The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-01-06

the cloak sitting on deck. and hailed him.
May come on board. Monsieur Du-
panceau7"
\ He rose and peered at me through the
dusk SIS It the gentleman who dined
here this anernoonY" he asked. somewhat
suspiciously.
'srhe same"
you are welcome be answered. and l
could not help smiling at his assumption
Of ownership.
He shook hands with me as came on
board. waved TO the vacant chair. and
poured me water in one Of my own
glasses.
Il must apologize that have no wone
20 offer you" he said In such msjlner
that my likings instantly went out to
him Il should not even have had the
pleasure Of offering you this but for the
fact that you yourself provided IT,"
"Will you smoker" l handed him a CT
gar. which he accepted. and lighted with
match furnished. For the first tine
l noticed pair Of heavy pistols on the
table
You travel well guarded" said l. LOOK
ing at them.
II have need" he answered. grave
need" l looked closely at him He vas
in perfect earnest, his pale face absolute
y serious. his deep eyes set beneath black
brows- He pushed his somewhat long
hair back from a fine. broad forehead Il
do not know you you are. sir. but take
you for a friend-one l assure you Of a
class now sadly small
Il live near the beach" I explained.
and my name IS Seldom. l imagine that
you are stranger TO this shores"
AN absolute stranger. l come from
the other side OF the ocean. This is thu
first time have ever been TO America
l waited. but he would vouchsafe moth
ing further So we sat and smoked 81
lently. while l felt his keen eyes studying
me.
May I ask your age. Mr. Seldeny he
said at length.
certainly. Twenty-eight-"
~Ah, You are very much younger
than /. am somewhere between 40 and
so. one VINO has seen much. and 50 almost
an old man."
could not imagine what was coming
1T is in reference to this afternoon"
be said. as though in answer to my
thoughts When hear woman in
distress I am water. / cannot but inter-
pose Still. as / returned here this even /
ing l thought that possibly you might
feel aggrieved. Believe me. Mr.. Selden.
at the time I had eyes only for the lady
He paused. then went on J.: ~ you will |
pardon much older man. I would give |
you a bit Of counsel Never contend with |
woman: let her have her way Above |
all. never contend with a woman who |
cares for you"
II have the least reason In the world /
10 think that this one doess" l answered. !
He made no reply, but smoked thought
fully l suddenly found his further ST.
lence uncomfortable
What are your plans. sir7" asked
abruptly. -For I do not suppose that /
you dropped down here entirely by chance,
and intend to stay until chance again
moves you away.
NO did not arrive solely BY chance"
he answered. although that had much to
DO with IT, But ! expect to stay until
fortune. Be 1t good or bad. summons me.
That is. always surprising. Mr. Selden.
that you do not drive me away from your
beach,"
~ I said. much surprised How
can your stay here hurt mes"
Nv new acquaintance let his eyes rest
anon INV face a moment. then smiled as
though at a passing Joke Of his own.
..You have a saying that where irnor-
ance Is bliss tits folly to be wise: I will
not explain. therefore. and ouIy hone that
you may never know but"-and bis eyes
shifted for a moment from mine to the
ristols on the tabIe-.if you do know. It
will not be a very pretty piece Of infor-
nation"
cIenched my pipe between nv teeth
the night wind was stirring: the favor
Of strange adventure hung over the Shin
as strongly as the salt breeze from the
zee. I felt myself sndss,ribsblv fasci-
pafed. Duponceai drew his cloak SOM
what closed around him. and mufaed II
bout his chin, 80 that al Of bis face I
could clearly see was his long. wonderful
black eyes. Indeed, they we're wonderful
those eyes OF his. The more looked
INTO them, the more they held me. and
yet the less / knew about the man him
,elf.
was just wondering II this Duponceau
vas not something Of bypnotist when I