Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-14
CHAPTER XII-Continued.

+ That's the way I read book If It's
any good, miss-a book like The Scalp
Hunters or Nick of the Woods'-every
word, from beginnin' to end. There e is
that's father-on the seat under the
tree. s'pose 'e's tired. 1t was long
tramp through the dust from the quay"
Peter received her joyously.
Sink mel he cried, "but it's cure for
you, isn't it?"
He was not content until he had looked
her full in the face in the moonlight.
You're bit thinner" he commented.
People can say wot they like, but Ole
England's hard to beat for fresh air an
sound vittals. Chris an me would ha'
starved on that tub of a mailbOat If we
'adh't palled in with the Scotch engineer
who med 'em cook some plain food. Hello
Peter" said Evelyn, brokenly. for
heavens sake. If you have news of Capt
Warden tell me what it is.
The exploit produced frayed and
soiled parcel from a pocket.
There you are, miss he cried. tri-
umphantly I've done it! Find Miss
Dane. no matter wot it costs'-them's my
sailin' orders from the capn. Deliver
this letter into Miss Danes own 'ands.
Right again!-as per code! Now. miss, if
was you, I'd just open that there en-
velope an see wot e seq. Then, mebbe.
1 can fill in bit. I tole i'm I'd find you
| within month, but couldn't! Nobody
could unless he was bird, an a jolly
good fiier at that. Why, I've. follered
You pretty well round the compass. An
my godfather!-'aven't you covered up
yer tracks,
The first thing Evelyn's trembling fin
gers withdrew from the package was the
jewelers. case, containing the ring. When
the diamonds flashed in the moonlight
she uttered choking cry and her lips
| trembled pitifully. So this was Arthur
Warden's answer to Rosamund Laing' s
jbes! Without hesitation. without wait
ing to read word of the many pages Of
manuscript that accompanied it, she slip:
ped it on to the engagement finger of her
left hand. 1t did not flt. It was far too
large. But what did that matter? It's
glOrfes might await her scrutiny another
time. Just then she wanted to assure
herself that she had gone back to her al
legiance before she was vouchsafed a syl-
liable Of explanation. It was humility,
not pride, that governed her action.
Peter, however, did not regard the gilt
tering ring with such self-effa cement. His
prominent eyes bulged with surprise, and
he gripped his sons shoulder emphati-
cally.
Tell you wot, Chris" he whispered.
hoarsely, IF we'd ha' known wot was
in that billydoo we'd not ha' slep' so
sound O. nights.'
NOT Wnlle we was IN IufTln paris
father"
mot in any parts. me lad. Them sort
O. sparks'll get you a knife under your
ribs anywhere Now, if l was Miss Dane
I'd turn it into money, quick But she
won't mark my words. She'll Just twid-
die it round. an shove in hafrpin wen
there's chandelier handy, an lean on 'er
elbow wen the light shines on the port
bow-all to make the other wimmen green
with envy"
Though Evelyn was deep in her letter
though her brows were knitted and her
little hands clenched as the full measure
of Rosamund's perfidy was revealed to
her, she could not help overhearing
Peters stage aside. For second her
eyes were raised from the Supplying
record and they blazed with a light that
surpassed the fire in the diamonds.
You are right, Peter she cried, and
her voice sounded shrilly in her own ears.
"One woman, at least. shall see my ring.
even though envy were to kill her"