Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-03-25

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 a 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 it
will take some time to tack back home
again, but of course, if you think best,
| am quite willing"
"Oh, l hardly think it 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,
g~listening 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 a good pace. The salt spray dashed
up in our faces and eur hair blew
into our eyes, but we did not care, for
we reached the slip a full minute be-
fore Mr.. Bennett, and could exult over
his defeat even while obliged to ad-
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 / believe the
other is faster. When you rae with
us you must always take your swiftest
boat, you know"
but I can't race that boat, unfor-
tunately," he returned, with a short
laugh. when I came to get it that
morning it had vanished entirely
broken away, | suppose-and I had to
go home in a fishing smack l happened
to be able to hire. I think it Is very
inhospitable Of you to keep your boat.
house door locked"
II think SO, too" agreed Elizabeth.
land If 1 a ever remember 1t / am
going to get a locksmith from the vii.
lage and have it opened"
We we're 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 a quiet man, who, as Gabrielle
said, always seemed to be about te
make a brilliant remark and never did
but kept us on the alert waiting for it
Lady Edith took off her hat and lait
it on the chair beside her, and | IDLY
picked 1t up, smoothing out the vel
which was knotted around it ant
thinking how wonderfully we'll II
suited her fiower-like face. Suddenly
1 paused, however, for in the vel
fastening the chiffon to the hat brim,
saw a small pin shaped like a key
and the counterpart Of one link of my
cuff button.
/ was about to draw 1t out and asl
her about It, 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 Il
hand, talking to Gabrielle, and a ra,
from the setting sun reached tht
spoon, causing 1t to CLEAN as HI
moved It and insensibly attract thu