The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-12
CHAPTER VII.
I'M WhlehiII Begin Discovery.

In Which, Begin, Discovery.
Stunned by this abrupt disclosure
ssof the extremely, dangerous predica.
sment we were in, ] found no lmmedi.
q ate voice for reply, merely standing
there as ~ petrified, staring at them
SSboth, cap In hand, grasplng the edge
sof the door. Their faces swan before
I me lin the gray light streaming
through the stern ports; the maid al.
ready attempting q smile; as though
her fears had subsidized, the mistress
Viewing me In wondering perplexity.
$she 3itEwas who first succeeded In
breaking the embarrassing silence.
But, senor;;S what does this all
fneanf Why are you here on board
the yacht ?"si,ii
z With strong effort at control l
drought my senses together. desperate
sly fronting the disagreeable situation,
feeling myself scarcely less a victim
than she. IL all that I now dImly sus.
pected proved true, about us both were
.$being drawn the cords Of treachery,.
II cannot explain, madame" be-
gan alamely enough. AT least not
4 ,intil II comprehend the situation bet.
5Ster5 myself; than ] do now. 1t Is all
dark. ! have reason to believe a most
serious mistake has been mnde--one
Ssitswill be very difficult to rectify. Per.
haps ! could see more clearly II you
would consent to answer a few ques.
5stlon. May ! ask them OF you?"
Va She bent her head slightly, still
4 gazing directly at me with widely open
eyes In which read increasing be-
3SwIlderment. | believe she thought
me q .crazed man, whom she must con.
& ;tiRue TO humor. s
n What; vessel Is this?" ss
The steam yacht Sea Queen Of Liv-
SEerpool,i owned by Lord Darlington
she announced, soberly, her face and
y llpsIwhIte. 'l5'
\ How came you anchored OF the
n government docks?"
III by special permission OF the presi.
dente, We were towed into that berth
early last evening, after the Esmer.
& aida had been hauled up against the
iquayy to- ship armament and stores"
Idrew5a deep breath, clenchlng and
Ssunclenching my hands.
Could you tell me II It was known
to others that you contemplated
"a anchoring ,there?"
n She hesitated, her lips slightly apart.
& one hand pressed against her tenn.
q pie
TT is most important that l learn
Y the exact TRUTH ! urged. earnestly.
\ Il ask from no idle curiosity"
Il nm not generally consulted In
such matters, senor," she admitted.
believe we had been waiting
4 geyeral days for the opportunity to
take that position. This is as l have
been: told"
She seemed to be awaiting my ex.
PLANTATION, striving 10 be courteous, yet
with her: Impotence slightly evidenced
by the continual tapping Of her foot
< on the rug. But II was not yet
Through with my questioning.
Were no officers left on board last
nlght?"
Her gray eyes wldened.
Certainly yes; the first officer and
the engineer were in charge when re.
y tired. The others. with the majority
4 ofTthe crew. had gone ashore at sun.
n down to enjoy the fun. But why do
S2 you TASK, senior? Are these not on
s board now?" h
.I regret being compelled 10 answer
n: no. IL Only the engineer, three OF the
sgharbor watch, and some Kanaka fire.
Il mem have been found. l have dlscov'
Tered no, trace Of the first officer" {.
# hen-then he must have rowed
Il ashore with two OF the men!" she az
5, claimed.
Z How CHANGED you to be left here
" alone?"
siis5 She fhesitated, her hands clasped
II ON the chairback. her bosom rising
II and falling TREMENDOUSLY. Yet finally she
forced iherlIps to reply, as though thus
u seeking the quickest way Of clarifying
y 1.-THE situation. b
X We were all invited 10 the palnce
~ Of the 9presldente, to listen to the
4 Speeches and view the fireworks. Lord
n Darlington was greatly interested.
KS and most DESTROYS Of attending. The
unfortunate scene which occurred at
1.-The hotel early In the evening left
me. however. with so severe q head
ache that begged to be allowed to re-
main here alone with Celeste. At first
both Lord Darlington and mamma re.
ysfused TO depart without me. but when
{sthe presIdente dispatched his own
\ steam launch TO convey the party to
\. the wharf, they decided It would be
81 most dlscourteous not TO attend. Lord
4 Darllngton's membership In the house
Il Of Slords gives him certain oflclal
recognition abroad which be does not
SScare TO have lapse. The yachts cap
8tain accompanied them. and no dream
sSotieyil5 Detailing those left behind ever
y occurred to any one Of US. o senior,
A1tell me, what does II all mean! What
has happened !"
y " 81 presume ! must explain" ] said,
flregretfully, "although II is not an
easy task BY any means. You will
have confidence In me. Miss Doris?"
! SssI shall iendeayorl 10 do 3d." she re.
'tlturned, an fIncreasIng colduess In her