. Lester"
Il haven't any explanation" I said
helplessly. "I've built up half a dozen
theories. but they've all been knocked
to pieces. one after the other. 1 don't
know what to think, unless Miss Hol-
laday is a victim Of hypnotism or de-
mentia Of some kind"
"SOmetimes she's nice and at other
times she's horrid. 1t recalls DR.. Jekyll
and Mr.. HYDE doesn't itT"
Eyes. it does. Only. as I say. such an
explanation seems absurd"
There's one theory which might ex-
plain it-part Of it. Perhaps it wasn't
Miss Holiday Mt all who returned
from Washington square with the new
maid. Perhaps it was the other wom-
an. and the barred windows were real
ly to keep Miss Holiday a prisoner"
But she wasn't therew / protested.
Eve saw her when we gave her the
money"
Eyes. In a darkened room, with q
bandage about her forehead, so hoarse
she could scarcely speak"
l stopped moment to consider.
Remember that would explain
something which admits Of no other
reasonable explanation" went on my
companion-'the barred windows and
the behavior Of the prisoner"
ut would explain that, certainly" I
admitted. though at first thought the
theory did not appeal to me. "You be-
lieve. then. that Miss Holiday was
fOrcibly abducted?"
Undoubtedly If her mind was 60
Ing to give way at all it would have
done so at once and not two weeks aft.
er the tragedy"
but If she had brooded over It." I