Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-01-01
CHAPTER x.

I returned to the house we found muddy
footprints staining the diningroom floor
and tracked across the kitchen. No In
trudArs were to be seen, nor other evil
dance Of their visit, but the mere fact
that the sanctity OF my home-hitherto
always left open to the winds-had been
Invaded, angered me. babe Charles see
that the house was securely locked here
after Whenever he left 1t In my absence
Ovsr the mantel in my den hung two
nnsksts, out-of-date but still capable Of
boring holes In the atmosphere. Ny little
armory held = shotgun, for use In the
marshes, and two revolvers, whose only
use heretofore had been for target prnc-
tics. l took them from the drawer and
looked them over; they were ready for
work when needed.
sat on the porch, and considered the
situation. Something was about to hap
pen, somothlng-I could not tell what
that centered around this man who had
mysteriously taken possession of the
Ship and proposed to offer combat on
the sands. What he was or who he was
could not guess speculation In these lines
brought me Immediately into blind al
lays; but there was no doubt that In sit
nation and character he was certainly
the direct descendant Of a more adven-
turous age. l was Enthusiastically drawn
to him. / could see him as he stood on
tho beach, buffeted by the storm, gazing
ut the men who were pulling away, and
~ he had stepped from the hatchway, hat
In hand. bowling to Barbara Graham with
the chivalrous manner of cavalier, and
again as he sat across the table from me,
his slender hands ready to seize upon the
pistols, his eyes, full Of amusement and
hudacity, looking straight into mine.
There was no doubt about 1t, the Ship
belonged to him by right Of Inheritance,
and his arrival had brought me strange
tidlngs. l thought over the matter long
time before | went &c bed.
Early the next morning 1 took my dip
In the sea, and was returning. clad In
bath-robe. when caught sight of a man
peering at me from the pines. waved
my towel, and he disappeared. AS l was
finishing dressing, a little later, l stepped
out upon my balcony, aud l saw the same
man, much nearer now, gazing tntently at
the cottage l hate spies, SO / spoke
somewhat angrily.
Ali, there What do you wantT l
sried, reckoning to him.
He came forward rather sheepingly,
and touched his hat.
II was only taking a look at your
house, SIR"
"And is that what you were doing some
twenty minutes agof"
''Yes, sir; that's all / was doing"
-Are you an architest?" l demanded.
He wore plain blue suit, with an
old straw hat, and might have been al
most anything.
He smiled. mo, was merely look
Ing about to see what there was to see.
There wasn't any harm meant"
'There isn't any harm done, but, then,
there isn't anything to see. I'm not
very partial to sight-seers, especially when
they hide behind trees. II there's any
thing you want to ask me about, speak
out"
He hesitated moment "A stranger
= tall man who speaks French--hasn't
stopped at your house, has he?"
mo. Is he pal of yours2"
The man grinned. "Not exactly. Well.
I won't trouble you any more. Good
morning."
At breakfast again cautioned Charles
TO remember that he knew nothing
could do no work In my present state
Of mind, so I slung my ield-glasses over
my shoulder and went to call on Dupon-
eeau. He was sitting at the cabin table,
breakfasting on the remains OF our last
nights supper. My heart smote me.
"Why didn't you let me know1 I could
have brought you breakfast"
ut matters little; yesterday l obtained
some food from farmer, but that Is too
dangerous" He smiled. I'm quite used
to doing with little"
sat down while he finished breakfast
After that we walked the short length OF
the cabin, Duponceau asking me greai
many questions about the coast and the
country inland. l told him what l could
and he seemed satisfied. Then | decided
to take my easel and paints and go up or
the cliff above the Ship TO paint. II car
keep a good lookout from there of tn,
farther beach," l said. zone can sweer
It thoroughly from the cliff with a pail
Of glasses"
settled down on the cliff, and for hal
an hour forgot everything but the seen,
In front of me. At the end Of that tim,
looked up the distant beach with m,
Eihbbcs. COlnc one was lneTe, nal
way up. l studied the figure and decldeS
that 1t was a woman, no other than Bar
bara Graham
Pride is a curious quality. Sometimes
II will not even last overnight. My on,
desire now was to have a few words will
Miss Graham. 10 l left my easel as I
stood. and went towards her.
She was half lying, half sitting, In tn
soft sand, some of which she had moulde,
Into a cushion for her back, and bool
Ny open at her side, but she was no
reading. She was gazing at the sea.
"What do you think Of our plrateT'
She started, looked round at NE. IA
up. and clasped her knees with her hands
sat down on the sand beside her.
81 was just thinking Of him l wa
thinking that like him tremendously"
Naturally. Hs rescued you from
very disagreeable fellow"
eyes" she agreed, without looking q
me "and girl can never forget a det
Of gratitude for that sort Of thing
a 1900 I safd Nfar m