Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-28

SSie. tOO, was excited, not Qu1t
mistress Of herself. She did not know
how far Gray's statements might hav
preJudiced her with the captain; she hat
already sent de Poincilit note urgini
him to deny absolutely all knowledge o
the plot to steal the boat, and attribute
the Americans summary action to hi
mistaken rendering of the Spanish patoi
used by the Chilean sailors.
Yes laughed COurtenay, ready to pu
her at ease. "One crowds the events o
a month into day under some condi
tons. Last night. for instance l had Ave
minutes amusement with a steampip,
fand a double-barreled gun which viii
serve all my requirements in the way O
physical exercise for a long time Il
come"
You feel sure that we shall see NJ
more Of the Indians?" asked Isobel
quickly.
II think 80. One never can tell, bu, II
they have the grit to attack us again ]
shall regard them as firBt-class fighters. .
DR.. Christobal says they have an as.
tonishing power OF bearing pain without
fiinching." said Elsie, plunging into the
talk with a hot eagerness. THE Ala
him, thinking he meant to kill them, but,
| when they found that he wished only to
| dress their wounds, they followed his &C
| tiens with curious interest, as though
he were tending some other persons
| hurts and not their own. And that re-
minds me. He told me you ought to have
that cut on your forehead washed. Let
me look at It,"
She stood up and placed the dog on a
chair Lifting Courtenay's cap she
brushed back his hair with her fingers.
| and found that he had covered an ugly
scar with long strip of skin plaster
The tense anxiety in Isobels face forth
| with yielded to sheer bewilderment. These
two were behaving with the self-posses-
| sion Of young people who regard the ''en-
q q hi ckI
ton.
OF course Courtenay liked to be fondled
in this manner. Elsie was at her best as
ministertng angel But he protested
against the need OF the doctors precau-
ton.
No, no." he cried. you already have
one faithful patient in Joey. 1 wonder
he did not wake me earlier SO that he
might rush Off to you. I never have
known him play the old soldier before.
To see him curled up there, gazing at
you with those pathetic eyes. who would
think that his teeth met in Alaculof
sinews last MI light? Twice, to my knowl-
edge. he saved my life. And the way he
lodged blows aimed at him was some
thing marvellous. He used all four paws
them assure YOU
"Ah, yes" agreed Elsie. blushing again
as she recalled the scene in the saloon
He could have told me the Indians were
aboard long before knew 1t myself Or.
am'not sure yet If / have forgiven
him"
HE is f1rst-rate chap in an emer-
gency.' said Courtenay, though have a
bone to pick with him. too. He promised
to call me at o'clock but 1 expect he
and Boyle. or TQllemache. conspired to let
me sleep on. I was astounded when I
saw the time. What do you think OF
skipper who lies abed all the morning,
Miss Baring?'
"Grav has fo1d hfr, MT l,fv ,h. a.
Gray. 1 must thank him" But she re-
piled instantly, in her piauant way:
Elsie certainly kept us in the dark
about her f1ancailles, Capt. Courtenay.
but has not been silent as to your other
achievements. If YOU were not telling US
that you have actually slept, 1 should
have cherished the belief that you had
not closed an eyelid since the ship
struck"
Her pact with the Frenchman was dis
creditable, but smooth words might re-
strain tongues from waggtng until she
could leave the ship. Moreover, the vi
cissitudes of life in these later days were
not without their effect She had known
what it was to suffer. She had seen men
dying like cattle in the shambles. The
shadow OF eternity had fallen so closely
that twice during the preceding night she
was rudely awaked by the shrieking fear
VI q wv WIN ucSc Things were
not the butterfly fiutterings Of sunlit Val
paraiso. They were Of a more ardent
order. and her wings had not yet re-
covered from the smuggling.
:Courtenay. willing to maintain q fiction
which evidently gave her relief, answered
lightly that he yet had to earn these
compliments, but he hoped to be able soon
to fix date when everybody might bonn
bard him with the incest phrases they
could think of. and end the embarrassing
ordeal once for all.
II went through something Of the sort
last year on board the Florida he
added. People insist on regarding it as
marvellous that man should strive to do
his simple duty
Suddenly it occurred to him that the
topic was unpleasantly analogous to the
little French counts cowardly escapades. |
If one talks of duty and recognizes its
prior claim. what Of the man who, in
his selfish frenzy. Is prepared to leave
others to their fate. whether On wrecked |
ship or barren island?. So he turned to |
Elsie again.
by the way, you have never seen those |
letters" he said. II was hunting for
them when the alarm was raised last
night. Shall l bring them nOw?''
Elsie gave him glance of subtle mean |
ing. Her eyes telegraphed What mat
ters 1t whether ] see them today or in |
half century? Do I not trust your
But she only murmured:
mot now. I am telling Mrs. Somerville |
and Isobel all the news"
He squeezed her shoulder. Any excuse
would serve for those slight pettings
which mean SO much during early days
in wonderland.
Then l shall resume my rounds. I ex-
pect to be received reproachfully by |
Walker. He made great progress yester- |
day. Let me whisper secret. Then you |
may pass It on, in strictest confidence"
He placed his lips close to her ear.
Il am dreadfully in love with you this |
morning. ~he breathed.
That is no secret" she retorted.
1T Is. You and together must daily |
find new paths in Eden. But my less |
poetic tidings should be welcome, also. |
Walker says he hopes to get steam up to-
morrow"
Well. tell us quickly" cried Isobel, !
with show of intense interest when |
had gone. She had decided on |
a line Of conduct and meant to follow 1t |
carefully The more sympathy she ex-
tended toward her friends love idyll. the |
less likelihood was there OF disagreeable
in other respects That
trick of calculating gush was Isobers
chief failing. She was SO wrapped I'D in
self that her own interests governed every
thought. Courtenay's reference to letters
sent wave of alarm pulsfng through
each nerve. Though his manner be-
tokened that the affair was something
which concerned Elsie alone, she was on
fire until she learnt that his secret al
luded to the restored vitality of the ship.
ITO be Continued Tomorrow