El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-12

!
electric lights, near the center Of the
deck.
i Both sank into chairs, and Captain
Payton-for Of course it was he-took
a seat opposite to them. He smiled In
so friendly and reassuring a manner
that it was impossible for Miss Gray
! man to be afraid Of him. The idea OF
a criminal attempt upon her liberty
/ never entered her thoughts. She i'm
agined that It was a huge practical
joke perpetrated by some Of her init
mate friends, and she tried to think
who among them would be most likely
to venture upon such an exploit.
'T must beg a thousand pardons for
] carrying you of in this way, Miss
! Graymap." Payton said, "and l wish
/ at once to offer my absolute assurance
that no possible harm to you is in
! tended. l have been In a manner com
PEELED to act as l, have done for rea-
sons which you will shortly understand.
Since know your charitable dispose
| tion and your sympathy with the IN
| fortunate, feel sure that 1 can count
upon your heartfelt support in an en-
| terprise which has been undertaken in
order to afford great and fully de-
served qualification to certain persons
who have not been treated by the
world with even handed justice. For
the carrying out OF this enterprise your
cooperation and presence have been
thought essential"
This extraordinary speech was deliv-
cred in a manner as confding and
gracious and with smile so winning
that Miss Grayman was far from de-
tecting the irony that lurked in it. She
now became more than ever convinced
that this was really ruse Of some of
her friends to engage her in a romantic
adventure, although she could not i'm
agine why they should have chosen SO
singular a method of enlisting her.
But it had the charm of great novelty.
and youth, inexperience and high spir-
its united to give her delightful thrill
of underlined interest in the escapade.
She felt quite at her ease and was pre-
pared to enjoy some most pleasant sur
prises She answered, therefore, with
no little gayety Of manner:
s'Mr. = of course I do not know your
name, you know
Brown" Payton replied promptly
and with an even more engaging smile
than that which had before illumined
his countenance, Commodore Freder-
lex Brown OF the Washington Aero
Yacht club
It was lucky hit, though made en-
tirely at random. 1t happened that
Miss Grayman had many close friends
In Washington, and now she could no
longer entertain the least doubt of the
correctness Of her original surmise.
This Commodore Brown evidently be-
longed to the best circle Of society at
the capital and had been selected by
her friends to act as intermediary in
their plot. The extravaganza Of the
notion of having her carried of with
out the least warning or preparation
at such an hour and by a stranger did
not occur to her excited Imagination.
1t seemed all as delightful as a fairy
tale, and she tingied with the desire to
witness the denouement, which could
not fail to be most entertaining. With
girlish eagerness she asked, with a
knowing look:
Where have they told you to take
meT
4hn oh -
shrewd- He saw in a second the trend
Of Miss Grayman's thoughts and the
advantage which it would give him.
So, assuming an appearance of some
confusion at being so quickly found
out. he answered:
"Oh, you know I mustn't tell you
that. 1t would spoil all the fun.
You'll understand everything when we
get there"
And then he broke out with laugh
so joyous, hearty and insinuating that
the girl laughed with him, while Su-
san stretched her mouth in a broad
grin over the unexpected hilarity.
We've got quite run before u.s."
Payton resumed in a more serious
manner. 'and 1 think, If you viii per-
NIT the suggestion, that it would be
well for you to turn in, as we navi-
gators say. I have a little cabin
which, I hope. that you will find COM
Portable, and, with your permission.
I will show you to it,
He led the way, courteously opened
a door amidships, touched knob to
turn on the electric light within the
apartment and as soon as the girls
had entered bowed low with formal
politeness. saying as he turned on his
heel:
81 wish you pleasant dreams. Good
nightw
The little room In which they found
themselves might have been regarded
as elegant anywhere. It was lavishly
furnished. but with good taste. and
contained two small beds.
Good Lordy, Miss Helenr' Susan
exclaimed as soon as they were alone.
what will your father say?"
The remark struck to Miss Gray
mans heart 1t was the first time she
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