Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-16
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

CHAPTER Iv-Continued.
Fin" cried Dennis. and wondered If,
after all. he could be dreaming.
She looked at him i'm blank bewilder-
ment and then her face lit up.
"Oh, I'm SO glad to see you. Denny.
she said. TREMENDOUSLY. using the only
name by which she had known him in
that strange new world to which her dead
brother had introduced her. world
wherein good comradeshp replaces cere-
mony. But before O'Dare could reply.
her glance had met that of Beatriz. and,
while he in turn looked on In amaze
ment. they were clasped in each other
arms.
He turned away. and couShcd and
blew his nose. as a man will when women
show emotion. standing with eyes averted
until they had in some degree recovered
their composure. There were many ques-
tons to be asked and answered among
the three of them, Fiji and Beatriz had
first met in Vienna. before the former $
family had fallen from its high estate
there. The recollection of those happy
days in contrast with their present cir
cumStanceS had brought quick tears TO
the eyes of both. but these soon passed.
Neither was of the metal which spends
itself in vain repining.
But how did you come here?" Dennis
O'Dare asked. All else had been cleared
up between them and there was only
that one point to be explained
Il came in steam launch Fiji re-
piled. The gentleman who took the
studio next door to Mr.. Corbyn's en-
gagged me as companion to lady going
south for the winter in her yacht. and
here I am. l thought it wasn't very like
yacht at first. but now l understand.
And, Denny. 1 want to thank you with
all my heart for
Not a word-not a word more. Fiji.
cried O'Dare. and backed out with up
lifted hands. betaking himself to the tor
pedo magazine, where he made himself
quite at home in Schweitzer's quarters.
there to think things over. and leaving
the two girls at liberty to exchange
further condolences between themselves.
I'm so glad Denny is with u.s., said
Fiji. simply. as the door closed behind
him. Hes such safe friend
who is the Mr.. Corbyn you spoke of,
Ftp Beatriz asked In a low tone.
AN artist" Fiji answered Philip
Corbyn. He was Stephens best friend.
and l can't tell you how good he has
been to us, Beatriz, poor and all as he
is
But, surely" Beatriz objected. che
If it is the same Philip Corbyn l know,
his father is a millionaire"
Yes said Fiji, sadly. But there was
father wanted him to marry. and he
would not I was so sorry for him.
Does he belong in San Francisco"
Yes. he has often spoken of his home
there"
Beatriz pondered the matter for;a few
moments, a shadow on her fair fore head
showing that she did not yet fully under
stand But she knew that the struggling
artist who out of his unaccustomed pow
l4A 49, 1t,, ill., r,yo IaI l,a
exiles was that same Philip Corbyn
"FHh,' she whispered. with a quick,
urgent craving for sympathy In her dis
tress. Phil Corbyn asked me a year
ago to marry him. and II had to tell
him to wait-I couldn't help that. but
I feel now that I've been the cause OF
his troubles. live been to blame, but
l didn't know"
The Mariposa put to sea that night, at
easy weather of the long Atlantic swell
outside. Once free of unfriendly observa-
ton all restrictions upon the liberty of
her three passengers were removed. and,
although the deck space was limited,
they did not lack room either there or I'm
their quarters below. Schweitzer and the
ships officers were berthed forward. and
the magazine had been allotted to the So
called secretary. Mr.. O'Dare. whose self
imposed duty it now became to keep his
employer and her companion in the best
possible spirits.
In that direction lie was not unsuccess-
full. his irresistible Irish humor making
light Of their sufficiently grave situation.
and when he learned. he did in due
course, that Beatriz was interested in his
good friend Corbyn, he did not find it
difficult to entertain her. Fiji also had
much that was good to say on behalf of
her dead brothers closest intimate, while
Dennis found means to keep her. too.
from brooding upon the dangers ahead.
His sOlicitude on their behalf left himself
little time to anticipate evil. and since he
was but human it was scarcely to be
wondered at that he could even enjoy his
present predicament.
The days were uneventful, and time
passed not unpleasantly. no one modest
ing them, until one afternoon. among a
group of lovely islands in the Caribbean,
they were aware of an unusual hustle on
the bridge. and, shortly afterward, a
QuartermaSter came to them with the
polite request that they should go below.
1t would have been futile to object,
and they obeyed with a good grace. The
sentry was replaced at their companion
hatch and. they were once more under
close confinement.
They must have picked up the
Hilario," O'Dare told his two compan-
ions. "She left New York the same night
we did. and we've been lodging about
these islands until she came up with us.
We are travelling faster now, you notice. -
A thrill ran through the slender hull
within which they were seated. and the
dull thud of the propelIers struck higher
note.
He did not deem it desirable to tell
them what he had heard pass between
Gonzalez and Schweitzer as to the pur-
pose of the pursuit in progress. There
would be time enough for that when 1t
was absolutely necessary.
They dined in due course, and the even
ing passed as usual, save that they felt
their imprisonment after liberty and it
was very sultry under deck. Word had
been brought them that they might eX-
pect to reach La Boca. before morning,
but they were disinclined to separate
since sleep was patiently impossible in
that close atmosphere.
Soon after dark the rhythm underfoot
slowed down. they heard the sound of
hurrying feet close overhead. the clank
Of chains on the steel deck, the creak of
rusty hinges.
They're opening the torpedo maya
zine" ODare told himself. but did not
impart this surmise to the others.
The engines stopped, for the first time
since they had left the Hudson river
and on the silence which ensued they