The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-02-21
VIRGINIA. 2 Zig : AIR AIR :: g.
800 =; : =. - sz4 :; ss.:
(Copyrighted. 1909. by Bobbs Morrill, co.,

There were few preparations to
make. Captain Harrod led the
way. easterly alongshore to a spot
where the scrub grew we'll down
toward the beaten beach. A long
timber lay half-rot.
ted and sunk In the sand; and or
this, like persons striving to
conceal their trail, they walked
back between clumps of dark.
green rosemary, over a low place
In the dunes, down to the dry
hard bottom of a former pool
under -thicket of scrub-oaks sc
dense that the Roc or any of hel
tribe might have secuted for them
in vain, among black ponds
fringed with WHY bent-grass, past
ghostly clumps of tall pines, and
finally, through a dense tangle OF
persimmon, palmetto, thorny
Observation-Disclosures" and low.
growing cedar, they emerged up.
on little north-looking hillock
crowned with magnolias, cedars
hickories and live-oaks, and look.
ed forth upon a strange tarn OF
inky water, ridging somberly in
the north wind, its black waves
crested with foam, like white
plumes on funeral Grape. The
shores of this sinister lake were
densely wooded by sullen ranks OF
pines and expresses standing like
soldiery knee-deep in
swamp. Virginia gasped at sight
of the somber mere-it seemed
such an eery spot in which to be
cast away with these strange men
who lived behind closed doors and
walked the sands so as to leave
no footprints. Surely, her worst
suspicious.
Haul out the launch, Cap.
tain"
Why was the trim, speedy-look.
ing launch so completely hidden
In the tall cane? The puldoos
pudding in the reeds made sounds
like prowling accomplices. Vir
ginia was trembling to be off as
Carson went aboard and inspected
the engines with the air of an ex
pert.
"And now, madam" said he
"if you will do me the honor tt
step aboard"
She turned to the captain who
holding the painter, stood will
one bare foot in the water, tn,
other planted hardly among tn,
sharp shells on shore. tuts
II want to thank you," sait
she, offering him her hand, 40
your delicious cookery-and al
your kindness to me-"
"Yo' kindly welcome, returned
the captain, bowIng over her hand
TITS been pleasu' an a priv
lege to suhve you, ma'am; but tn,
'cookin' wasn't mine, ma 'am."
ut was delicious, whosever i
was" she said. throwing a httl
smile at Mr.. Carson.
"Ah'm sorry" resumed tn
captain, "about that ere medicine
If it seemed a leetle too stron,
. 40
Miss Suarez, remembering tn
waltz, swept haughtily to he
place in the boat. Carson, witt
his eye steadfastly fixed on hi
engine, quickly showed off.
"Evenin' to yeh," said the cap
tain. still with one foot in tn,
water, like a heron.
Good evening"" responded tn,
young man.
Virginia said nothing. Carson
stealing a look at her, saw tn,
flush dying out upon her face ans
a smile taking its place-a dim
ping, spasmodic smile, accom-
panied by little quick citations O.
the nostrils, as If Miss Suarez wa.
DESTROYS of indulging in a laugh
but saw no citable reason for S,
doing. She waved her handker
chief at the captain.
do you see," said Carson
pointing to the receding shore
that the little hill at the landin,
is just mass of shells?"
ut is prehistoric kitchen-mid
den," said this most extraordinar,
young pirate. $50 many peopl,
lived there that they literalI,
made a hill of the shells of til,
mollusks they ate."
"Indeed!" calculated Virginia
and after long pause she added
show oddi"
Mentally. her speech was. "Hov
odd that this young outcast shoult
know about archaeology-or is 1
palaeontology?" 1t was easy t,
study him, he looked so religious
ly away from her. He was ratheI
interesting. If she really had sait
those things to him, and waltzet
with him, what a dreadful thing
was! But how much more fin,
and chivalrous he had been, ii
view of her own behavior. o
course. If he was a elimination,
owed duty to society; but ough
she to allow him to enter tn,
radius of action of the authori
ties? He must be more sinnet
against by society than SHINING
his profile was so perfect-an.
how fine and soft his mustacl
looked! How different from Sill
berberg he was in every way, espe
Ecially in his attitude toward girls
Society be plagued! She would b,
perfectly silent as to the cabin il
the dunes, and she would never
never give evidence against thes,
people. She would refuse t,
know their uamaa and rafnsa q.