Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-09-17
CHAPTER v1.-tContInu.d.,


enclosed with glass, and found Miss Gra-
ham sitting there with an elderly woman
who proved to be her aunt. Miss Corey.
She presented me. and the elder lady,
after making few comments on the
awful night, withdrew. Still standing,
put my hand into my inner pocket and
drew forth the box with the locket.
When l went back to the Ship this
Afternoon l found you had dropped the
locket from your chain. Permit me to re-
turn It,"
"Oh !" she said. How good Of you to
bring 1t l discovered 1t was gone and
was afraid I might not be able to find 1t
after the storm. Thank you 30 much,
Mr.. Seldom
l felt singularly cold and naughty, and
seemed m detect certain reserve also
In her manner. The air of the Penguin
Club was not conducive to informality.
l had intended to call her attention to
the fact that the locket was open when
came upon 1t, but could not bring my
self to do so In the face Of the chill that
seemed to have settled down upon us.
Wont you sit down and talk to me?"
she said, but I shook my head.
Il must be getting back. The storm Is
getting worse every minute. The wood
road will soon be swollen river"
There came growl Of thunder and a
fash of livid lightning Miss Graham
scarcely moved a muscle. II love
storms" she said. "but don't blame you
for wanting to get home as soon as you
can. You must be soaked even In those
clothes"
l looked at my rough attire, and then
at the dainty white evening gown she
wore, and laughed little sharply at the
contrast.
"It's lucky I don't often come to the
club" / said. "They would probably
warn me from the premises as a scare
crow Of Ill omen."
Rodney Islip came on to the porch, In
evening dress, as though to emphasize my
own incongruities.
''Will you dance, Barbara?" he said.
''They're playing one Of your favorite
waltzes." Then he discovered me. "Hel-
10, old chap!' said he. How the deuce
came you here? You don't mean to tell
me you rode through the thick Of this
storm"
Petty resentment got the better Of me !;
barely noticed him. and bowed to the
girl.
Don't let me keep you, Miss Graham.
My mission is over. Good night"
She held out her hand barely touch
ed 1t. i was at the door when Rodney
spoke. 81 say, old man, have you seen
the evening papers? Terrible times in
France, more trouble on the market let
me get you the news" He was so full of
the stock exchange himself that he
thought we must all be Interested
mo, thank you," answered, blunt
1y, and went out, scorning myself for my
rudeness to this chap whose only fault
lay in the fact that Miss Graham cared
so much about him. l was to be still
more scornful Of this rudeness to him in
the days to come.
l stood in the shadow while they
passed me, then I stole back to the
;gass-covered porch and looked in for a
moment at the dancing I watched Islip
lead Miss Graham on to the floor and
float away with her, and I caught sight
of the locket hanging on its chain about
her throat. She looked very FUR In her
white gown, with her neck bare, and Islp
looked very happy as he danced with her.
looked again at my own rough, un-
ecouth garm. This was no place for me.
Suddenly hated the Penguin Club and
all 1t contained, all Its civilization, all its
clothes and dances. / would be off to my
little hut in the dunes, with no one but
Charles by, and he my very humble SER
want.
Nero was ready, and I swung myself
up and plunged off again into the night.
Flashes of lightning showed me the depth
of the water in the woods. l pIoughed
my way homeward, caring nothing what
happened. riding as though a legion Of
devils pursued.
| paid no attention to Charles fire and
the hot grog that he had ready. 1 flung
off my sodden clothes and went to bed,
finding my one satisfaction in the crash
ing guns of the thunder that seemed to
lombard Aastair from the sky. 1t was
certainly the night for any mysterious
deed, remember thinking as fell asleep.
CHAPTER VII.
l must have been asleep for some time
when a sudden sky-cracking crash of
thunder brought me wide awake. An In