The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-04-29

| .
Coke's counter stroke in abiding to
her dread Of the proposed marriage
was hidden from her ken. Hozier, of
course. was thinking of nothing else.
For the moment, then, they were at
cross purposes.
Things are not so bad as that" he
laid gently. Il hope l am not tres
passing on forbidden ground. but it is
Inly fair to tell you that the skipper
vas quite explicit up to a point. He
said you were being forced into some
matrimonial arrangement that was
distasteful"-
And. to escape from an undesirable
sutton, ran away?
"Well. the story sounded all right"
Hid myself on my uncle's ship when
| | wished to avoid marrying the man
of his choice?"
Hozier was not neglecting his work,
but he did then take his eyes off the
starlit sea for few amazed seconds.
There was no installing the scornful
ring in the girls words. He could see
the deep color that flooded her cheeks.
The glance that met his sparkled with
an intensity of feeling that thrilled
while it perplexed.
''Please pardon me If the question
hurts, but if that is not your motive
and there never was any real notion
Of your coming on this trip why are
you here?" he said.
Because ! am foolish girl, sup
pose-because l thought that my pres
ence might interpose serious OBJ
stacle between criminal and the
one wants to avoid hateful people a
change of climate is most effectual
means, and l had not the money for
ordinary travel. Believe me, Mr.. Ho-
zier, / am not on board the Androm-
eda without good reason. l have often
wished to have a talk with you. !
think you are man who would not
betray confidence. If you agree to
help me, something may yet be done
At first was sure that Captain Coke
would abandon his wicked project as
soon as he discovered that / knew
what was in his mind. But now l
am beginning to doubt. Each day
brings us nearer South America, and
and
She was breathless with excitement.
She drew nearer to the silent and i'm
passive man at her side, dropping her
voice almost to whisper. She caught
his arm with an appealing hand.
81 am afraid that my presence will
offer no hindrance to his scheme" she
murmured. II am terrified to say such
thing, but am certain. quite GER
tain, that the ship will be lost within
the next few days"
HoZier. though ircredulous, could not
but realize that the girl was saying
that which she honestly thought to be
true.
Lost. Do you mean that she will
be purpOsely thrown away?" he asked
and his own voice was not wholly un-
der control for he was called on to
repress sudden temptation to kiss
away the tears that glistened in her
brown eyes.
"Yes. thar is what he said-on the
rocks this side Of Montevideo"
'He said-w ho?''
''The-the captain"
ITO whom did he say it?'
"Oh. Mr.. Hozier. Go not ask that, but
believe me and help me-"
Slow"
81 do not know. am half distract
ed with thinking. What can we do?
Captain Coke simply swept aside my
first attempt to speak plainly to him.
But-make no mistake-he knows that
| heard his very words. and there is
something in his manner, a curious
sort of quiet confidence, that frightens
me-"
After that neither spoke during many
minutes.
THAT is very serious thing you
have told me, Miss Yorke," muttcred
LOTTO Of InHN