Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-09-24
copyriSht. 1926. BY CHARLES
ScRIBNER'S SONS.

even as his triumphant suit had blind
ed her master to every passion but his
own. The girl had long OWNED that
some other woman stood between her
self and Tom. and there were more
reasons than might appear for her in
stantly bouncing upon Miss Harding
as the one.
Peggy was sure that Tom and Dam
tree must have known each other in
England, or why We're they more like
brothers than master and man? Tom
would not tell her, and the Tawcetts
could not. So Peggy set them down as
two old friends, and what if the friends
had loved the same woman? The idea
occurred to her when she saw Tom
manipulating the cork ship and so
zealously preparing for the bride. 1t
was then an idea only. 1t became a
suspicion on the evening of the brides
arrival, and Claire was not tie only
young woman who lay awake all that
night.
The other had been transported for
comparatively venial offense and had
WAN eAAe OuoL LIN lulSh VI uGE5 OTuS0l
better woman than most. She is not
put forward as an average specimen
of her sex and kind in that colony and
at that time. The Irishwomen were
almost invariably the best of a de.
plorable lot, and Peggy was certainly
not the worst of the Irishwomen. But
there was evil in her, and passion was
to bring it out, as it had already
brought out the good. A callous man
she could bear with and wait for so
long us he was callous and cold to ALL
But to see and hear him signing for
another woman-and that other woman
there on the spot-was to lash pa
tient and single hearted devotion into
tumults Of jealousy and bitter rage.
The thing CALLED her while 1t was
still suspicion. 1t maddened her
when she knew 1t for fact And
that was when, in the same half min
ute, she met Claire on, the stairs in
tears and saw Tom in his pantry with
his head clasped tight between his
hands. Peggy stole away without a
word, and there was mischief in every
noiseless step she took.
Her first thought was to tell Dam
tree. 1t she dismissed on consideration
and tried making friends with the la
dies maid in order to acquire informa-
ton. This young woman, however,
could only talk of the fourth officer
aboard the Rosamund, and it took Peg
gy half an hour to discover that she
had never even seen Miss Harding be-
fore the voyage. So she knew moth
Ing, and half the morning was gone,
but Peggy was all the more determined
to learn everything before the visitors
left.
The masters departure on horse
back at last inspired the way. Tom
In the pantry was still listening to the
Gathering hoofs when Peggy opened
the door.
ooh, Tom, the masther would like ye
to clane out the boat for m when We
can find the time"
Did he say so, PeggyY
"Sure, he tould me not to tell We, wild
all the extra work we've got, but he
only wished it could be done"
Then I'll set to work this minute"
AN ye won't be tellin' IN 1 tould
ye?"
mo, I'll take all the credit if you
Ike" said Tom in voice and with a
face which he took no pains to disci-
pline for peggg's benefit Both sup
ported her theory and hardened her In
her plot. And as he reached the boat
shed she was knocking at Miss Hard
ing's door.
"Asllin' yer pardon, miss, l think
know what would be better for you
than lynn down up here.''
"What is that?'
Lynn in hammock by the say"
sit sounds pleasant. Thank you very
much, but l think I'll stay where l
am.'
"sure, ye'd find one in the boat shed,
an it's all the good the air would do
YER
you are very kind" said Claire
YEARLY ''But who would put the
hammock up?"
"Masther's gone to Sydney said
Peggy rehectively, ian he won't have
me meddlin' wild such things. Wait
till I tell We, miss Go this minute, an
you'll find Thomas in the boat shed
cl'anin' the boat. He'll have t up in a
twinkle"
"Well, I'll see."
Claire had colored.
will l tell IN, miss?"
mo. I'll see. l think 1 would ratf=
er be where am"
Peggy withdrew. In three minutes
she heard the young lady coming down
stairs. In two more she was herself
outside the shed, crouching between
timber and shrubs and sand and sky.
TO be continued)