Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-09-02
CHAPTER Y

-, NoS tue kltchen. No in
srs siuuers We're to be seen, nor other evil
oence of their visit, but the mere fact
lllat the sanctity of my home-hitherto
ai"ays left open to the winds-had haon
invaded, angered me. / bade Charles sea
'nat the house was securely locked here
aiter whenever he left il in NV absence
over the mantel in nv den hung two
muskets' out-of-date but still capable of
boring holes in the atmosphere. NV little
afmory held shotgun, for use in the
marshes, and two revolvers, whose only
use heretofore had been for target prac-
nee. l took them from the drawer ond
looked them over: they were ready for
work when needed.
sat on the porch, and considered tho
situation. Something was about to han
pen' something-I 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 I
could not guess; speculation in these lines
brought me Immediately into blind al
ieys; but there was no doubt that in sit
uation and character he was certainly
the direct descendant of a more adyen-
turous age. | was unmistakably 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 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 | went to bed
Early the next morning l took my dip
in the sea, and was returning, clad in
bath-robe, when / caught sight of man
peering at me from the pines. / waved
my towel, and he disappeared. As l was
finishing dressing, little later, | stepped
out upon my balcony, and | saw the same
man, much nearer now, gazing intently at
the cottage. / hate spies, so ! spoke
somewhat angrily.
Hi, there What do you want?" l
cried, beckoning to him.
He came forward rather sheepingly,
and touched his hat.
II was only taking a look at your
house, sir"
"And is that what you were doing some
twenty minutes ago."
"Yes, sir; that's all l was doing"
"Are you an architest?" l demanded.
He wore a plain blue suit, with an
old straw hat and might have been al
most anything
He smiled. "No, l 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 sisht-seers especially when
they hide behind trees. If there's any
thing you want to ask me about, speak
out"
He hesitated a moment. "a stranger
tall man who speaks French-hasn't
stopped at your house, has he?"
mo. Is he a pal of yoursI'
The man grinned Not 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 / slung my feld-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"
at matters little; yesterday l obtained
some food from a 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 great
many questions about the coast and the
country inland. / told him what | could,
and he seemed satisfied. Then | decided
TO take my easel and paints and go up on
the cliff above the Ship to paint Il can
keen good lookout from there of the
farther beach," / said. Zone can sweep
It thoroughly from the cliff with a pair
of glasses"
7 settled down on the cliff, and for half
an hour forgot everything but the scene
In front of me. At the end of that time
I looked up the distant beach with my
GLASSES. Some one was sitting there, half
way up. | studied the figure and decided
that it was a woman, no other than Bar
bara Graham.
Pride is curious quality. Sometimes
II will not even last overnight. My one
desire now was to have few words with
Miss Graham, 80 | left my easel as it
stood. and went towards her.
She was half lying, half sitting in the
soft sand. some of which she haG moulded
into cushion for her back, add a book
Law omen at her side, but she was not
reading She was gazing at the sea.
"Wbat do you think of our pirate!
She started, looked round at me- sat
ND. and clasped her knees with ner hahus'
7 s sat down on the sand beside her.
"I was just thinking of him. l was
thinking that like him Tremendously.
NATURALLY. He rescued you from a
very disagreeable fellow"
aYes." she agreed. without looking at
me "and a girl can never forget deo'
of gratitude for that sort OF thing.
d Il