Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1909-11-27
CHAPTER xXIiI.-Continued.

Miss Leslie looked away, visibly
distressed. She had not been reared
after the French method. Young as
she was, she had fluttered at will
about the borders of the garden of
vice, knowing well that the gaudy
blossoms were lures to entice one into
the pitfall. Yet never before had she
caught so clear glimpse of the Shiny
depths.
That's it," growled Blake Throw
me down cold just because I'm square
enough to tell you straight out. You
make me tired! I'm not one of the
0work-ox sort, that can chew the cud
all the year round and cork the blood
out of their brains. I've got to cut
a while, and barring chance now and
then at opera, there's never been any.
thing but a spree"
"Oh, but that's so dreadfully shock
ing, Mr.. Blake!"
And then like all the other little
hypocrites, you'll go and marry one
of those swell dudes who's made that
sort of thing his business, and every
body knows it, but it's all politely I'M
Gerstood to've been sub rosa, so it's
all right, because he knows how to
part his name in the middle and"
please, please stop, Mr.. Blake!
You don't know how cruel you are!"
Cruel? Suppose l told you about
the millionaire cur that Oh now,
don't go and cry! Please don't cry,
Miss Jenny! l wouldn't hurt your
feelings for the world l didn't mean
vnything out of the way, really l
didn't! It's only that when | get to
thinking of-of things, it sets me half
crazy. And now, can't you see how
it's going to be ten times worse for
me after-with you so altogether be-
yond me-" He stopped short,
flushed, and stammered lamely: II
didn't mean to say that"
She looked down, no less embar-
raised.
Please let us talk of something
else" she murmured. 1T has been
such a pleasant morning, until you
until we began this silly discussion. -
"All right, all right! Only mop up
the dewdrops and well turn on the
sun machine. l really didn't mean to
rip out that way at all. But, you see,
the things been ranking in me ever
since we came aboard ship at the
Cape, and Winthrope and Lady Bay
rose had my seat changed so |
couldn't see YOU Not that | hold any
thing against them now"
a "Mr. Blake, 1 suppose you know
MAT this African coast is particularly
dangerous for women. So far | have
escaped the fever. But you yourself
said that the longer the attack is de-
layed the worse k will be-"
Blakes face darkened and he turned
to stare inland along the ridge. She
had fiicked him on the raw, and he
thought that she had done so inten-
tionally.
You think haven't tried-that I've
been shamming!" he burst out bit
terly. You're right. There's the one
chance But l couldn't leave you till
the barricade was finished, and it's
been only few days since All the
same, / oughtn't to We waited day.
III start it tomorrow"
What? Start what?"
"a catamaran. / can rig one up in
short order that, with skin sail and
outrigger, will do fairly well to
Soast along inside the reefs-barring
squalls. Worst thing is that it's all
a guess whether the nearest settle
ment is up the coast or down"
and you can think of going and
leaving me all alone herel"
That's better than letting you risk
two-to-one chances on feeding the
sharks"
But you'd be risking IT,"
Blake uttered a short harsh laugh.
What's the difference?" he paused
nent; then added, with grim