Willmar tribune., 1909-03-03

sure them there was no danger Mary
Anne descended to the basement alone
and quieted their fears. Lady Edith told
the girls Of robbery of jewels at the
hotel Fearing for the safety of her own
gems, she left them in a safe at the cot
tage. Mr. Gordon Bennett was properly
introduced, explained his queer actions,
returned the lost bag.
CHAPTER V.-continued.
Il am glad it amuses you," remarked,
in my most frigid manner, which l
have been told is extremely chilling.
"Oh, say" he said quickly, don't
look at it that way Why, it was moth
ing after all. had made two trips on
that cid boat this summer, and one of
those dilapidated chairs broke down
with me and nearly pitched me over
board. complained, but the company
would not get new ones, which put
my back up bit, so 1 got into the
habit of examining them, and when
found one weak in the back or legs
I just pitched it overheard. Th2t
wasn't so bad, was it? OF course
never thought how it looked, and
did 'mutter,' but I'm heartily glad you
did not hear what said"
1t was very simple explanation
so simple, in fact, that felt provoked
it had not occurred to me, and hated
to think how he would relate the in
cident to his friend Mr.. Blake, and
how they would laugh over it. So
merely looked out at the ocean and
made frosty, impersonal remark
about the view.
But instead of the familiar land
scape I found myself looking straight
into two very blue eyes with a trace
of anxiety in them, and sunburned
hand was extended toward me appeal
ingly.
Let's shake and be friends" he
said heartily. I'm sorry l alarmed
you, but I'm glad found out my Of
tense. l was determined would know
what it was. When the general wrote
me his daughter was here, and I dis
covered who it was, I was delighted,
for of course saw you all on the boat,
and l wanted awfully to know you.
You don't mind my saying so? Then
when I got snubbed so numerically
l could not understand it. Shall we
start all over again, and will you ex-
plain to your friends that I am in
possession of all my senses and hope
to keep them while longer?"
Well, it was impossible not to smile
also, and indeed l was very glad of a
chance to descend gracefully from my
high horse, so we shook hands grave
ly and started all over again, as he
had suggested.
inquired where he spent the night,
and he mentioned the hotel we had
deserted, SO told him about the rob-
berry. He had heard nothing, having
left very early in the morning, mean
ing to sail home in time for breakfast.
l asked him if his boat suffered any
i'll effects from the storm, and his man
ner grew all at once constrained and
i'll at ease, so l changed the subject,
fearing that it might have been ir-
revocably damaged against our slip,
and feeling somewhat responsible. l
spoke of the cottage, and how we en-
joyed life here, and the contrast it
was to the hotel.
"Yes," he said absently; cts jolly
little place. But, tell me, how did you
hear of it, and how did you manage to
get it? I understood it was not for
rent"
told him he was mistaken; that
We had no trouble at all in securing
it, and that the rent was ridiculously
low, all things considered.
Il would like to know to whom it
belongs" l remarked. Il understand
it was some w0man's whim, and she
has tired of it. Perhaps we might get
some of our relatives to buy it and
come here every summer"
Don't you know anything about it ?'
he was looking at me curiously now.
mot a thing" l said lightly; do
you?"
A dull red flush was distinctly visi-
Bile beneath his coat of tan as he re-
piled to my question.
I'm not native, you know. I was
here for bit last year, and liked it;
so when l had chance to buy an is
land, house and all, jumped at it.
But I'm not wise about my neighbors.
/ do know that this cottage was oc.
cupied last summer, and l heard the
people were very unsocial and never
received guest or entered the village
while they were here; and, of course,
there were stories. Gossip fourishes
on a mystery, you know"
WELL" returned, II don't care how
mysterious the former tenants were,
but I'm glad they did not come back.
Perhaps they We're in mourning, or in
valids, or something of that Sort
"No doubt" he agreed hastily; mo
doubt"
And then we changed the subject
and talked of other things till the
sound of voices and laughter told me
Elizabeth and Gabrielle were return
ing from the village They brought
Lady Edith and Lord Wilfrid both
home with them to dinner, and it was
not difficult to persuade Mr. Bennett
to stay also, so we had the first CT
some very merry repasts. where