Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-09-24

ed In even more serious trouble than had
occurred.
l questioned Charles closely as to
whether he had detected any suspicious
characters prowling about the beach, but
his answer was in the negative. "If you
should notice anything unusual" l told
him, "be sure to report it Immediately to
me-" 1t was clear to me that something
was happening Of more substantial texture
than dream.
Later in the evening 1 lighted my pipe
and walked in the direction of the Ship.
As / came to the path saw the man In
the cloak sitting on deck, and hailed him.
May l come on board, Monsieur Du-
panceau?"
He rose and peered at me through the
dusk. rs it the gentleman who dined
hare this s'ternoon'" he asked, somewhat
suspiciously.
The same"
could not help smiling at his assumption
Of ownership.
He shook hands with me as came on
board, waved to the vacant chair, and
poured me water In one of my own
glasses.
Il must apologize that have no wone
10 offer you," he said In such a manner
that my likings instantly went out to
him. Il should not even have had the
pleasure of offering you this but for tho
fact that you yourself provided It."
"Will you smoker" l handed him a ci-
gar. which he accepted, and lighted with
match l furnished. For the first tirnc
l noticed a pair of heavy pistols on the
table.
You travel we'll guarded" said 1, LOOK
ing at them.
Il have need" he answered, "gravs
need" l looked closely at him. He was
in perfect earnest his pale face absolute
ly serious, his deep eyes set beneath black
brows. He pushed his somewhat long
hair back from fine, broad forehead. 81
do not know you you are, sir, but take
you for a friend-one assure you Of a
class now sadly small"
II live near the beach," 1 explained,
and my name is Seldom. I imagine that
you are a stranger to this shore?"
AN absolute stranger. l come from
the other side Of the ocean. This Is the
I waited, but he would vouchsafe moth
ing further. So we sat and smoked ST..
lently, while l felt bis keen eyes studying
me.
May ask your age, Mr.. Selden?" he
said at length.
Certainly. Twenty-eight."
"Ah! You are very much younger
than l. l am somewhere between 40 and
90, one who has seen much, and so almost
an old man"
| / could not imagine what was coming.
| 1T is in reference to this afternoon"
he said, as though In answer to my
thoughts. when / hear a woman in
distress I am water, cannot but inter
pose. Still, as l returned here this even
ing thought that possibly you might
feel aggrieved. Believe me, Mr. Selden,
at the time had eyes only for the lady"
He paused, then went on: "If you will
pardon a much older man, would give
you bit Of counsel Never contend with
woman; let her have her way. Above
all, never contend with a woman who
cares for you"
II have the least reason in the world
to think that this one does~ l answered
He made no reply, but smoked thought
fully. l suddenly found his further ST.
lence unendurable.
What are your plans, sir2" I asked
abruptly. For / do not suppose that
you dropped down here entirely by chance,
and intend to stay until chance again
moves you away"
"No, 1 did not arrive solely by chance"
he answered, although that had much to
do with 1t. But l expect to stay until
fortune, be 1t good or bad, summons me.
That is, always supposing, Mr.. Selden,
that you do not drive me away from your
beach,"
"I?" l said, much surprised. "How
can your stay here hurt me?"
My new acquaintance let his eyes rest
upon my face a moment, then smiled as
though at passing joke of his own.
"You have a saying that where ignor-
ance is bliss tits folly to be wise; will
not explain, therefore, and only hope that
you may never know but"-and his eyes
shifted for moment from mine to the
pistols on the tabe-'if you do know, It
will not be a very pretty piece of infor-
nation"
l clenched my pipe between my teeth
the night wind was stirring; the flavor
Of strange adventure hung over the Ship |
as strongly as the salt breeze from the |
sea. I felt myself indescribably fasci-
mated. Duponceau drew his cloak som,- |
what closed around him, and mufled 1t |
about his chin, 80 that all Of bis face |
could clearly see was his long, wonderful
black eyes. Indeed, they we're wonderful
those eyes Of his. The more l looked |
into them, the more they held me, and |
yet the less I knew about the man him
self.