The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-08-04
Prisoners and CdpfiYes
CO.
CHAPTER xvIII.-fContinued. )
By n. s. MERRlMAN

me about it. l shall be at home all the
morning. Yours very truly,
AGNES WINTER"
The Young sailor read this letter among
others at the breakfast table. His faith
er and sister were engaged On their own
: afairs-IIelen with her letters, the ad
miral among his newspapers. Oswln
Grace read the letter twice, and then
slipped it into his pocket together with
the envelope that had contained il.
Miss Winters elderly maid servant ex
pectcd Lieut.. Grace, for she opened the
door and stood back inyitingly. He was
ushered up into the warm, luxurious
drawing room, and after the door had
been closed, stood for a few moments ir
resolute in the middle of the deep carpet
Presently he began to wander about the
room, taking things up and setting them
down again. He inhaled the subtle at.
mOsphere Of feminine home refinement
and looked curiously around him. There
were a hundred little personalities, little
inconsidered feminine trifes that are only
found where a woman is quite at home
u here was a silly little lace handkerchief
utterly useless and vain, lying upon a
table beside a work basket. He took 1t
up, examined its texture critically, and
then instinctively raised it to his face.
He threw it down again with a peculiar
twisted smile.
Wonder what scent it is," he mutter-
ed. II have never come across it-any-
where else"
He went toward the mantelpiece; upon
it were two portraits-old photographs.
somewhat faded. One Of Helen, the 9th
ness for some moments.
Solemn little beggar," he said for the
photograph was of little squarebuilt
midshipman with long, oval face. Sol
emn little beggar: wonder what the end
will be? Wonder why he is on this
mantelpiece? 1 think that l was rather
a fool to come here. Tyars would not
like it,"
While he was still following out the
train of thought suggested by this refec-
ton the door opened a1d Miss Winter en-
tered. She had evidently just come in,
for she was still gloved and furred
All y she said gayly, you have come.
l was afraid that your exacting COM
mander would require your services all
the morning"
MY exacting commander" he answer
ed. as he took her gloved hand in his,
has peculiar way of doing everything
himself and leaving his subordinates idle
She was standing before him, slowly
unbuttoning her trinm little sealskin
Jacket
What" she said suddenly, "about the
expedition"
He looked back at her over his shout
der. for he had gone toward the window,
and there was sudden CLEAN of deter
mlnation in his eyes. 1t was her inf1u-
ence that had disturbed Tyars' resolu-
ton.
What expedition? he asked CURLY, on
his guard.
This theater expedition" she replied
sweetly
"Oh, well, l suppose it will be carried
through. We all want to go. l suppose
you are not strongly opposed to it?''
~ she laughed lightly: 'of course l
want to 60. You know that l am alwa vs.
ready for amusement, proftless or other
wise-proftless preferred Why do you
L
hate solemnity. Do you know you have
got terribly grave lately? 1t is"
1T Is what, Agnes?'
He was looking down at her with his
keen, closest gray eyes, ard she met
his glance for moment only.
Mr.. Tyars," she answered. clasping
her fingers together and bending them
backward as if to restore the circulation
after her cold walk,
There is something" said Grace. after
little pause. during which Miss Winter
had continued to rub remarkably rosy
little pair of hands together, that jars.
Tyars annoys you in some way. Why?''
Miss Winter changed color. She look
ed very girlish with the hot blush fading
slowly from her cheeks. She did not,
however, make any answer
wont you tell me, Agnes?" he urged :
and as he spoke ne walked away from her
and stood looking out of the window.
They were thus at opposite sides of the
room. back to back. She glanced over
her shoulder, drew a deep breath, and
then spoke with an odd little smile which
was almost painful.
His Arctic expedition" she said, de-
liberately. IF he is going to spend his
life in that sort of thing 1 would rather
-not-cultivate his friendship"
She leaned forward, warming her hands
feverishly, breathing rapidly and uneven.
~. She felt him approach, for his foot.
steps were inaudible on the thick carpet
and she only crouched little lower. AT
last, after a horrid silence, he spoke. and
his voice was deeper and singularly mo.
notonous.
Why should you not wish to cultivate
his friendship under those circum-
stancesT
Because" she answered lamely. "I
should hate to have friend of minea
real friend-running the risk of such a
horrible DEATH"
He walked away to the window again
and stood there with his hands thrus,
into his jacket pockets-plucky, self-con.
tanned, taking his punishment without q
word.
That" he said, sis the worst of max.
Ing friends. One is bound to drift away
from them. But still it is foolish to hold
aloof on that account"
Our maritime philosopher" she said
will now expound 4 maxim. Ex-pound
Derivation-to pound out"
Shall get the tickets?" he asked in
practical way.
Please"