The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-08-13

| put it there"
Put what there?'
Put Rodney's portrait in the locket
and the locket where you would find it.
you did? Why?"
oh just to see what you would do
and you did it."
Eyes. did," l admitted. "Then you're
not" but she interrupted by turning
to me-
Monsieur Duponceau was as polite as
he could be, and laughed at all my pro.
tests on the way home, but l think he
was running into some danger on my &C
count. l believe he has come to Alastair
to hide"
Il know he has"
"Oh, tell me all about it !" she begged
!! Il know very little. He's an adventur-
er, and he's fed from Europe, and there
are people very anxious to take him back,
and he's going to live in the Ship. More
over, it seems reasonably certain that
there's going to be trouble"
us there?' she cried, half in excite
ment half in delight. ''Oh, let's help
him.
l found that l only needed this chance
to avow myself openly.
I'VE will. I've decided to stand by
him. whatever happens
Barbara looked exceedingly delighted.
IF l were only a man. she exclaimed.
/ LAS it is, I'll have to do everything by
proxy"
you can help us lot"
How"
"By coming to see us often and bring
ing us news of the outside world"
instantly identified myself with Dupon-
ceau THAT is. if it doesn't begin to look
too dangerous" l added.
She turned to face the ocean again.
Il should like to do something to help
him. she said, because l like him. Sup
pose we go to see him now"
picked up my easel and paints on the
cliff and we boarded the Ship.
At the foot Of the cabin stairs Barbara
saw the silver mounted pistols blazing in
the sun.
oh" she said, looking at Duponceau.
who stood in the door very tall and
straight ''Shall you use those:"
Il should not be surprised" he an
swered gravely.
Against whom? I haven't seen an
enemy on the beach,"
"You will see." he answered. "They
will come-secretly- perhaps tonight
Tonight" she echoed. "And how
nany will there be-"
| There was a grim little smile about his
lips now. Il cannot tell; perhaps a doz-
en-. possibly score; that depends on how
resOlute man they think me-"
| II think you very resolute," she said
soberly: quite the bravest man 1 have
ever SEEM
PROFESSIONALLY there was no logic in
this remark, and yet l couldn't but own
that l agreed with Barbara.
Tonight" she unused. her eyes deep
with the deliberation of a general "How
will you defend the Ship-one against a
dozen?'
"You forget Charles and me- put in
"Will you fight, too?" she asked
"Surely. l looked up my weapons this
morning and put them in order. l will
bring them on board this afternoon and
add them to Monsieur Duponceau's''
"And you, too, believe in the enemy p
she inquired.
"Most certainly. l saw one of then
this morning.
Barbara sat down on one of the chairs
l had left. "To think" she said that
Captain Kidd should come to life again
But where is the buried treasurer"
/ thought of the chest l had seen car
ried into the woods on the night of the
storm, but said nothing. When l glanced
at Duponceau he was smiling at Bar
bara. This is very desperate matter
for me-" he said, "but even the most des
perate affairs are frightened by a Won
an. You are my good angel, mademoi
selle."
He said it in such way that Barbara
could not but be pleased.
THANK you, monsieur; and what plan.
have you made for defense?"
Duponceau outlined his plans. FRS
of all he would stay we'll hidden from
sight; then if his enemies should fine
him, there were three points OF attack
from the open sea. from the cliff abov,
the causaway, and from the beach be
yond the protecting circle of rocks w,
studied each in turn, and planned how
three men. we'll armed, could hold TIT
Ship against a score. II should like NOR,
ammunition than have" Duponceau con
fessed.
''There is plenty in my cottage TOLD
him.
Lets get it now" cried Barbara, 'ant
some of the guns"
We went to the cottage. and Barbara
in her interest, forgot what she would
have termed the proprieties, and entered
and looked about my dining-room while
collected cartridges and pistols. She in
sisted on helping Charles put up a GUAM
tity of food to carry to the Ship. At las
we started forth again, she with the pro
visions, l with shotgun and two revol
: vers. Half way down the beach two mer
came out of the pines and walked dow1
to meet us.
where are you going with thos,
guns?" one of them, surly faced chap
demanded.
) what business is that of yours?"
asked.
| He changed his tactics. Were look
ing for a man who's reported to hav
landed somewhere on this beach nigh
or two ago."
"Yes," l said pleasantly, gazing absent
ly at the Sky