The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-12-16

1t had stood the FIRST test safely. but
In his heart the conspirator knew that
soon the badly tempered gun must
fail. perhaps with shocking results.
That mastered little TO him. Trs
worse the accident the greater the dls-
grace Of Sommers and the surer the
result in his favor. The government
must then accept the Rhinestrom gun
and probably would give a bigger or
der than ever.
He had no fear Of an investigation.
That had been well attended Ia Smith.
.n,ier another name. was working far
away. There was no one else who
knew anything except eAlarsh and he
rould be depended on lo keep "a
The ultimate success at All h.
had planned now seemed Ia The gen
eral manager certain. lie gave iin'-
salf up To the enj0yments ~ the cruise.
dreaming now and then af The lime Ia
rome when he and Frances IA mat.
and wife should 90 on long trips L"
geihpr
The first sign of real interest the girl
showed AFTER starting was when the
Yacht east anchor In The broad harbor
of Ponce. Porto Rico. and she learned
quite by accident thar the cruiser
Roanoke was expected there in a few
days
Then. 10 ia. intense establishment of
Mrs. Dnrant and rinckney. Frances
once more asserted herself. She de.
rlarcd that she loved the old Spanish
town Even the dirty plaza. Two miles
away from the main city. Interested
her. She Insisted on staying over. he
cause. she declared. she was deter
mined To study The town and the peo'
pie and even ride over the famous mil.
itary road constructed by the Span
iartis al terrible cost Of labor and
life from Ponce through the mountains
TO San luan.
Nothing that her mother or Ifnck'
ney could do would move her She was
Interested. excited. eager all the time
and each day. without The knowiedgs
of the Others. she nana.rd to slip
over 10 the government i--i~a 20 lind
our when the cruiser Roanoke WIS sx
pectpd.
IL was a very pretty game Of hide
and 20 seek that the girl and I'inck
ney played without realizing IL i'inck
ney also every day bad inquired about
the coming Of the Roanoke He knew
that Sommers was attached 10 ins
cruiser. and ne was determined thai
the naval officer and Frances should
not by any chance meet.
His orders were quietly given. anf
the captain of the lrvessa was read,
the moment the Roanoke should ap
pear in the harbor 10 get M steam
preparatory to leaving
Then. with these plans all laid
Pincknry began his own plans for De
i,arture. First he approached Mrs. IL
rant aud found her only TOO glad Il
20. At bis suggestion she spoke q
Frances. only 10 meet Hat refusal.
Il don't want 10 go yet. mother.
protested .he girl I'm having
splendid time here In my own way
aud I cant see any reason for Ieay
in- I'd like 10 ride up to Coamo afi
try The spanish baths and then 90 al
through 70 San Juan It's an cas-.
ride. aud ! can meet the ship there.
suppose you and Edward 20 aroun'
~ ship and let me come through III
her way think that would la
splendid plan"
Mrs. Durant looked at her daughter
startled
Frances. | think you must be out a
your head she exclaimed ''Ho'
could you come through alone: PROB
ably you are planning TO have Lie,
tpnanf Soumers take charge ~ yon;
Frances expression showed oni
Amusement. but her heart was beatin
hard
/ Lieutenant sommersT' she aske,
with well simulated surprise.
Mrs IJurant made an impatiel
gesture
wow. don't pretend. Frances. tba
you are Ignorant Of the fact that III
Roanoke u expected here III the ual
l,Ur. aud be- j. on board
"ls he. sud Frames. siiil @einiil
surprised. "why. how nice that waui
be.
Nonsense. snapped her mothe
Frances. | don't care for that yOuu
naval officer. aud don't see why -
cant get him out Of your head.
The girls face flushed hctiy.
"He isn't III my head. she exriairfe
Her mother was not 20 bv pot on ,
easily.
'Iiumph. Maybe be isn't 10 yoi
head. but sometimes I've feared To-
ii your heart. which II worse Not
Frances. don't be foolish. You kno
Edward cares for you. and you kno
that your father and ! would like
sec sou two married
The girl hook her bead decisiveI
! and her tone was very trn when 81
answered
I'm very sorry. mother. TO disa
{ lnInf you aud dad. hut must tell y
once and Tor al wouldn't matry y
ward I'inekney " be were the On
= man 90 earth"
. The mother looked at her daugbt'
. amazed.
. Frances DuraDf. I'm ashamed
! you" she cried Here you've had