Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-22
THE MESSAGE
BY LOUIS TRACY.
Copyright By Edward J. clede3

the deck saloons, he was more than ever
| puzzled by the eccentric behavior of her
owners. Every other yacht in the road
| stead was brilliantly Illuminated. The
! Sans Souci alone seemed to court secrecy
1t has been seen that in holiday mood
| he was creature Of impulse. nor did ne
lack. the audacity of prompt decision
when 1t was called for. He showed both
qualities now by hauling the dinghy along
side and stepping into 1t.
Coin ashore. sir?" cried the surprised
Peter
They kept early hours on board. and
Warden's usual habit was to be asleep
by half-past nine. when the cutter was at
her mornings.
mo. mean TO pay call. Got a
match?'
Let me take you. SIR"
mo need. thanks. I'm bound for the
Sans Souci. 1 may be back In five min
utes."
He lit cigar. cast off, and rowed him.
self leisurely toward the vessel which had
filled SO large space in his thoughts ever
since he met Evelyn Dane in the street
outside the steamer pier. His intent was
to ask for her, to refuse to go away I'M
less he spoke to her, and. when she APP
peared. as his well ordered senses told
him would surely be the case, to frame
some idle excuse for the liberty he had
taken. She had talked of returning to
Portsmouth that evening, and it might
serve if he expressed his willingness to
carry ncr Imaginary luggage lIOII tiiC
quay to the railway station. She was
shrewd and tactful. She would under
stand, perhaps, that he was anxious for
her welfare. and it would not embarrass
her to state whether or not his services
were needed.
He was nearing the yacht when the red
and green eyes of a launch cleaned at
him as he glanced over his shoulder to
take measure of his direction. There was
no other vessel exactly in line with the
CO. <hA CT ,r1x
that this might be the messenger of the
gods in so far as they busted themselves
with Miss Danes affairs. There was no
harm in waiting a few minutes. SO he
altered the dinghy's course in such wise
that the launch, If 1t were actually bound
for the yacht, must pass quite closely.
though he, to all outward seeming, was in
no way concerned with its destination.
His guess was justified. While the tiny
steamer was still fifty yards distant the
She drew near, and the figure of sailor
with a boathook in his hands was sill
houetted against the last bright strip OF
sky in the northwest. She passed. and II
demanded all Arthur Warden's cool nerve
to maintain a steady pull at the oars and
smoke the cigar of British complacency
when he saw Miguel Ffguero and three
men of the tribe of Oku seated in the
cushioned space aft.
He could not be mistaken. He knew the
West African hinterland so well that he
could distinguish the inhabitants of diff
ferent districts by facial characteristics
slight in themselves, but as clearly Wis
ible to the eye of experience as the vary
ing race marks of a Frenchman and a
Norwegian. Coming thus strangely on
the heels of the discovery Of that amaz-
Ing calabash. the incident was almost
Supplying. The presence of Figuero
alone in Cowes was perplexing-the APP
pearance of three Oku blacks was real
marvel-that all four should be visitors
to the Sans Souci savored of necromancy.
But Warden did not hesitate. He made
certain that the strange quartet were be-
ing conveyed to the yacht; he took care
to note that their arrival was expected.
seeing that Baumgartner himself came
down the gangway with a lantern to light
the way on board, and then he pulled
back to the Nancy. Ere he reached her
the. launch had gone shoreward again.
you've changed your mind, SIR" was
Peters greeting.
You were keeping lookout, them"
said Warden.
lave nothin' else to do, SO to speak.
SIR
well. jump in and take the oars. I
shall be with you In a moment.
(To be continued tomorrow.)