The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-03-11

l went to the stone water-tower and
scanned the movements of the Stiletto
with a glass while waited. The sloop
was lacking slowly away toward An.
Mandate, her skipper managing his
sheet with an expert hand. 1t may
have been the ugly business in which
the pretty toy was engaged, or it may
have been the lazy deliberation of her
oblique progress over the water, but l
felt then and afterward that there was
something sinister in every line of the
Stiletto. The more l deliberated the
less certain l became of anything that
pertained to the Holbrooks; and l
tested my memory by repeating the
alphabet and counting ten, to make
sure that my wits were still equal to
such exercises.
We drove into Annandale without
incident and with no apparent timidity
on Miss Pats part. Helen was all
amiability and cheer. l turned per-
force to address her now and then, and
to find that the lurking smile about
her lips, and challenging light in her
eyes, woke no resentment in me.
l left Miss Pat and Helen at the
general store while I sought the hard
ware merchant with list of trifies
required for Glenarm. 1 was detained
some time longer than I had ex-
pected, and in leaving stood for a
moment on the platform before the
shop, gossiping with the merchant of
village affairs. l glanced down the
street to see if the ladies had ap-
peared, and observed at the same time
my team and wagon standing at the
curb in charge of the driver, just as l
had left them.
While 1 still talked to the merchant,
Helen came out of the general store,
glanced hurriedly up and down the
street, and crossed quickly to the post
office, which lay opposite. watched
her as l made my adieux to the shop:
keeper, and just then Il witnessed
something that interested me at once.
Within the open door of the post-office
the Italian sailor lounged idly. Helen
carried a number of letters in her
hand, and as she entered the post.
oftice-I was sure my eyes played me
no trick-deftly, almost imperceptibly
an envelope passed from her hand to
the Italians. He stood immovable, as
he had been, while the girl passed on
into the Office. She reappeared at
once, recrossed the street and met her
aunt at the door of the general store
rejoined them, and as we all met by
the waiting trap the Italian left the
post-of1ice and strolled slowly away
toward the lake.
was not sure whether Miss Pat
saw him. If she did she made no sign
but began describing with much
amusement an odd countryman she
had seen in the shop.
"You mailed our letters, did you
Helen? Then believe we have quite
finished. Mr.. Donovan. 1 like your
little village; I'm disposed to love
everything about this beautiful lake. ,
Eyes; even the town hall, where the
Old Georgia Minstrels seem to have
appeared for one night only, some
time last December, is a shrine worthy
OF pilgrimages," remarked Helen. "And
postage stamps cost no more here
than in Stamford. I had really ex
pected that they would be triflt
dearer."
laughed rather more than was re
quired. for those wonderful eyes O
hers were filled with. something akir
to honest fun. She was proud Of her
self, and was even flushed the least BIZ
| With her success.