Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-25
h G w-,vv.s-vus-
Social Bucaneer
By Frederic s. Ishom
copyriaht 1910, by Bobbs-MsrriH Company
opyriaht 1910, by the Bobbs-Merrill Company.

heavy or slight, short or tall?"
in the darkness it was not easy to
discern very much" answered Miss
Flossie. 1T is generally conceded,
however, he wore an evening suit"
Then he was one of the guests"
murmured Sir Archibald, with glance
still resting on Marjorie Wood.
Easy enough for any one to get q
ress-suit," interjected Mr.. Goldberg.
Plenty of places that rent them. l
don't attach any Importance to the fact
he had evening togs on. He knew he
had to hide or lurk around the house,
somewhere, before making his attempt;
if he came properly dressed and the
servants happened to run across him,
they wouldn't think so much of it on
account of his clothes. People some
times" jocosely, are apt to be a bit
erratic after a champagne supper"
But sir Archibald, it could be seen,
maintained his own opinion; though he
remained silent, contenting himself
with a shrug of his big shoulders.
There were, Mr.. Goldberg cheerfully
went on, other peculiar features to the
case: to wit, the mysterious voice call
ing out to direct the pursuers just af-
ter the fellow had fled the house and
was speeding toward the road. What
had become of the unknown assistant?
Who was he and why had he so COM
pletely vanished? Why also had one
of the Chinese servants? The Eng
lishman's face had become graver as
he listened. His secretary! Sir Arch
ibald was thinking of Caglioni or
more tortile element, savoring of the
Orient, subtly introduced into the case.
While talking, they had been walk
ing toward that point where the
sparsely wooded park began. AS in
dream, Marjorie Wood again looked
down into the valley. How different 1t
appeared, than, when she had stood
there, only the night before, with Chat
field Bruce, Now the landscape lay
bathed in a glorious, golden light. EV-
cry house afar showed plainly in en-
the ocean lay in shining somnolence.
Pearls.-feeing people!-detectives!
midnight marauders!-
AS from way off, the voices OF the
others came to her; in a vague hum
and buzz of talk. Miss F'lossie's pur-
ring accents flowed like the demulcent
strains of a soprano in concerted
piece; they mingled with Sir Archl-
balds basso; gave way before Mr..
Goldberg's stridency.
From the girls brow, the caressing
breeze swept back the dark hair. She
did not seek to analyZe her thought,
but continued to. look out, down the
hillside, marked here and there by
road like a silver ribbon, half-crump-
led, unfolding haphazard fashion, to
the village. Her eyes followed its
course; she was aware now of few
words in a more acute masculine pitch:
Here, the fellow sprang down; here,
he started his flight"
Suddenly something at her feet, in
glance, something bright and gleam-
ing. which might have been passed
unseen many times by many others,
unless CHANGING to stand at the exact
angle to receive the glimmer of the
sunshine reflected from it.
Marjorie Wood stopped and picked
up the object regarding it, first in sur
prise, then with growing amazement'
Her lips parted in a low, quick eX-
clamation. She could not believe, and
vet her gaze rested again on 1t in the
palm of her hand-an object she knew,
recognized, was not mistaken about!
How ever did it come here?' Her
figure suddenly stiffened. The sea
threw it's lights in her eyes. hut they
looked abruptly beyond. into unfath-
omable depths.
Are you so absorbed in the view"
Or, have you discovered some clue
to the mystery"
Voices broke in upon her; Sir Arch
ibald's Flossie's. Her hand closed
hard; the sharp edges Of something
metallic hurt her fingers, as she held
them to her side, hut she managed to
laugh.
Yes. and no. Who wouldn't be lost
in admiration of the view?"
Sir Archibald's gaze clouded. Her
words recalled, on a sudden, over
sharply. the night befOre-a shadowy
form at the girls side, a mans figure,
tall and straight, his face, eager, sedu-
lous. But Miss Flossie's keen look
seemed to have seen more than he had.
If followed the white hand as it fell
and fingered to survey the folds OF the
fluttering gown which half-concealed
the girls fingers and wrist. Miss Wood
did not turn toward the two; at that
moment. her father and others ap-
preached: she mingled quickly with
them. Again BamfOrd heard her laugh
gaily, too gaily.
At his side, Miss FlOssc hummed;
her full red lips were curved to smile.
What is your theory. Sir Archi-
bald?" she said softly. Il have been
told YOU have had experiences for your
government in solving many intricate
and puzzling matters"
who said that" At the moment
she acted more as an irritant than an
anodyne.
Il couldn't really tell you just who'
she laughed. But you are interested'
very much interested. aren't Hou?
shrewdly.
He experienced an indefinite suspi-
cion he was, in the vernacular, being
sounded" and, perhaps, asked himseif
why this young person had selected
him for her inquisitorial purpose? He
forgot his own close interrOgations of
her but short time before: tentative
ly drifted.
Last nights affair was very bung-
ling job. was it not?" he drawled, look
| ing into eyes that seemed to invite
fuller inspection. The person all New
York has been talking about--who has