Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-01-07

agree. He knew his business. and he
/ felt a grave responsibility at the
/ thought of taking the wife and daugh-
/ ter of the owner into danger
"Crrtainly. sir. I'm under your e.
J drrs." he said. but We have the ladies
on board. and they might not ike n
| storm"
NONSENSE" snapped Pinckncy
| You're too cautious. We leave to-
night and dine on board. Get up steam
/ At once
! The captain Salutcd
"Ccrtainly. sir" be said. "Thc rc-
| si."rsihiiity IS up to YOU"
| Mrs. Durant and Frances came down
! into the courtyard n few minutes lat
or. just as rinckney was reading n
cable that Il messenger boy had hand
ed to him.
bad news:" asked Mrs. Durant anx-
lousy
| pinckney looked up.
only that ! must return Mt once"
| he said
What's wrong?" asked the other
Two together.
The man smiled at their alarm.
Nothing very wrong" lie said. an
fact. this cable brings good news. The
| government has notified us TO go ahead
on the Rhinestrom gun order"
'"Then the Sommers gun. of which
you were afraid:" suggested Mrs
Durant.
i PInckney looked at her In his most
| superior manner
I'VE were never afraid of the Som
mcrs gun" he said. ut was only
| his influence in Washington"
1t was Frances turn to flush an
grily.
There was no reason to be afraid
| Of that" she declared. as haughtily
as though her own fathers honor had
been impuSned. Lieutenant Som
mers would scarcely do anything dis
| honorable"
The man shrugged his shoulders
lie could not. even though it were
| policy, suppress his hatred of Som
mers.
I'm glad you think So" he snecred
Il don't think; know" retorted the
girl haughtily.
Pinckney smiled with triumph.
We'll. it makes 10 difference now,
| anyway" he said. We get the order
| for the EhincStrom gun because the
Sommcrs gun las proved failure
| Frances face grew suddenly white
| as She turned away quickly. The
| SomnlcrS gun Il failure, What Il blow
| 1t must be 10 him. Probably he didn't
| know it yet. How She would like to
| comfort him. and She could not, He
would not listen to her If she only
| could see him now. she WIS still SO
| engroSScd with her own thoughts that
| she scarcely heard linckney's Ques-
| ton:
Can you leave tcniSht:"
Il think so. easily" agreed Mrs. Du-
rant. WHAT d. You SAY. FranccS:"
The girl turned YEARLY. After all.
what difference did it make: She
would not get Il chance To see Som
mcrs. His ship might not arrive for
week more. And. if she did see
| him. what could she say: 1t was all
no use. She might as well agree TO
| what they wanted Why struggle
longer? SO she nodded indiferently.
"All right; I'll go whenever you
wish"
Pinckney smiled his triumph, and
| Mrs. Durant beamed.
III hurry right upstairs and pack"
she said. We can leave in an hour"
| When Pinckney and her mother had
gone Frances sat down ut Il table by
| herself to think. She was SO lonely,
and everything was so hopeless! There
| was no chance Of seeing Sommers. no
| chance Of their ever coming together
| again.
And she loved him. She knew that
| now The clutch Mt her heart when
she heard of his misfortune made it
very clear to her 1t was 10 use to
| try to deceive herself any longer. She
loved him. She wanted him, for he
WAS the one man in all the world who
| could make her happy. Now she was
miserable and he WAS Il failure.
Pardon me. Miss Durant."
At the cool, penetrating voice Fran
| ces looked UP. y big man with 4
! shrcwd face and clear. cold gray eyes
| that had the particular faculty Of COM
! pelling and rivetinc attention stood
! beside the table with his hat in his
| hand.
| Can you tell me where l can find
! Mr. Pinckney:" he asked.
! The man was so obviously not mere
| " seeking to scrape an acquaintance
/ that the girl had no hesitancy in reply
I in-.
In the hotel. think" she said cool
ly.
You intend sailing almost immedi-
ately. do you not" persisted the man.
The girl was surprised. but the ques-
toners manner was thoroughly re-
spectful and yet seemed to demand a
reply.
Il believe so-yes," she said and hall
turned away.
The uuestioner bowed.