The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-08-17

ists?"
NO." said Maskelyne. I'm an out
slider there as elsewhere" If this speech
expressed any inward bitterness, neither
voice nor manner declared it.
You're going back to Honfoy. sup
poser" said O'Rourke, in a casual friend
ly tone as he wrote.
well, no." said Maskelyne. II fancy
not. Or not at all events for time"
"Oho!" cried the other to himself.
eyergetically applying blotting paper to
the address, and looking round smilingly
at his friend. Beaten out Of the field
already"
do you 60 back to Janenner asked
Maskelyne.
II start tonight" returned O'Rourke.
Il promised Farley to go back again"
OF course Maskelyne saw through that
little subterfuge, and Of course O'Rourke
knew he would.
'"To-night| said Maskelyne. you'll
do me service, won't you?"
'"Try me-" returned his friend, with
smiling seriousness.
I'm staying at the Langham," Mas
kelyne said. There's a lady there-an
American-whom knew at home. She's
going to visit Brussels, and except for
her maid she's alone. Neither she nor
her maid speaks a word of French, and
shall be obliged if you'll put yourself at
her service in case she wants anything"
Certainly, certainly" cried O'Rourke.
do know herr"
II think not" answered Maskelyne.
''She's a youngish widow, rather pretty,
and sinfully rich. A Mrs. Spry."
"And what state of riches might a poor
man like yourself care to call sinful?"
"Well," said Maskelyne, with smile,
II think two millions may deserve it."
1.-Two millions O'Rourke whistled
and then laughed. "Dollars?"
mo. Sterling"
1.-TWO millions sterling? Maskelyne. I
ask you seriously, as a man Of money,
do you think there is such sum? To
an Irishman and a journalist it sounds
fabulous"
Yes. It's large, isn't it? But people
seem to go for all or nothing in our part
of the world. They're not afraid of risk
ing what they have. They are not afraid
of risking what other people have. either.
The poor girls husband only died six
months ago."
In due time O'Rourke sent out for a
cab and drove to the Langham. carrying
his simple baggage with him. Maskelyne
received him, and wore his customary
manner with perhaps an extra shade of
gravity.
"And now for the lady" said Maske-
lyme, when the repast was over. Il must
introduce you" He rang the bell, and on
the servants entry, made him convey his
compliments to Mrs. Spry, and to ask if
it would be agreeable to her to receive
him. 'You may say" he added, that
Mr.. O'Rourke is with me-"
The man came back in a very little
while to say that the lady would be pleas
ed to receive Mr.. Maskelyne and his
friend, and led the way to a handsomely
appointed sitting room. The lady before
whom O'Rourke stood bowling a moment
later was small and plump, and carried
her head on one side with a pensive CO.
quetry. She had large eyes, and rather
coquettish little nose, turning up at the
tip. When she smiled she showed white,
small and regular teeth. Her hands were
small, delicately white, and very helpless
looking.
"Prettyish ~ said O'Rourke to himself.
"She's worth q score of Miss Butler"
But perhaps he saw her through an at
mosphere of dollars.
''Of course you know of Mr.. O'Rourke
already" said Maskelyne. HE is one
of the notabilities on this side of the
water, and is pretty often heard of on
our own"
II have the pleasure to know Mr..
O'Rourke already" said the lady, in her
purring voice-soft, languid, American.
Il heard him speak at New York. I was
very much impressed by your address,
Mr. O'Rourke."
They set out for the railway station,
where they were joined by the young
widow, who wore a travelling dress of
tweed, cut in such a manner as to dis
play her pretty figure to the best advan-
tage, and wondrously enticing little cap
of tweed to match the costume.
The hustle of departure began to grow
rapid and urgent about them. Maskelyne
shook hands and went his way, and
O'Rourke and the charming widow found
carriage. 1t was empty, and the young
man made no demur about accompanying
the lady, and the lady gave no signs Of
displeasure at being accompanied.
There was still soft twilight in the
streets. in which eli objects could be
plainly seen, but the gas was already
alight within the station, and Q lamp
burned In the carriage roof.
II don't think" said Mrs. Spry, "that
women ought to be 30 helpless az they
are. It's the fashion to be helpless. We
can't get outside the fashion-can we
now7 But it's the tyranny Of mankind
that makes it."
Don't you think" returned O'Rourke,
with his bright face beaming and his
manner at the same time full Of gentlest
deference the sweetest 'good-humored DO
likeness and gayety in combination
don't you think that ladies tyrannize
over Us much more than we over them p
You don't think that" she returned.
setting her little head rather more than
ever on one side, and looking at him out
OF her big, expressive eyes. ''You don't
really think it, Mr.. O'Rourke."
II think it." declared Mr.. O'Rourke