Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-24

tain" ordered Pinckney. 1--WE will
leave tonight"
The officer from the yacht hesitated.
"Of course, If you say so, sir" he
agreed, ''but 1 would strongly suggest
waiting over a bit. There is a bad
storm brewing, and storms in this lat.
itude are apt to be awkward. Don't
you think you'd better lay over until
the weather clears upY"
Pinckney whirled on him angrily.
I'm giving the orders" he snapped.
Still the seaman could not quite
agree He knew his business, and he
felt a grave responsibility at the
thought of taking the wife and daugh-
ter Of the owner into danger.
Certainly, sir. I'm under your or
ders." he said, but we have the ladies
on board, and they might not like a
storm"
Nonsense" snapped Pinckney.
You're too cautious. We leave to-
night and dine on board. Get up steam
at once"
The captain saluted.
Certainly. sir" he said. "The re-
sponsibility is up to you"
Mrs. Durant and Frances came down
into the courtyard a few minutes lat
er, just as Pinckney was reading a
cable that messenger boy had hand
ed TO him.
bad newsT" asked Mrs. Durant anx-
iously.
Pinckney looked up.
"Only that l must return at once"
he said
What's wrongT' asked the other
two together.
The man smiled at their alarm.
Nothing very wrong" he said. "In
fact. this cable brings good news. The
government has notified US to go ahead
on the Rbinestrom gun order"
"Then the Sommers gun, of which
you were afraid?'' suggested Mrs.
Durant.
Pinckney looked at her in his most
superior manner.
I'VE were never afraid of the Som
mers gun" he said. cit was only
his influence in Washington"
1t was Frances turn to flush an
grily.
There was no reason to be afraid
OF that" she declared, as haughtily
as though her own fathers honor had
been impugned. Lieutenant Som
mers would scarcely do anything dis
honorable"
The man shrugged his shoulders.
He could not, even though IT were
policy, suppress his hatred of Som
mers.
I'm glad you think So" he sneered.
81 don't think; l know" retorted the
girl haughtily.
Pinckney smiled with triumph.
"Well, it makes no difference now,
for the Rhinestrom gun because the
Sommers gun has proved a failure"
Frances face grew suddenly white
as she turned away quickly. The
Sommers gun failure! What blow
1t must be to him! Probably be didn't
know it yet. How she would like to
comfort him, and she could not! He
would not listen to her. If she only
could see him nowi She was still so
engrossed with her own thoughts that
she scarcely heard Pinckney's ques-
ton:
"Can you leave tonight7"
thilih 81, easily, agreed drS. Du-
rant. 'Wh2< do you say, Frances?'
The girl turned YEARLY. After all.
what difference did it make? She
would not get a chance to see Som
mers. His ship might not arrive for
week more. And, If she did see
him, what could she say? 1t was all
no use. She might as well agree to
what they wanted. Why struggle
longer? So she nodded indifferently.
"All right; I'll go whenever you
wish"
Pinckney smiled his triumph, and
Mrs. Durant beamed.
IN hurry right upstairs and pack.
she said. I'VE can leave in an hour"
When Pinclkney and her mother had
gone Frances sat down at a table by
herself to think. She was so lonely,
and everything was so hopeless. There
was no chance of seeing Sommers, no
chance of their ever coming together
again