Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-08-12
CHAPTER VI.
TIE MYSTERY OF TIE EMPORIUM

night sky after dropping him as
hawk might let fall too belligerent
weasel
The warfare and insurrection which
he left behind would have Interested
him had he known. Mr.. SilDerberg.
hurt in amour propre as well rs pro-
boscis, WIS deeply disturbed in his sui
tanic regard for Virginia. He was too
angry TO follow her to the deck as she
swept out of the cabin to take leave OF
her bandit of the dunes. For some
minutes the girl lay. half fainting,
wholly terrified. by the rail. where she
had fallen rs Theodore dropped over
the side into the cloud and the night.
where is Virginia?" queried Aunt
Marie at last Has she eloped with
that creature? Look for her! She's
my niece. after al"'
Mr.. Shayne called Mrs. Shayue's
maid and gave orders that Virginia be
sought on deck. The maid looked
about hastily and. failing to observe
the little heap in which Virginia sat
huddled up by the rail, ran in agitat-
edly and said that Miss Suarez was
not on deck lin the least
Il told YOU" gasped Mrs. Shayne
shes thrown herself away"
Slberberg walked glumly in from
the cabin.
This assassin" said he. must be
aft with the crew There's only one
place where Miss SuareZ can be-.
Shayne ran aft and astonished the
crew by bursting into their midst and
staring wildly about, as if dementcd.
"What is it. sir" Willett asked
calmly.
Where is Miss Suarez" painted Mr.
Shayne.
81 don't know. sir"
where's that fellow we picked up"
IT don't know" responded Willett
They're gone!" Shayue exclaimed.
rushing into the cabin. Max. they've
gone over the side!'
THAT parachute" said Max. could
not save two from death, even If they
snade a good drop. And in this dark
ness
, Virginia. having recovered her self
possession and the control of her
Knees. rose and. entering her cabin.
threw herself on her bed. She felt a
horror of Silberberg. a sense of disgust
with the Shaynes. To think that they
could so insult this young man who
had saved her life and treated her so
beautifully. no matter what he was
to offer him money. to send~him aft
like a servant! No wonder he had
struck Silberberg's odious nose. Later
she rose, preened like Il bird before the
mirror and sat down to think The
voices of her uncle and aunt and Mr..
Silberberg came to her ears from the
main salon. Opening her window for
air, she noted that the roar Of the wind
from the earth had ceased and knew
that they had reached the calm area,
of which Willett had spoken, in the
middle of the Glow" They would
probably have an easy landing in Chi
cago And then?
One thing was certain-she would
not live longer with the Shaynes. They
were too sordd. too hard, too cruel.
And she would-not-stay- with-them
any longer!
Oh. if she only had just one relative
in the world save Aunt Marie!
Stay! The thought struck her OF her
mothers fathers people. somewhere IN
the south. Her mother had been dis
owned by her family for perversely
contracted marriage, but they were
southerners, and they would not see
an orphan girl of their kin go home
less. She would leave Aunt Marie a
note of thanks for all her many kind,
nesses, take her really, truly own be,
longings and fly south. So there!
So resolving, she became quite calm
and walked into the main salon IN
very matter of fact way. Aunt Marie
gave q shrill scream and tainted. Sill
berberg said that he would be-tor'
mented. Mr.. Shayne stared blankly.
well" said Virginia. do you thinb
] am a ghost?'
ooh. child" gasped Aunt Marie
where have you been with him?"
Virginia stood still. her eyes ablaze
her cheeks burning. The Roc was
coming into the Chicago garage or
| the roof of the Aerostauc Power build
ing in a most beautiful landing, but
none of the party knew it. Silberber@
was gazing at the enraged Virginia II
! unbounded admiration. Her splendid
anger had won him back. Shaynt
spoke in foolish agreement with his
wife. half believing for the n0men
that there was something questionable
| in Virginia's absence.
"With beggar!'' said he.
"a bandit" said Aunt Marie, "al
, assassin
"a beggarr' repeated Virginia IL
lofty scorn. "Why. even if he Were
one, in rags and n howell. he'd be wortl
million like you! An assassin,
bandit And. If he is. what are you
You rob by syndicate. assassinate b.
| general managers and superin tendent
and make beggars by votes Oh shares
l loathe you. and ] r admire hin
| as much as loathe you. AS between
bandits like you and bandits like hin
! give me the brave man rather thai
| the coward
Willett interrupted the scene by an
nouncing their successful landing
They passed constrarinedly into tn
tower and went down to the streettan'
to Shayne's Chicago hotel in a motor
car, all in silence:
| In the morning n letter was takel
/ to the Shame APARTMENTS. 1t was