Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-05-02

away together. and that my companion
Was regarding me from under half
closed Ids with IL little smile of an,se-
ment.
SO you're awake again. MI. LESTER
she asked. do you often suffer attacks
of that sort?''
Pardon me- stammcred ..Thc fact
is II"
You looked quite dismaycd." she
continued, rel@ntlessly. You seemed
positively horror-stricken. 1 saw Moth
lnS formidable about him"
NO; you don't know him. l re-
torted, and stopped lest l Should say
too much.
She was smiling broadly, now: an
adorable smile that wrinlled IN the
corners of her eyes. and gave me Il
S!nlpse of little white teeth.
n think we'd better sit down." she
said. You knees seem To be still
somewhat shaky. Mother and Mr..
Royce have deserted us"
80 we sought IL seat near the stern.
where we could watch the city sinl,
gradually away in the distance. as the
great boat glidcd smoothly out into the
bay. her engines starting ON the
rnythm which WAS tn continue cease
lessly until the voyage is ended. 1 con-
less frankly ! WAS worried. / had not
houSht for Il that Martigny
would have the temerity to board the
same boat with us-yet it was not so
wonderful after all. since he could not
guess that l suspected him. that ! knew
him and Bethune to be the same person.
ihat was my great advantage. In
any event, we We're in no danger from
MN; he was probably following us
only that he might warn his confeder-
ates. should we seem likely to discover
them. Certainly they were in no pres
Ell: danger of discovery, and perhaps
might never be. But his following us.
MS -oflhe- grave danger to
ni!,isei1. gave me Il new measure of his
savage determination to battle us: |
found myself more and more beginning
TO fear him. My fancy cast about him
a sinister cloud. from the depths of
winch he peercd out at us. grim. livid.
threatening.
Should J. inform Mr.. Royce of this
new development. ASKED myself: then
l remembered the d~octvr's words. He
must have rest and quiet curing the
coming week: he must be free from
worry.
Il trust that I'm not in the way. Mr..
Lester" inquired Il low. provoking
voice ~ my side. and / awoke TO the
fact thai. | had again been guilty of
forgetting my companion.
Miss kend&ll."1 began desperately,
!et RE confess that I'm in an exceed
insiy veXatious situation. The fact
that ] cant ask advice makes it worse"
You can't ask even MIR. Royce?' she
pneried. with raised brows.
east of all. You see he's just
.ecoNerins from Il severe nervous
if@ak iow'-he must have quiet tt
II see" She nodded.
| glanced ut her again-at the open.
candid eyes. HE forceful mouth and
chia-a..h | took a sudden resolution.
Miss Ke.nball." I said. Il am GO
'rs to ask your help-that is. if I may
"of course YOU may"
Wei. then. that man who came on
noard last is the inveteratc enemy OF
10th Mr. Eovce and myself. We're
irEing 10 unearth II PARTICULARLY
a~t:oci"us piece of villany in which he's
concerned. ] have reason to believe him
oapabie OF anything. and ii very fiend
Of ci"veriiess. ! don't know what he
nay ptot against us. hut I'm certain
nell plot something. Mr.. Eovce doesn't
even know hin by sight. and shouldn't
Ne Norr7ei; out Unless he's Corcwnrned
ne may walk right INTO danger. / wan
You - le!p re keep ar eye on him
/" heip me keep him ont OF danger. If
we look after him close enough. shan.t
need TO warn him. VIII you help me-"
Ecr eyes were Gancing as she locke
IN at NE.
Why. certainly" SHE cried go
we're to nave n mystery-just we
TWO.
just we two" | assented with ii
%quicaered pulse.
she looked at ne doubtfully for n
moment.
u must remember Mr.. Graham's
warning" she said. You have invented
this astonishing story just to entertain
me. MIR. Lester?"
On my word. no." 1 responded. a
iittie bitterly. II only wish / hud.''
There she said contritely: Il
shouldn't have doubted. Forgive me.
MIR. Lester. Only it seemed so fantas-
tic-so Improbable
1T is fantastic" l assented. but. I'M
fortunately, it is true. We must keen
an eye on Monsieur Martigny or Be
hume
Which is his real Nance"
Those are the only ones | know. but
doubt If either is the true one."
Royce and Mrs. Kendall Joined us a
moment later, and we sat watching
the low, distant Long Island shore until
the gong us to lunch. A
word to the steward had secured us one
of the small tables in an alcove at the
side-Mrs. Kemball and her
surrendered the %grandeurs OF the cap
tain.s tables willingly. even gladly. to
minister to us-and the meal ws.s a
merry M Mr.. Royce seeming in such
spirits that / was more than ever de-
termined not to disturb him witt. the
knowledge Of Martigny's presence.
AS the moments passed, my fears
seemed more n more uncalled for. 1t
was quite possible. l told myself, that
q been making a bogy of my own
imaginings. The Frenchman did not
appear In he saloon. and. afterwards,
an inquiry of the ships doctor deyel-
oped the fact hat ne was seriously i'll,
and quite unable to leave his state
room.
So afternoon and evening passed.
There Were others on board who
c!aimed their share Of the charming
Mrs. kemball M her daughter. Mr..
Royce Knew q few Of them. too and in.