Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-11-12
Continued from last week
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead
a Co.
CHAPTER XVI.

lordship after an agitated
S hour of preparation, 'it's
come to a point where something's got
to be DONE" He got that far and then
turned quite purple. His collar seemed
to be choking him. IF what Mr..
Chase says is true. we've got a pre-
cious short time to live. Well, we've
we've concluded to get ali we a
out Of the time that's left, my lord.
So I've come to ask If it will be all
right with you and her ladyship, sir.
We don't want to do anything that
would seem forward and out of place,
SIR"
"It's very ~considerate Of you, Saun-
ders, but what the devil are you talk
ing about?"
"Miss-Miss Pelham and l have de-
cided to get-er-get married before it
is too late"
Deppingham stared hard for a mo-
ment and then grinned broadly.
you mean before you die?"
That's it exactly. my lord. Haw.
haw! 1t would be a bit late. wouldn't
it, If we waited till afterward. Haw.
haw! Splendid! So l have come to
ask If you think it will interfere with
your arrangements tiff we should be
married tonight?"
I'm sure. Saunders. that it won't
discommode me in the least" said his
lordship genially. "By all means,
Saunders, let it be tonight. for to-
morrow we may die"
"Will you kindly speak to her lady
ship, sir?"
"Gladly. And I'll take it as an honor
If you will permit me to give away
tie BRIDE"
THANK you. my lord" cried Saun-
ders, his face beaming. His lordship
szsSs minus viii linn. w~heredS5n MS
cup of happiness overfiowed, notwith-
standing the fact that his honeymoon
was likely to be of scarcely any du-
ration Whatsoever.
The wedding took place that night in
the little chapel. Chase deliberately
took possession of the princess after
the hollow wedding supper had come
to an end Her mood had changed.
Now she was quite at ease with him.
The ~taunting CLEAN in her eyes pre-
saged evil moments for his peace of
mind.
Pm inspired" he said TO her. "a
wedding always inspires me-"
ITS very strange that you've never
married" she retorted. She was strid-
ing freely by his side. confident in her
power to resist sentiment with mock
cry.
"Wiil you be my wifeY he asked
abruptly. She caught her breath be-
fore laughing tolerantly and then look
ed into his eyes with a tantalizing in
genuousness.
"By no MEANS" she responded. 81
am not oppressed by the same views
that actuated Miss Pelham. You see.
Mr.. Chase. | am quite confident that
we are not to die in two weeks"
~ could almost wish that we could
die in that time" he said.
How very diabolicalg'
at may seem odd to you, but I'd
rather see you dead than married to
Prince Karl" She was silent. He
went on would you consent to be my
wife If you felt in your heart that we
should never leave this island?"
II think l shall go in, Mr.. Chase"
she said. with a warning shake of her
head.
Don't. please! I'm not asking you
to marry IRE if we should leave the
island. You must give me credit for
that" he ar~ued whimsically.
"Ah, l see.' she said. apparently very
much relieved. "You want me only
with the understanding that death
should be qrite close at hand to relieve
you. And If l were to become your
wife, here and now, and we should be
taken from this dreadful ~place-what
them"
"You probably would have to go
through a long and miserable career
as plain tioodwife Chase" he ex-
planned.
IF it will make you any happier"
she said, with a smile in which there
lurked a touch of mischievous triumph,
II can say that l might consent to
marry you if l were not so positive
that l will leave the island soon. You
seem to forget that my uncle's yacht
is to call here. even though your cruis-
ers will not"
"I'll risk even that" he maintained
stoutly.
She stopped suddenly, her hand upon
his arm.
do you really love me?' she de-
manded earnestly.
with all my soul. 1 swear to you"
he replied. staggered by the abrupt
change in her manner
"Then don't make it any harder for
me-" she said. You know that could