Evening star., 1907-09-01
XVIII.
Disquieting Fears.

The crowd on the wharves increased as
the boat neared the shore Men were seen
running wildly from the town, and the
hoatloads Of curious people increased in
number. But these curious folk kept well
away from the Ider. My revolver shots
and the retreat of Jepson had kicked up
tremendous excitement On all the water
craft about us people were now standing
with eyes and glasses trained on our deck
Benson laughed in a manner to suggest
that the strain on his nerves was beginning
10 tell.
Since we have run up the Jolly Roger"
he said, why not load the little brass sig
nal gun and give them a ripping salute
with II II they come again?"
When darkness fell and Mrs Randolph
and Miss Hansborough still delayed, their
continued absence began to create real un-
easlness
A thin white mist lay now on the water.
Through 1t the lights about us and the
lights OF the town shone dimly We hung
out our lanterns. And still the women did
not appear Quinby became as puzzled as
We were, and, as hts words showed, sus-
piCious.
Captain said at last, Benson and
will take the small boat and go ashore"
1T may be a trap for you, sir, he
warned. Don't you think II an investi-
CATION is made l had better make it?'
But l was now too anxious and too much
alarmed, Whatever risk there was l would
take II. i imagined all sorts of impossible
nonsense concerning things that might
have befallen Mrs Randolph. l thought
chiefly OF Mrs. Randolph; BenSon's anxiety
was for Miss Hansborough. Which shows
that love is not only a singular, but self
ish, passion. Within the charmed and fairy
ring which bounds 1t there Is room for but
two people; all the rest of the world must
stand aloof
The incoming tide was swinging the yacht
around so that she now lay broadside to
the wharf. When the boat was lowered
Benson and / climbed down into II silently
and rowed short distance seaward so
that II seen II would not be guessed that
We were from the Idler. Then we turned
swinging In a large half circle, and pulled
toward the shore. Benson was capital with
the oar He explained his proficiency by
saying that he had practlced one season in
the Harvard freshman crew on the classic
Charles.
We soon discovered that our danger was
not excessive. There were other small
boats out, and few OF them carried lights.
We came near humping into one of them.
Avoiding the small floating dock where our
launch lay. We gained a black wharf not
distant from 1t, The rising tide enabled
us 70 climb readily out on this wharf, which
We found slippery with the mist.
Now for that telegraph Office l said
But before We had gone far we were
speaking of the Idler.
He's goin' to bring a tug round from
Portsmouth. They say that devil will
nght. and 1t looks 1t; but Jepson's got a lot
of sand. too, and he won't give up easy.
He says he'll take him before morning"
Benson pressed my arm significantly.
drew him 10 one side and we passed on
unseen. But We had. il seemed made d
highly important discovery.
As we were about TO enter the narrow
street that leads from the wharves we
again heard notes.-the voices OF men anC
of Mrs Randolph and Miss Hansborough
] stopped stock still and Benson DID the
same. When the women came into view
two men were with them, and as they
passed between US and wharf lamp saw
that one of the men was Courtney Lane
j know j trembled then, for Benson eau.
toned me.
STEADY, old man." he said. 1T look.
peculiar. but of course it's all right"
Yes, of course ii was-so far Mrs
Randolph and her sister were concerned
But that Courtney Lane should even speai
To Mrs. Randolph made my blood boil. AnC
though ! ought not TO have been, l Wa!