Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-05-05

. " 80
meath, and 40 the steps led directly %
the slip the conclusion was forced
upon me that some one was down
there. Curiously enough, / was not
frightened, but decidedly indignant.
Some one was taking great liberty
with private property, thought, and
wished I were brave enough to 60
down and order him-or them-away,
forthwith.
There was, as said, no moon, and I
could not positively distinguish any.
thing as peered down into the dark
ness, but thought saw a point of light
like the end of cigar, and certainly
heard subdued murmur of voices.
In another instant the slip and every.
thing upon 1t stood out against the dark
ness with the clearness and accuracy
Of picture thrown upon screen, its
every detail distinct and visible. After
an incredulous moment, understood,
for I recognized the broad beam Of
white light which fell across the wa
ter with dazzling brilliancy. Our
friend the searchlight had paid us
many visits since that first night upon
the slip, and we had come to regard
it with an amused tolerance, and to
watch for it, especially on dark nights
or in bad weather. We seldom watched
in vain, for it was persistent and
hard-working light and explored the
island, or at least our end of it, with
painstaking thoroughness and regu.
larity.
So sat in the sheltering darkness
on the top of the steps and looked
down upon the illuminated slip, while
my heart thumped audibly and
wished most ardently had never ven
tured out.
For there were two men upon it,
and an unlighted steam launch waited
beside it. One of them knelt before
the door of the boathouse, evidently
trying to unlock it, while the other
watched with interest, and finally pro-
duced bunch of keys from his own
pocket and selected one as he handed
them to his companion, with apparent
directions how to apply it. And saw
plainly that the man who supplied the
keys was Gordon Bennett, who, with
his friend Mr.. Blake, was trying to
force an entrance into our boathouse
Another instant, and sprang to my
feet and fled incontinently, my fingers
in my ears and my progress sadly
hampered by the long trailing skirt
over which I tripped and stumbled,
and which, I will remark in passing,
was irrevocably ruined.
/ do not know why I ran, nor why
I stopped up my ears, since l had not
heard word of any kind, and was Ger
tainly in no personal danger; but /
rushed wildly on and finally cast myself
GREATNESS upon my bed, my pulses
throbbing painfully and my whole be-
Ing quivering with sense of shame.
For l had so nearly loved him. l
knew it now, even as I knew his un-
worthiness. Had he not lied to Rle
that afternoon? Lied about so SIM
pie matter that I should then have
understood he had something to con
something of which to he
ashamed. And now he was trying to
force an entrance to the boathoIss.
But why? Was he a common thief?
ION, no." cried, aloud; mo, not
that"
Then I sat suddenly upright, for
remembered the safe in the dining
room, with the jewels locked in IL
the pearls which belonged to Lacy
Edith's mother-and I remembered
also my indiscreet disclosures re.
garding it, and the questions he had
asked even while protesting his disap.
proval-keen, searching questions rs
to the exact location of the safe and
the form of lock upon it. And I had
told him everything he wanted to knew
willingly.
''Oh!" I cried again. I'm a f&sl,
and he knew it, and used me for q
tool"
Therein lay the chief sting. He lad
used me as a tool, and my wom1l,'s
vanity was wounded to the quick.
Going into the next room, l leaned
out of the open window, looking to.
ward the ocean and watching for
something, was not sure what The
searchlight was at work again, and by
its light I saw little dark boat steal
away from our slip and make its way
toward the point of the island. 1 could
see two figures in it's stern, so knew
the key had not been successful and
our boathouse was still closed. l sup.
posed also that the presence of the
searchlight had frightened them away,
and felt grateful for it.
heard the voices of the girls, and
returned to my own room, hastily re.
moving my dress and slipping into
bed. Tomorrow would tell them, but
not tonight could not talk tonight.
could not even think.
'She's sound asleep" whispered Ga.
brielle, after an inquiring peep over
the bed. 1T must be later than we
thought
Its awful the way we forget the
fight of time when we get to talking
returned Elizabeth remorsefully, and
they lowered their light and moved
softly, in order not to disturb me.
But 1 lay with widely opened eyes,
staring into the darkness, long after
their quiet breathing told me they
mad gone peacefully to sleep. How hot
the pillow was! turned it restlessly,
hoping the other side might contain q
soporific influence and l could get
away from the tormenting, ever-recur.
ring question, what did he want in