Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-10-01

CHAPTER X.

1 returned to the house we found muddy
footprints staining the dining room floor
and tracked across the kitchen. No in
truders were to be seen, nor other evil
dcnce of their visit, but the mere fact
that the sanctity of my home-hitherto
always left open to the winds-had been
Invaded, angered me- bade Charles see
that the house was securely locked here
after whenever he left it In my absence.
Over the mantel In my den hung two
muskets, out-of-date but still capable Of
boring holes in the atmosphere. My little
armory held shotgun, for use In the
marshes, and two revolvers, whose only
use heretofore had been for target prac-
tice. L took them from the drawer and
looked them over; they were ready for
work when needed.
L sat on the porch, and considered the
situation. Something was about to hap
pen, something's could not tell what
that centered around this man who had
mysteriously taken possession of the
Ship and proposed to offer combat on
the sands. What he was or who he was
could not guess; speculation In these lines
brought me Immediately into blind al
leys; but there was no doubt that in sit
uation and character he was certainly
the direct descendant of a more adven-
turous age l was Enthusiastically drawn
to him. could see him as he stood on
the beach, buffeted by the storm, gazing
at the men who were pulling away, and
as he had stepped from the hatchway, hat
In hand, bowling to Barbara Graham with
the chivalrous manner of a cavalier, and
again as he sat across the table from me,
his slender hands ready to seize upon the
pistols, his eyes, full of amusement and
audacity. looking straight into mine.
There was no doubt about it, the Ship
belonged to him by right Of Inheritance,
and his arrival had brought me strange
tidings. thought over the matter long
time before l went to bed.
Early the next mortiing l took my dip
In the sea, and was returning, clad in a
bath-robe, when | caught sight of man
peering at me from the pines. I waved
my towel, and he disappeared. As was
finishing dressing, little later, l stepped
out upon my balcony, and | saw the same
man, much nearer now, gazing intently at
the cottage. l hate spies so / spoke
somewhat angrily.
"Hi, there What do you wantT l
cried, beckoning to him.
He came forward rather sheepingly,
and touched his hat.
81 was only taking look at your
- house, SIR"
"And is that what you were doing some
twenty minutes ago"
"Yes, sir that's all I was doing"
"Are you an architest?" I demanded.
He wore a plain blue suit, with an
old straw hat, and might have been al
most anything.
He smiled. mo, was merely look
ing about to see what there was to see.
There wasn't any harm meant"
''There isn't any harm done, but, then,
there isn't anything to see. I'm not
very partial to sight-seers especially when
they hide behind trees. If there's any
thing you want to ask me about, speak
out"
He hesitated moment. "a stranger
a tall man who speaks French-hasn't
stopped at your house, has he?"
mo. Is he a pal of yours2"
The man grinned. mot exactly. Well,
won't trouble you any more. Good
morning"
At breakfast again cautioned Charles
to remember that he knew nothing.
could do no work in my present state
of mind, so l slung my field-glasses over
my shoulder and went to call on Dupon-
ceau. He was sitting at the cabin table,
breakfasting on the remains Of our last
nights supper. My heart smote me.
"Why didn't you let me know? could
have brought you breakfast"
1T matters little; yesterday obtained
some food from farmer, but that is too
dangerous" He smiled. 'I'm quite used
to doing with little"
| sat down while he finished breakfast
After that we walked the short length OF
the cabin, Duponceau asking me a great
many questions about the coast and the
country inland. l told him what could
and he seemed satisfied. Then l decided
to take my easel and paints and 60 up on
the cliff above the Ship to paint. 81 can
keep good lookout from there of the
farther beach," / said. Zone can sweep
1t thoroughly from the cliff with a pair
of glasses"
l settled down on the cliff, and for hall
an hour forgot everything but the scene
in front of me. At the end of that time
looked up the distant beach with my
glasses. Some one was sitting there, hall
way up. studied the figure and decided
that it was woman, no other than Bar.
bara Graham.
Pride is a curious quality. Sometimes
1t will not even last overnight My one
desire now was to have few words with
Miss Graham, 50 l left my easel as II
stood, and went towards her.
She was half lying, half sitting, in the
soft sand, some of which she had moulded
Into a cushion for her back, and bool
lay open at her side, but she was moi