Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-12-31
'YaIetn nor 81 20. LAeeYNfoTT 60

shore that we could distinguish the
signs on the wharf of the little town
where the boat landed, and Gabrielle
proposed going ashore and looking
around little. Lord Wilfrid busted
himself with his sail for a moment
then turned and looked steadily at his
sister.
Shall we land, Edith" he said.
THE wind is dead against us, and 1t
will take some time to tack back home
again, but of course, If you think best,
am quite willing"
"Oh, l hardly think 1t would be
wise. DEAR" she replied. "The girls
have an engagement, you know.
Some other time"
So we sailed home again, specu-
lating as to which island Gordon Ben
nett owned, until we saw that gentle
man himself embarking with his
friend in an immaculate little launch,
glistening with white paint and alb
solutely spotless in every respect. We
learned later on that the islanders are
quite as particular about the appear
ance of their boats as are the cot
tagers at Bar Harbor about their
equipages, and that there is among
them a friendly rivalry on the subject.
We hailed him merrily and challenged
him to race us home, and in spite of
Lord Wilfrid's statement about the
wind the boat cut through the water
at good pace. The salt spray dashed
up in our faces and our hair blew
into our eyes, but we did not care, for
we reached the slip full minute be-
fore Mr.. Bennett, and could exult over
his defeat even while obliged to adj
mire his boat.
'But this Is not the boat you left at
the slip the day it stormed," remarked
Gabrielle; this Is much newer-yes,
and much prettier, but l believe the
other is faster. When you race with
us you must always take your swiftest
boat, you know"
But l can't race that boat, unfor-
tunately," he returned, with short
laugh. when l came to get it that
morning 1t had vanished entirely
broken away, suppose-and had to
go home in fishing smack happened
to be able to hire. / think it Is very
inhospitable of you to keep your boat
house door locked
Il think so, too" agreed Elizabeth,
"and il / can ever remember it | am
going to get locksmith from the viii
lage and have 1t opened"
We were all ready to do justice to
the nice hot cakes and tea Mary
Anne had waiting for us, and we found
Mr.. Blake quite an acquisition. He
was quiet man, who, as Gabrielle
said, always seemed to be about to
make a brilliant remark and never did,
but kept us on the alert waiting for it.
Lady Edith took off her hat and laid
1t on the chair beside her, and l idly
picked 1t up, smoothing out the veil
which was knotted around it and
thinking how wonderfully well 1t
suited her fiower-like face. Suddenly
/ paused, however. for in the veil
fastening the chiffon to the hat brim,
saw a small pin shaped like key,
and the counterpart of one link of my
cuff button.
l was about to draw II out and ask
her about 1t, for the design was un-
usual, when saw a gray shadow cross
her face and her eyes dilate strangely.
She was looking beyond me. straight
at Gordon Bennett, and looked also,
wondering greatly.
He was bending forward, cup in
hand. talking to Gabrielle. and ray
from the setting sun reached the
spoon, causing 1t to CLEAN as he
muved 1t and insensibly attract the