The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-02-23
cHAPrER XIV.

WATCHED him with kind OF
fascination until he disappeared
through the door OF the cabin.
could guess what it had cost him
to drag himself from his bed, what
agony Of apprehension must have been
upon him to make him take the risk.
The Jourdains, puzzled at my not re-
turning, unable to keep silence, sus-
pecting, perhaps, some plot against
themselves, had doubtless gone to the
hospital and told him of my appear
ance-there had been no way for me
to guard against that. He had easily
guessed the rest. He had only to con-
suit the passenger list to assure him
self that Mr.. Royce and were aboard.
And he was following us, hoping
what7 What could a man In his con-
dition hope to accomplish? What need
was there for us to fear him? And yet
there was something about himz-some-
thing In the atmosphere Of the man
that almost terrified me. ;,'&
I came back to earth to find that
Royce and Mrs. Kendall had drifted
away together and that my companion
was regarding s.me from under half
closed lids with a. little smile OF
amusement.
$50 you're awake again, Mr.. Les
ter?" she asked. do you often suffer
attacks OF that sortr $50.
Pardon me-" 1stammered. The
fact is, II
you looked quite dismayed," she
continued Felentlessly. you seemed
positively horror strickensCI saw moth
ing formidable about HIM"
"No. you don't know himr' I retort
ed and stopped, lest l should say to
| much.
IL think we'd better sit down." sh
said, smiling. Your knees seem to b
Still somewhat shaky."
SO we sought seat near the stern
where we could watch the city sin
gradually away in the distance as. til
great boat glided smoothly out Int
the bay.
l confess l was worried. had M
thought for a moment that Martign
would have the temeffty to board tn
same boat with us-yet it was not S
wonderful after all, since he could nc
guess that suspected him. that
knew him and Bethune to be the sam
person. That was my great advantage
In any event we were hF no DANCE
from him. He was probably followin
MS only that he might warn his confet
crates, should we seem likely to dt
cover them Certainly they were in
present danger of discovery, and pc
haps might never be. But his followin
us, his disregard of the grave DANCE
to himself, gave me new measure
his savage determination to battle u
!, l found myself more and more begiI
ming to fear him.
Should l inform Mr.. Royce Of tn
new development? I'>asked mysei
Then remembered the doctors word
He must have rest and quiet during tt
coming week.
II trust that I'm not in the way, NJ
: LesterY' inquired low, provokin
: voice at my side, and awoke to tt
fact that / had again been guilty
forgetting my companion. - =,
Miss Kemball," began desperatel
'.let me confess that I'm In an excee'
ingly vexatious situation. The IA
that can't ask advice makes 1t worse
you can't ask even Mr.. Roger 81
Queried, with raised brows.
81 "He least of all You see, he's ju
: recovering from a severe nervo'
breakdown"
II see," she nodded.
7 glanced at her again-at the ope
candid eyes, the forceful mouth ar
chin-and took a sudden resolution.
Miss Kemball," / said. I'm goir
to ask your help-that Ia, II l may"
D ''Of course you may"
= "Well, then, that man who came
/ board last Is the inveterate enemy
; both Mr.. Royce and myself. We
trying to unearth a particularly atr
cious piece Of villainy in which ne
concerned. / have reason to- belle
: him capable Of anything and vel
: fiend Of cleverness. / don't know VIII
!. he may plot against US, but I'm certa
a he'll plot something. Mr.. Royce ooesr
d even know him by sight and shouldr
o be worried, but unless he's forewarn'
q he may walk right into danger. Iva
you to help me keep an eye on him
help me keep him out Of danger. W
you help mer
= why, certainly" she cried. y
we're to have a mystery-just we two
AUST we two" assented.
S She looked at me douhtfully.