The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-10-13

world with even handed justice. Fol
the carrying out of this enterprise your
cooperation and presence have been
thought essential"
This extraordinary speech was deliv.
cred In 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 a ruse of some of
her friends to engage her in romantic
adventure, although she could not i'm
agine why they should have chosen so
singular a method of enlisting her.
and youth. inexperience and high spir-
its united 10 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
4 prises. She answered. therefore, with
no little gayety of manner:
"Mr. = of course / 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"
1t was a 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 tingled 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
meY
Payton was the shrewdest of the
shrewd. He saw In 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 a 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 I think. If you will per-
NIT the suggestion. that it would be
well for you TO turn in. as we navi.
gators say. have "A little cabin
which. I hope. thar you will find COM
Portable. and. with your permission.
will show you to it."
He led the way. courteously opened
door amidships. touched a 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
night
The little room in which they found
themselves might have been regarded
as elegant anywhere. II was lavishly
furnished. but with good taste. and
contained two small beds.
GOOD Lordy. Miss Helenr' Susan
What will your farther say?"
The remark struck to Miss Gray
mans heart. II was the first time she
had thought Of her father and of his
distress when he should discover her
absence. But her eager mind was full
Of resources. .-t
"No doubt papa knows all about It,"
she replied. at is my friends who
are doing this. you know, and Of
course they must have taken him
secretly into their confidence; other
wise they never would have ventured
so far. And what handsome man
Commodore Brown is. and so agree
able.'
1t required no more than the sug.
gestion of her fancy to persuade the
romantic girl that her father was
aware Of the ruse and had given his
consent to II. This thought increased
her confidence so much that, with the
utmost self possession. she prepared
to retire and was soon sleeping as
peacefully as If she had been In her
own chamber. the imperceptible mo-
ton Of the aero being totally free
from the disturbing effects Of the roll
ing and pitching Of marine craft.
But Susan. with less peace Of mind.
lay awake thinking and wondering for
hours.