Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-21
TffffHE TfffH MAN
OUTSIDE
Bv CLARENCE BoUTELLE.
Bv CLARENCE BoUTELLE.


hard to preserve his calmness. though
his face was like marble and his limbs
tlembled beneath his weight.
~ have failed, Miss Bannottie," he
said: now you may ask some of the
others to try the same errand-if you
wish"
Again she flashed that wonderful
glance upon him-that fascinating look
which told the lie of friendship and
trust and dependent faith-the look
which was an invitation and chal-
lenge.
NO" she said, quietly, II shall send
no one but you. Will you ask the cap
tain to grant me an interview?'
The man went on this errand for
her. In n few minutes he returned
with the captain. Miss Bannottie
thanked the gentleman for his kind
ness, and if there was something or
coolnesS in her manner now, ] fancy
he was fool enough to regard it as
rebuke for failure-as though woman
has not been setting men at the tasks
of impossibility ever since the world
was.
Miss Bannottie drew Captain Dennis
to one side.
II sent a gentleman to you with
message a few minutes ago" she said,
and he returns to me and reports his
errand a failure
Certainly. 1 regret
Don't. please" she said, making
contemptuous little gesture with one
of her shapely hands: don't, l don't
want politeness, and consideration
which goes no further than words. l
am in trouble. and"
She paused and smiled up at him.
He smiled down at her l am afraid
he forgot his pretty wife in their quiet
English home, for just minute, and
that his heart beat just a little faster
than it ought as he stood looking down
into the eyes of Lurline Bannottie.
Il am very sorry" he said: "will you
explain your trouble to me?"
"I cannot. fully. But l will say this:
[ must be in New York city by noon
The captain smiled in spite of him.
self.
Must is a very hard word. You
cannot be-"
IF l am not, don't care if we
never get there. had rather go to
the bottom of the Atlantic than be
late"
Very likely, but l cannot run this
steamer for you alone. Think of the
lives intrusted to my care. Think of
the awful fate we should find if we
were to run on to some unsupported
ledge. Think of the danger to both
vessels of a collision between this
steamer and another if we were going
at full speed; think of what would re-
suit to the smaller craft if we were to
run into some fishing vessel; think
Don't. Captain Dennis. Don't ask
me to think of anything but my own
needs. Don't ask me to think OF any
thing but the fact that l must be in
New York at noon tomorrow"
How important is it that YOU
should be there?" asked the captain.
AS important as anything can be
in this world
And yet you cannot explain it to
me?"
And yet I will not" she replied,
and there was an emphasis on the i'm
portant word Of the sentence which
could scarcely escape his attention.
a matter of money!"
Money? Bah, What is money?
Do YOU men all measure the good and
evil in this world by dollars and cents?
Money? I've ten thousand dollars
here. Captain Dennis, ten thousand
dollars in Bank of England notes, and
it's more than half of all I own. And
yet it's yOurs-yours to the last penny
if you'll land me in New York by
noon tomorrow"
1t does look serious. A love affair."
l suppose"
Il have no lover. Captain Dennis.
Some family natter"
Il have no relatives in the world,
so far as | know"
You are devoted To your friends
Miss Bannottie, if you can afford to
spend money in their service as you
have just offered to do"
Il have no friends in America. sir;
have no friends nearer than Italy"
And yet this is a serious matter?
| suppose" and his words We're spoken
lightly. that it is a matter of life
and death"
Yes. Captain Dennis" she said. SOL
emnly. 1t is matter of life and
death"
A curious change flashed over his
face. Before. she had smiled up at
him and he had smiled back at
her Now. he smiled down at her, and
she-she was looking over him and
beyond him-loOking at the success of
her plans, perhaps. l hate to have to
write it. but it is my duty TO tell
the truth; l am sure that the sweet
faced wife of Captain Dennis was ut
terly forgotten at that moment.
You're going beyond New York, l
presume"
The woman looked the man in the
face. She understood him.
Certainly. l am going home. |
shall be glad to have you call in per-
son. after my troubles are all over, to
let me thank you. My home is IN
Denver: a note addressed to me there
at any time will reach me-"
I've never been west. I've always
thought l should enjoy a trip there.
will write and announce my coming
if | should ever find it convenient to
call"
Il shall be glad"
Miss BannOttie. =
She stopped him imperatively.
You must waste no more time
here" she said, decidedly; are you
going to try to help me-"