Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-02
vas because he had never kept one III
INV oliartar Of tho ploho

went quicker than the days. Daintree
had never been q better companion
than in those long, confidential, star
lit talks. They were not exclusively
on the one subject. Tom learned at
last how the murder had affected the
party at Avenue Lodge, and one whole
night and day he never closed an eye
for thinking of two men in two new
and startling lights. They were the
living man Harding and the dead man
Blaydes. The first haunted Tom the
longer. Why had he insisted on drag
ging Daintree to the trial?
The days were heightened by Peggy
in the kitchen, with her kind, uninjured
looks and the unfailing, friendly, anna
BILE word that made him feel the NEAR
est Of men. The girl could be an angel
when she had him, with all his cold
ness, to herself. He never suspected
what she had been from the Sunday
night to the Monday afternoon. And
now they were both under notice to
leave.
eff only you two would make up
yOuk 41AAOS w 11illy Sd1u oillILlSC
to Tom. II have you both on my mind.
but I could provide for the two Of
you at n stroke as a married couple.
1t has long been my wish to start q
model farm up country, and you and
Peggy would certainly make model
managers" But Tom shook his head
more decidedly than he had shaken it
while the little Rosamund was prick
ing her way across the chart.
On the Friday, the same breeze hold
ing good all the week, Daintree decided
to sail round to Sydney instead of driv-
ing. He had q solid check to cash for
the wedding trip, and the Point Piper
road was no route for a pocketful Of
money and a life at it's very highest
value. Tom asked if Nat Sullivan
was still in Sydney and was told Tat
he had drunk himself PROSTATE at the
Pulteney, whereupon Tom volunteered
for the voyage, and so escaped Peggy
doubly safe, however, they ran into
Farm cove, and Tom and the dog We're
to wait in the Domain while Daintree
went to the bank and called at the
hotel.
1t was then 3 o'clock. and Daintree
was to be at least two hours gone, but
he returned in less than one, bringing
Claire with him for q sail. Toms sur-
! prise at seeing her was less than that
of the girl at sight Of him. The indig-
nation was altogether on her side and
sufficiently %perceptible in spite Of
Claire's efforts to conceal al inappro-
pirate displeasure. Daintree did not
see it, but what they all three missed
was the furtive figure which emerged
from the trees as the boat put off.
Claire was given the tiller and told
simply to obey orders, Daintree took
the sheet, and Tom was put into the
bows to be out of the way. The sail
made a convenient screen. 1t also pre-
vented Tom from knowing in the least
what happened. AS a matter of fact,
they were just taking the wind-which
was by this time fresher than ever
when Daintree's attention was divert
ed by an apparition at the waters
edge. 1t was the nan who had follow
ed him through the Domain, and so
rapt was the gaze with which Daintree
beheld him that he forgot to let the
sheet go at the critical instant. Smack
came the wind against a sail like the
side Of a house. "Let go! Let go!"
screamed Tom. 1t was too late. She
was gunwale under. The sail lay a
moment on the water, drinking it like
blotting paper. Then the saturated
canvas sank, and the boat tossed keel
upward within fifty yards of the shore.
Claire sank clear of the wreck and
had the presence of mind to strike out
before coming to the surface, and even
as the sun dashed her wet eyes strong
hands slid under her arms and she was
being pushed face forward to the shore.
The trees were waving in the sun. 1t
was no distance, and Daintree's dog
was swimming happily on ahead. Sud-
denly, with a piercing yelp, the dog dis
appeared. At the same moment Dain-
tree began splashing vigorously, and
when the smooth sand came under
Claire's feet, but a few yards farther
on. her knees were too weak to sup
port her weight.
"The happiest moment of my life,"
said a deep voice in her ear. II have
saved
She turned, and there was Daintree,
up to his waist in water, with the
drops raining from his face and whisk-
ers and shaded eyes sweeping the blue.
The boat was coming In keel upward
with the tide. The dog and Tom had
vanished off the face Of the waters.
Daintree dashed in again and met
the wreck as her mast struck bottom.
Tom was still struggling underneath
her. caught fast in the cordage. His
struggles ceased as he was wrenched
free. When Daintree got him to land
his mouth and ears were in a froth.
and Claire stood by like a woman turn
ed to stone.
A small crowd collected slowly. 1t