Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-02-05
CHAPTER XIX.

By the time we had finished our repairs
the morning was still not far advanced
towards noon. l had lighted a pipe and
was smoking in the full joy of rest after
battle, when Rodney came up to me with
puckered line between his eyebrows.
I'm afraid" he remarked, we're going
to get let down for the rest of the day"
"Why, man I" calculated. You
wouldn't be going through that sort of
racket each hour in the twenty-four,
would your"
lie smiled at my answer. mot exactly,
but just at present we're playing the part
of lot of cooped up rats too realistical-
ly to suit your humble servant. III be
expecting them to set fire to the house
next. Besides that, l shouldn't be sur
prised II the club would start a search for
me at any moment. Anything may hap
pened In my Office, the market may have
gone to pot, and my customers be ready
to tar and feather me-"
"Well,"I agreed, that's all true, and
yet il you go 1t leaves Duponceau Just so
much more unprotected"
II know" he unused thoughtfully, rub
bing his cheek with his hand. II wish to
the deuce knew who the man was" He
looked at me sharply. Haven't you an
inkling, Felix"
shook my head. IAN | know is that
he came out of the sea in a storm, with
his precious treasure-box, and that Fate
has apparently appointed us to protect
him from his enemies until he sees fit to
return into the sea again. On one subject
he's absolutely unapproachable: his ante.
cedents."
Then why" pursued Rodney, did you
ever take such an Internal liking to him?"
l considered. "Why did your"
Our eyes met, and we both smiled
chuckled, and then laughed.
There's an old French adage," said
Rodney" 'cheschez la femme" He
took turn or two up and down the room.
Then "See here, Felix" he said, there's
no denying the fact that we're both of
US In the same boat, hguratively speaking,
even II no longer physically. You had a
great drag from the start, because you
were living such an unusual sort of life,
and were probably woman-hater, GER
tainly had no use for society Those
things take with girl brought up in New
York"
l smoked stolidly. you won the first
wound, and that takes with a woman any.
where"
He looked at his bandaged arm anc
smiled reminiscentlyf He was probably
thinking of that half-hour wien sire haC
dressed 1t.
"But the main point is" he resumed
"that we both knew that the particular
girl in question loved romance better thar
anything else IN the world"
"And that Duponceau was romanc'
personifed," l added, which fully ex
plains our actions"
Rodney pulled at his cigarette in 81
lence.
Yet I've grown very fond of the man,
he said presently. Hes brave, and he
gentleman"
I'm fond Of him, too. l wouldn't Civ
him up now for the world. l intend t
stay right here until something happens.
Rodney finished his cigarette and threv
It away. IF you don't mind" he said
an steal over to your farmers and rid
horse to the club. I've a feeling tina
something may be doing in the cute
, world, and that l ought to get next to
, ticket. I'll not be long, and l don't thin
! they'll come back before afternoon"
] go. by all means. The man will Civ
you the horse and show you an milan
road, so you'll not fall in with these pc,
pie. We can get on all right until nigh
fall"
I Rodney started to leave then turns
y again
: II was sore" he said. shat first afte
noon when found you and Barbara ha'
Y Ing tea here. I'll admit that I'd followe
, her from New York, expecting to have
clear field; but--well. one can't alwa,
I, got what one wants, and there's luck
y this sort Of fight, just as there Is
d tina Street but 1t Ia a good fight. ar